December 24, 2008 |
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Welcome to this issue of Janet’s Journal, a First District Report designed to keep you updated on issues and events concerning our communities in Orange County especially in the First District.
I am proud and honored to represent over 600,000 people within the First District covering the cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Westminster and the unincorporated community of Midway City.
I hope you will find this journal informative. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Respectfully,
Supervisor Janet Nguyen
Janet.Nguyen@ocgov.com
IN THIS ISSUE...
1. Board of Supervisors
2. Janet Around the First District
3. Local Issues
4. Requests for Proposals
5. Community Events
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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!
I want to take this opportunity to extend my warmest holiday wishes to you and your family. Let us remember all those serving our country around the world and say a special prayer for these brave men and women. And let us also remember those still recovering from the recent fires and other catastrophes everywhere. I would encourage all to lend a helping hand to loved ones, friends and neighbors during this difficult time. May we all be a part of this season of giving!
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| Board of Supervisors |
Making a Positive Impact El Salvador Park in downtown Santa Ana recently received the neighborhood revitalization that has been long overdue. This neighborhood had been an active area for gang hangout, with basketball courts in disrepair and jagged cracks that split the pavement. With allocation from my office's First District Fund 130, I joined Netz 4 Life to help renovate this park and its basketball courts at a total cost of $30,000. To read the full article, in the Orange County Register, click here.
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| Other Boards & Commissions |
State Forms Economic Stimulus Working Group Congratulations to Art Leahy, OCTA's CEO, who was recently appointed to an important working group that will evaluate California's potential infrastructure projects that will benefit the State from the anticipated Federal economic stimulus package. This working group was established by the California Department of Transportation and Mr. Leahy will be assisting the group in forming state policies with respect to the establishment of priorities, guidelines, match requirements and the distribution of funds to the various regions. No Text Messaging Law Goes Into Effect in January 2009 Beginning January 1, 2009, a new law will go into effect that will prohibit writing, sending or reading a text-based communication tool (cell phones, PDA or blackberry) while driving in California.
This new law applies to electronic wireless communications devices used to manually communicate with any person using text-based communication including, but not limited to, communications referred to as a text message, instant message or electronic mail.
Violations of this law are punishable by a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense. With the addition of mandatory penalty assessments, the total fines can amount to more than triple the base fine amount. For more info, click here. OC Public Libraries Holiday Hours Due to the holidays, all OC Public Libraries will be closed at 5:00 p.m. on December 24, 2008 and December 31, 2008. In observance of the County Holiday Schedule, all branch libraries will be closed on December 25, 2008 and January 1, 2009. Branches will resume their normal operating schedule immediately following the holiday. Garden Grove Chapman Branch Library to Close for Maintenance The Garden Grove Chapman Branch Library located at 9182 Chapman Ave., will be closed from December 29, 2008 to January 2, 2009 maintenance construction. For more information on this closure, call the library at (714)539-2115.
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| JANET AROUND THE FIRST DISTRICT |
At the Westminster Founder's Day Parade, Supervisor Janet Nguyen poses with Bolsa Grande High School students who participated in the parade.
During the Triangle Complex Fire, Supervisor Janet Nguyen and her Chief of Staff, Garden Grove Councilman Andrew Do meet with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his staff at the command station.
Supervisor Janet Nguyen and her Chief of Staff, Garden Grove Councilman Andrew Do at the 22nd Annual We Give Thanks, Inc. Free Thanksgiving Dinner Event. Thousands participated in this years' event, making it the largest Thanksgiving Day Dinner for the less fortunate in Orange County.
At St. Anselm's Cross Cultural Community Center's First Annual Cultural Diversity Awards Luncheon, Supervisor Janet Nguyen is presented with a Cultural Diversity Award from St. Anselm's Executive Director Vicki Connely.
Supervisor Janet Nguyen and her Chief of Staff, Garden Grove Councilman Andrew Do stand in front of Garden Grove's beautiful Christmas tree with Garden Grove Councilmembers and Mayor William Dalton.
At the Garden Grove City Council Meeting on December 9th, Supervisor Janet Nguyen administers the Oath of Office to her Chief of Staff Councilman-elect Andrew Do, who was joined by his wife, Cheri and two daughters.
At the Westminster City Council Meeting on December 10th, Supervisor Janet Nguyen administers the Oath of Office to Mayor Margie Rice's Swearing In Ceremony.
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| LOCAL ISSUES |
* The following articles are for informational purposes only and are not necessarily intended to imply endorsement or support.
Orange County
IRS Announces 2009 Standard Mileage Rates
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the new 2009 standard mileage rates for cars, vans, pickups or panel trucks:
- 55 cents per mile for business
- 24 cents per mile for medical or moving purposes
- 14 cents per mile in service of charitable organizations
Although these rates are higher than they were last year, they remain lower than the mid-year adjustment when gas prices rose above $4.50 a gallon and diesel approached $6. However, the rate for charitable organizations has remained the same. To read the full article by Jan Norman and published in the Orange County Register, click here.
Vietnam War Army Captain Finally Laid to Rest
United States Army Captain Warren R. Orr Jr. was finally laid to rest on December 18, 2008, more than forty years after his plane crashed while evacuating refugees from South Vietnam. Captain Orr's remains, along with his military uniform and medals, were buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. His status had been unknown until last year, when the Pentagon notified Captain Orr's father, Santa Ana resident Warren Orr Sr., that DNA testing had positively identified bone fragments recovered from the crash site.
Last year my office held a memorial service at the Vietnam War Memorial in the City of Westminster to honor Captain Warren Orr, Jr. There, I had the privilege of meeting Warren Sr. as well as other members of Captain Orr's family and thanked them for their great sacrifice for our country.
Supervisor Janet Nguyen and Westminster Mayor Margie Rice presented Warren Orr, Sr. with an American flag in honor of his son Captain Warren Robert Orr, Jr. at the memorial service that was held last year.
At the memorial service for Captain Warren Orr, Jr., Supervisor Janet Nguyen meets with Captain Orr's family.
Applicants Sought to Serve on the Grand Jury
Orange County Superior Court is seeking applicants to serve on the next Orange County Grand Jury, which will serve from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. The Grand jury is empowered to investigate the operations of county government, and review and evaluate the work of government agencies, schools and special districts in Orange County.
A grand juror must be at least 18 years of age or older, a U.S. citizen, and an Orange County resident for at least one year. Before being nominated, each applicant is interviewed by a panel of Superior Court Judges. Background investigations, including record checks of state and local law enforcement agencies, are conducted by the Orange Country Sheriff's Department.
The deadline for applications is January 9, 2009. Applications may be obtained by calling the Grand Jury Office at (714) 834-6747 or visit the Jury Commissioner's Office located in the Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Dr., West, Santa Ana, CA, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, click here.
Volunteer Opportunities
During the holiday season, one of the best gifts that one can give is volunteering their time. The Volunteer Center of Orange County has compiled a list of more than 100 projects that are in need of people to help. Not only will this have a positive affect on someone else's life, it will greatly enrich the lives of those that volunteer. Click here to search for opportunities in your area.
Garden Grove
Buy in Garden Grove
The City of Garden Grove urges all residents to "Buy in Garden Grove." Local businesses are the heart and soul of any community and keeping sales tax dollars within the city helps provide the quality of life those living in Garden Grove have come to expect: adequate police and fire protection and maintenance of streets and parks. Revenue collected from sales makes up 25% of Garden Grove's budget. Shopping outside of Garden Grove means less money for these important services. This holiday season, before you spend your money at a mall, look at what your hometown has to offer. To read more about "Buy in Garden Grove," click here.
Santa Ana
Santa Ana Selected by the California Endowment
A portion of the City of Santa Ana was one of only ten communities statewide to receive substantial multi-year funding to participate in the California Endowment's Building Healthy Communities initiative.
The initiative builds on the wisdom and past experience of all of the California Endowment's grantees and partners throughout California. Through their work, they have learned that the economic, physical, social and service environments in which people live have profound and lasting effects on the health of individuals, families and communities.
In order to maximize their funding for this initiative, the California Endowment chose to target a specific number of communities in order to aim to address the direct root causes and systems that impact the health of Californians the most. The four specific long-range health outcomes that this initiative will be targeting are:
- Reverse the youth obesity epidemic
- Ensure all children have access to comprehensive and coordinated health services
- Improve school attendance
- Reduce youth violence
For more information on the California Endowment, click here.
Santa Ana Dentist Named Associate Fellow
The American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) welcomed Santa Ana Dentist Thomas Teich DDS as an associate fellow of the academy. Dr. Teich is one out of 449 dentists to hold this distinguished membership. He is one of the leading experts in implant care and had to undergo a stringent screening process to qualify for associate fellowship. The read the whole article by Susan Belknapp, published in OCMetro, click here.
English Works: Free English Classes
English Works enables Spanish-speaking employees, students and residents to learn English by attending FREE ESL (English as a Second Language) classes at various locations throughout Santa Ana. For class locations, call (714)241-5703. For those unable to attend classes, take-home learning kits called "Sed de Saber" are available from many SAUSD schools and some employers. Take advantage of this great program and improve the quality of life for you and your family! For more information about English Works, call (714)541-5353 ext. 118 or click here. For the Spanish website, click here.
Westminster
Commission and Committee Applicants Sought
The Mayor and City Council of Westminster are seeking applicants to fill expiring terms on the City's Boards, Committees and Commissions. The deadline to turn in an application is Monday, January 5, 2009. For more information, click here.
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| REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS |
County of Orange
There are currently many new bids to contract with the County of Orange.
For more information, please click here.
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| Community Events |
City of Garden Grove
December 1st through 25th, 2008 - Sparks of Love Toy Drive
The Annual Spark of Love Toy Drive begins at all Garden Grove Fire Stations Dec 1st. Donate new toys for children ranging from Pre-School to High School. For more information, call 714-741-5600.
City of Santa Ana
January 3, 2009 - The Artists Village Open House
The Artists Village Open House is always the first Saturday of every month. Come rain, shine or holiday, the event will always take place between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Parking can be found in the Artists Village Parking Structure at Third Street and Broadway. Walk through the galleries and studios, see a live performance or just hang out and enjoy the music. It is FREE and you always have a great time. The Open House schedule for 2009 is January 3, February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 4, August 1, September 5, October 3, November 7, and December 5.
City of Westminster
December 31, 2008 - New Year's Eve Gala
There is no better way to bring in the New Year than with dining and dancing with friends and neighbors at the beautiful Rose Center in Westminster. There will be a no-host bar, gourmet dinner, live music for your listening and dancing pleasure, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. The Rose Center is located at 14147 All American Way, Westminster, CA and tickets are $55 per person. For more information, or to purchase tickets, click here.
To contact Supervisor Janet Nguyen, please call 714-834-3110 or email Janet.Nguyen@ocgov.com. |
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