Greater Orange News Service

Metro TALK ______________
A community service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/

Villa Park Santa Tour-December 6th, 2008
Few people outside Villa Park may know that Santa and Mrs. Claus keep their Southern California vacation residence right here in Greater Orange at the Claus Villa in Villa Park. Each year before making the final push towards getting ready for that Christmas Eve world tour, the Claus family spends a weekend at their Villa Park get-a-way. Traditionally, Santa has thanked his home-away-from home neighbors with the Annual Villa Park Santa Tour winding his way through the Greater Orange “Hidden Jewel” in a bright red fire truck This year’s tour is Saturday December 6, 2008 (in case of rain, December 13th is a back-up date) from 8:00 am- 5:00 pm. Maps of the Santa Tour are available at the Villa Park City Hall or CLICK ON the following link: SANTA TOUR .

Santa has been known to drop by or stop along the route where ever there is a gathering of believers. For more information contact the Villa Park City Hall at 714-998-1500. The Annual Santa Tour is sponsored by the Villa Park Foundation.

Orange Tree Lighting Ceremony-December 7, 2008
The traditional holiday season opener in Greater Orange is the annual Tree Lighting and Candlelight Choir Procession on Sunday, December 7th, 2008 from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Plaza Park in the center of the famous Orange Circle. The 350 strong Orange Community Master Chorale of Santiago Canyon lead by Orange High School’s own Choir Director Michael Short and the 60 piece orchestra will perform at 5:15 pm. A sing-along to traditional carols, a story narration by retired Orange Library Services Director Nora Jacob and food booths benefiting Greater Orange non-profit groups will all be part of the Tis-the-Season opening festivities. For more information contact the Orange Special Events Hotline at 714-744-7278.

11th Annual Great Inland Boat Parade-December 14th,2008
Being land-locked never bothered many in Greater Orange, especially in Villa Park where the 11th Annual Great Inland Boat Parade takes place on Sunday December 14th, 2008. This year’s 11th Anniversary theme is Yachts and Yachts of Lights. Winding through the backwaters of Villa Park, from Villa Park High School starting at 4:45, the mighty Villa Park Fleet sails to the Villa Park Towne and Community Centre arriving around 6:00 pm. for more hometown festivities. The Annual Great Inland Boat Parade is sponsored by the Villa Park Foundation.
To view the route CLICK ON: BOAT PARADE

Ron Jon’s Last Day- December 15th, 2008
The store that put land-locked Orange on the World Surf Map- Ron Jon Surf at The Block at Orange will be closing its doors forever on December 15th. As one of the original retail tenets from the 2001 re-opening of the revamped City Shopping Center’s youthful remake called The Block at Orange. The retail coup of getting the Ron Jon’s first and only west coast store reverberated across Southern California retail and surf communities. Likewise, the loss of Ron Jon has also caused a retail and public relations tsunami. First opened in 1959 in Ship Bottom, New Jersey, the legendary east coat surf store operates stores from Canada to Mexico, including the iconic Coco Beach store that is the largest surf store in the world. The company also operates the Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort in Florida.

How did Orange lose the internationally known super retailer? According to Ron Jon:

“The lease for this store has come up for renewal. Unfortunately, we have been unable to negotiate a lease agreement that is economically acceptable to Ron Jon.”

Shop early for the best deals on your Christmas surf needs.

Metro TALK
is a community service of ORANGE NET NEWS /O/N/N/
OrangeNet.News@gmail.com

Produced by the
Orange Communication System /OCS/

The madatory evacuation areas in Anaheim Hills have been lifted in all areas.
Residents in the Cascade Apartment complex are able to return to the complex with identification and proof of residency. Please anticipate extended wait times to return to your apartment as residents are being escorted in small groups.

Anaheim Hills residents living in the Cascade Apartment complex are able to return to the complex with identification and proof of residency. At the complex, residents will be escorted in small groups back to their apartments.

Authorities are asking residents to anticipate extended wait times to be escorted.

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The Orange Unified School District has announced all Orange Unified schools will be open on Monday November 17th. Orange Unified covers the Anaheim Hills area of the City of Anaheim. Orange Unified waited until 2:00 pm on Sunday November 16th to post the information on its website. The district also used its Ed Connect telphone calling sustem to send messages a message to parents and staff about the decsision that all OUSD schools will be open.

OUSD operates El Rancho Charter School, Canyon High School and a number of elementary schools in the Anaheim Hills area.

All Anaheim Union High Schools and Anaheim City Elementary Schools will also be open for school on Monday November 17th.

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All Brea and Placentia- Yorba Linda public schools will be closed for Monday November 17th, 2008

All Brea schools will be closed Monday, November 17th,
All students of the Placentia-Yorba Linda schools will have Monday off. PYLUSD staff are asked to report to work except the staff of Bryant Ranch Elementary.

Ordered Evacuations remain in place for these Brea residents:

Hollydale Mobile Home Park
Olinda Village
Sommerset Condos (west of Kraemer/north of Lambert)

Recommended Evacuations remain in place for these Brea residents:
Olinda Ranch

Lifted Evacuation for Brea Residents Only with I.D:

North of State College Blvd, East of BreaBlvd (Fanning School area, Heritage Hills, Canyon Country)

Current road closures are as follows:
Eastbound Birch St at Valencia
57 FWY in both directions from Lambert Rd to 60 FWY (Due to heavy smoke)
Northbound Brea Canyon Rd from State College Blvd
Northbound Valencia from Imperial HWY
Lambert Rd at Sunflower east to Carbon Canyon Rd

Sothern California Edison reports power outage at Olinda Village and Hollydale Mobile Home Park. Power is not expected to return until at least 3 a.m. Monday. For more information, call (800) 655-4555.

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NASA PHOTO of Southern California Fires from space

NASA has released photos from space showing the smoke from the Southern California fires is visable from space. Click on the link below to see the webpage with the photo.

NASA FIRE PHOTO


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Anaheim Hills residents with ID may now return to their home except in the following locations:
Woodcreek Rd. @ Santa Ana Canyon

Woodcove Dr

Beachtree Court @ Canyon Vista Dr

Timberline Dr.

Whitewater Dr.

Cliffside Dr.

Cascade Appartments

Oak Canyon east of Running Springs Dr.

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The City of Anaheim is reporting that Orange High School is now accepting small livestock. The school is located at 525 N. Shaeffer in Orange. The school farm can be accessed by entering from from Haywood Street (714) 397-2912.

Orange Unified has not announced the status of the schools in the Anaheim Hills for Monday classes.


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Today's forecast from the National Weather Service includes a red flag warning, signifying high fire danger, through 4 p.m. Sunday.

A wind advisory was in effect until 9 a.m. More hot, dry weather is expected today (Sunday) with the relative humidity expected to dip below 10 percent at times, and inland temperatures forecast to push into the mid-90s. However, winds early Sunday were relatively light compared to sustained winds around 30 mph on Saturday.


National Weather Service forecast:

Hazardous Weather Outlook
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
400 AM PST SUN NOV 16 2008

CAZ042-043-048-050-055-056-057-058-060-061-062-170000-
ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS-
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
APPLE AND LUCERNE VALLEYS-
COACHELLA VALLEY-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY DESERTS-
400 AM PST SUN NOV 16 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR
ALL OF EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT

RED FLAG WARNING FOR ALL MOUNTAINS...VALLEY AREAS WEST OF THE
MOUNTAINS...AND ALL OF ORANGE COUNTY THROUGH 4 PM FOR LOCAL
STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY.

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Sunday morning the California Highway Patrol is reporting the following road closures:

The 91 freeway
closed on both sides between Imperial Highway and the Corona freeway

Santa Ana Canyon Road
Closed between Gypsum Canyon Road and Imperial Highway

241 toll road
Northbound freeway closed at Santiago Canyon Road

The 57 freeway
Closed both north and south between Imperial Highway and the 60 freeway

The 55 freeway
Closed at eastbound 91 freeway with traffic is being diverted to westbound 91

Brea area raod closures:
Northbound Santa Fe Road is closed at Lambert Road
Carbon Canyon Road is closed to eastbound traffic at Valencia Road
Northbound Valencia Road is closed at Lambert Road

FOR UP TO THE MINUTE ROAD-CLOSURE INFORMATION,
CALL California Highway Patrol Road Closure Information Line at
1-800-427-7623

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Southern California Edison is reporting that 36,000 customers in the three Southern California counties impacted by the fires, Orange, Riverside and Santa Barbara, have lost service at some point since Thursday night because of the impact of high winds and wildfires on electricity equipment. Outages have lasted from a few minutes to several hours.

The Corona area fire burned underneath two of SCE's high-voltage lines, temporarily causing them to shut down and affecting some 1,200 customers. Though the fires have temporarily affected some of Edison's high-voltage transmission lines, the utility has reported that it has sufficient back-up resources to meet projected customer needs. Sunday is expected to be another near-record hot day and electricity demand is expected to be high.

With the fires still raging on Saturday, no estimates were available for when all affected SCE customers will have power restored.

Anaheim, Brea, Corona, Montecito and Santa Barbara, Palos Verdes and Yorba Linda have been the hardest hit in service interuptions.

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Fire fighting Aircraft flying over Anaheim Hills

The Brea, Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills fires merged overnight and earned a new name: the Triangle Complex Fire burning over 10,400 acres. Weather conditions improved enought to bring in fixed wing fire fighting aircraft to fight the Anaheim Hills portion of the fire.

The 241 remains closed between Santiago Canyon Road and the 91 freeway.

Anaheim Hills lost 10 homes and between 50-60 apartments at the Cascade Apartment Community.

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Riverside (91) Freeway reopened in both directions

Northbound Eastern Transportation Corridor (241) closed at Santiago Canyon Road

The Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway shut down Metrolink's Inland Empire-Orange County Line between the downtown Riverside and Anaheim Canyon stations. Metrolink trains destined for the Inland Empire are operating to the Orange station -- for transfer to a northbound regularly scheduled Orange County Line train -- or Union Station, and passengers are being transferred to eastbound San Bernardino Line trains to the San Bernardino station.

At that point, passengers will be taken by bus to downtown Riverside and stations further west on the Inland Empire-Orange County Line.

For complete up to date OC Freeway information:
OC SIG-ALERT

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Burning since 9:00 am Saturday morning November 15th, the Freeway Complex Fire in Orange County has burned 6,000 acres whipped by winds reaching 50 mph. Reports are that 12,000 people have been ordered evacuated. Anaheim shelters report that about 300 people are in the Red Cross shelters. Eighteen structures including 50-60 apartments in the 250 Anaheim Hills Cascade Apartment Commmunity.

The fire is only 5% contained as dry winds have died down to 12 mph and the humidity has increased slightly in the night air. Sunday is expected to be another hot dry day with winds again expected, but not as strong as on Saturday in the fire areas. Over 1200 fire fighters are battling the fire with 6 confirmed minor fire fighter injuries.

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The Orange County Fire Authority is reporting slight progress in the battle in Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills in the fire known as the Freeway Complex Fire. The report of 5% containment came at 10:20 pm.

OCFA REPORT

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The City of Anaheim has released the official map of evacuation areas as of 9:20 pm this evening.

Anaheim Hills Evacuation Map

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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a state of emergency in Orange and Riverside counties as a result of the Freeway Fire which has already burned approximately 5,800 acres, damaged or destroyed over 160 homes and required mandatory evacuations and road closures. The proclamation utilizes all resources consistent with the state's authority under the California Disaster Assistance Act.

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The text of the proclamation is below:


A PROCLAMATION

OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY
WHEREAS on November 15, 2008, a wildfire started near the border of Orange County and Riverside County, and continues to spread; and

WHEREAS the fire has burned approximately 5,800 acres in the two counties with approximately five percent containment; and

WHEREAS the fire has damaged or destroyed over 160 homes in the two counties and is threatening over 1000 structures; and

WHEREAS the fire has caused mandatory evacuations and road closures, and residents have been forced to seek emergency shelter in both counties; and

WHEREAS on November 15, 2008, Orange County declared a local emergency, and requested that I declare a state of emergency; and

WHEREAS on November 15, 2008, the City of Anaheim declared a local emergency, and requested that I declare a state of emergency; and

WHEREAS on November 15, 2008, the City of Corona declared a local emergency; and

WHEREAS high-winds, drought conditions, and higher than normal temperatures continue to exacerbate the dangerous fire conditions in Orange and Riverside Counties and throughout Southern California; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of this wildfire, by reason of their magnitude, are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provisions of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to the fire in Orange and Riverside Counties.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the state Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within Orange and Riverside Counties.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that all agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of my Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the State Emergency Plan, and that OES provide local government assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 15h Day of November 2008.



______________________________

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

Governor of California

As a precaution, the Anaheim Fire Department is asking all homes and businesses to reduce their water use in the hill and canyon areas in Anaheim, East of the 55 freeway.

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The Anaheim City Website has posted an advisory that residents will not be allowed in at least until Sunday.


Hotels offering discounted rates to displaced residents:
Annabella Hotel 1030 W. Katella Ave (714) 905-1050;
Roadway Inn 2145 S. Harbor Blvd (714) 251-6262

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Reports at 8:15 pm state that the Brea Fire has jumped the 57 freeway and authorities have issued a mandatory evacuation for the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood of Brea.

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This Saturday November 15th is being billed as the hottest November 15th in 72 years. The Santa Ana Winds that are flaming the Southern California fire are expected to contiue through Sunday, with hot tempetures through Wednesday.


US Weather Forecast

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Disneyland is safe. The Anaheim Convention Center is not indanger. The Big A is O.K.

Confusion not only in the Los Angeles and national media, but also among local residents of what part of Anaheim is burning and being evacuated.Anaheim Hills is a planned community that was started in the 1970’s and is totally within the boundries of the City of Anaheim. While Anaheim Hills has it's own zip code, it's schools are part of the Orange Unifed School District and the area is considered by many part of the Greater Orange Communities. The upscale planned commuinity has fostered the image of their onclave as a sperate entity from the City of Anaheim. This however is proving to be confusing to residents of Anaheim proper as the media talks about evacuations in Anaheim.

Anaheim Hills highly rated Canyon High School and El Rancho Middle School are in the Orange Unified School District, while the evacuation center of Katella High School is part of the Anheim Union High School District.

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The US Forest Service has a space image picture of the Freeway Complex Fire.

US FOREST SERVICE FIRE IMAGE

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Earlier reports that the entire Cascade Apartment complex in Anaheim Hills have been corrected. Authorities report that only about 50 of the 250 apartments in the complex have been destroyed.

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The Yorba Linda Water District has issued a warning to residents serviced by the district to disinfect any tap water by boiling or other methods until further notice.

For EPA instructions on water disinfection CLICK ON:
EPA Disinfect your Water

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A typographical error in a posting by Orange County Register political reporter Martin Wisckol posted on the Orange County Register blog of 45,000 evacuees in Anahiem Hills was picked up by wire services and reported over Los Angeles television stations before the error was corrected. Wisckol's post (see below) was issued at 5:50 pm on Saturday. The post transposed the number of people and homes. The post incorrectly stated 12,600 homes with 45,000 people had been evacuated. The correct numbers were 4,500 people and 12,600 homes. The posting was not corrected until 55 min later at 6:45 pm by the OC Register.

Orange Net News corrected the numbers on its Greater Orange News Service site when the mistake was realized.


OC Register mistaken posting:

"Update on Anaheim evacautions
November 15th, 2008, 5:30 pm by Martin Wisckol, politics reporter

There have now been 12,600 homes evacuated and 45,000 people evacuated in Anaheim, city spokeswoman Marty DeSollar told reporter Eric Neff. There has been one minor injury to an Anaheim resident, and six minor injuries to firefighters."


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The Orange County Red Cross has announced it is closing Esperanza High School evacuation center because of the closeness to the fire.
Evacuaties have been RELOCATED to Katella High School.

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Freeway Complex Fire Road Closures

Northbound 57 Freeway at Lambert.

Eastbound 91 Freeway, all lanes, at the 55 Freeway.

North 241 at Santiago Canyon Road.

West 91 at Route 71.

The 261 Toll Road is closed at Portola.

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The American Red Cross of Orange County has opened three shelters to assist evacuees of the Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills fires. The current shelter locations are:

Katella High School (current population estimate – 50 people)
2200 E Wagner Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92806
(on Wagner Ave. east of State College)

Brea Community Center (current population – 75 people)
695 Madison Avenue
Brea, CA 92821
(Corner of Madison and Randolph)

Valencia High School
500 North Bradford
Placentia, CA 92870
(Located on Bradford between Chapman Ave. and Ruby)

The Riverside Red Cross has opened a shelter in the following location:

Corona High School
1150 West 10th Street
Corona, CA 92882

These American Red Cross shelters will provide a safe place to stay, food and emotional support, including mental health counseling, to all evacuees.

Please note that the shelter located at Esperanza High School has been closed and evacuees should be directed to Katella High School, Brea Community Center or Valencia High School.

Orange County residents are asked to save 9-1-1 for emergencies only. For evacuation information, please dial 2-1-1 or contact the Orange County Operational Area Public Information Hotline at (714) 628-7085.

RED CROSS DONATIONS
The Orange County Chapter responds to approximately 150 incidents annually, providing shelter, food, comfort and financial assistance. One way to help us help Orange County 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year is through a financial donation.

OC RED CROSS

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Anheim City officials have reported that evacuations in the city have appraoched 4,500 homes effecting 12,000 people.

The City of Anaheim website reports that Katella High School is the first evacuation center to be designated as an "over night" evacuation center.

Katella High School: 2200 E. Wagner.

For More Information:
City of Anaheim

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Metrolink trains destined for the Inland Empire are operating to the Orange station -- for transfer to a northbound regularly scheduled Orange County Line train -- or Union Station, and passengers are being transferred to eastbound San Bernardino Line trains to the San Bernardino station. At that point, passengers are taken by bus to downtown Riverside and stations further west on the Inland Empire-Orange County Line.

The Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway shut down Metrolink's Inland Empire-Orange County Line between the downtown Riverside and Anaheim Canyon stations on Saturday afternoon due to the wildfire.


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Mandatory Anaheim and Anaheim Hills evacuations
The area within these boundaries:
North boundary- 91 Freeway, East boundary- 241 Toll Road, West boundary- Weir Canyon Rd or Serrano Ave., southern boundary- Marblehead Way

The area wihin these boundaries:
North boundary- Mohler Dr, West boundary Del Giorgio Rd, South boundary- Canyon Rim Rd, East boundary- Deer Canyon Park and Fairmont Park

Evacuation Centers:

Downtown Anaheim Community Center: 250 E. Center St, Anaheim, CA 92805 (cross street Anaheim Blvd)

Katella High School: 2200 E. Wagner; Anaheim High School: 811 W. Lincoln;

Loara High School: 1765 Euclid;

Annabella Hotel is also offering displaced residents a discounted rate- hotel phone number (714) 905-1050

ANIMAL INFORMATION:

Animal Control is setting up an animal shelter for small animals at Esperanza High School at 1830 North Kellogg Drive in Anaheim.

The Orange County Animal Shelter at City Drive South is also taking animals for victims of the fire.There number is (714) 935-7419.

Horse Shelter

Horses can be taken to Rancho Del Rio Stables (they are accepting horses only): 1314 Sandersen Av. Anaheim (714) 535-3510

Huntington Beach Equestrian Center at 18381 Goldenwest St. in Huntington Beach,

or the Los Alamitos Race Track at 4961 Katella in Los Alamitos.

Board is free, but people must bring feed and supplies.

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Two minor injuries have been reported, dozens of homes and hundreds of apartments destroyed

Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman John Moorlach has proclaimed a local emergency due to the rampaging Freeway Complex Fire. The declaration frees up county resources to respond to the raging wildfire that has already scorched more than 1,200 acres.

Orange County officials have asked for a state and federal emergency proclamations to provide more response resources and aid to those who lose their homes in the disaster. The wind driven fire has destroyed homes in Yorba Linda, Brea and Anaheim Hills and continues to threaten more than a thousand structures.

A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for the Olinda Ranch area, at Valencia Avenue and Lambert Road.

A voluntary evacuation has been advised for the vicinity east of State College Road and North of Lambert Road.

The shelter at Esperanza High School has been closed due to air quality concerns. Shelters are now open at the Downtown Community Center, 250 East Center St., Anaheim and the Brea Community Center, 695 Madison Ave., Brea.

The 91 Freeway is closed between Green River Road and the 71 and also at Lambert. The 91 off ramps are closed at westbound Green River Road and Gypsum Canyon Road.


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Unconfirmed reports by bloggers on Twitterreport that the Savi Ranch shopping complex is on fire.

These reports remain unconfirmed as of this posting.

Television camera crews showed shots of the Green River Golf Course burning.

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Anaheim City Fire officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order as the Corona Fire jumped south of the Riverside (91) Freeway. The mandatory evacuation orders are for about 3,100 homes in Anaheim Hills.

The evacuation area is bounded by the 91 freeway on the north, the 241 toll road on the east, and either Weir Canyon Road or Serrano Avenue on the west. All homes north of Marblehead Way, accessed from Serrano Avenue, are included in the mandatory evacuation.

Relocation centers have not yet been established. At least 25 homes were destroyed in Anaheim Hills, according to fire officials. The fire also destroyed the 250-unit Cascade apartment complex near Santa Ana Canyon Road.

Anaheim Fire Department officials are now directing evacuees from the Corona or Brea fires to the Anaheim Community Center, 250 E. Center Street, Anaheim.

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The blogger at Fire Fighter Blog has reported that the Cascade Apartments in Anaheim Hills have been completely engulfed in flames.



Fire Fighter BLog


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The Air Quality Management DIstrict (AQMD)has issued an advisory on air quality due to the Southern California Fires. AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Air quality may reach Unhealthy levels in areas directly impacted by smoke, including the San Fernando Valley, portions of the San Gabriel Mountains near the fire, and the northwest Los Angeles County coastal area.

Due to additional wildfires in Riverside and Orange counties, air quality will reach Unhealthy levels in the smoke-impacted areas of Corona and Norco, portions of Orange County and southern coastal areas of Los Angeles County. Surrounding areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties may reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups level or higher, depending on fire conditions and wind flows.

Keep your windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot inside. In these cases, seek alternate shelter. Run your air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.

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The Orange County Emergency Opreration Center Reports that the
91 Freeway is Closed Between the 71 Freeway and Green River Rd.
Total distance: 4830.73 ft

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The Cascades Apartments at 8604 E. Whitewater Drive in Anaheim Hills are on fire at this hour. Buildings to the east and closest to the 91 freeway are burning. Blog reports have the fire fighters battling flames and securing the apartments that are not on fire. Visability from heavy smoke is reported at 10 feet.

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ORANGE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER ACTIVATED FOR WILDFIRE RESPONSE; SOME HOMES LOST AND EVACUATIONS ORDERED

The Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County Sheriff’s Department and other county and city agencies are responding to wildfires in the Brea and Yorba Linda areas. The Orange County Emergency Operation Center has been activated because of the fires.

Some homes have been reported lost in the blaze. There are no reports of injuries.

A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for the Olinda Ranch area, at Valencia Avenue and Lambert Road.

A voluntary evacuation has been advised for the vicinity east of State College Road and North of Lambert Road.

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Shelters have been set up at Esperanza High School, at 1830 N. Kellogg, Anaheim and the Brea Community Center, 695 Madison Ave., Brea.

The Public Information Hotline at the Orange County Emergency Operations Center (714) 628-7085 has been activated for any inquiries.

For the latest information go to the Orange County EOC Website at:
OC EOC

Friends of Public Library hold Sidewalk Book Sale
Friends of Orange Public Library are holding a sidewalk sale on the History Walk at the Orange Main Library and History Center, Saturday, 15 November, from 10:00 until 4:00.

The complete inventory of books from a closed community library will be sold at $1 per bag (supermarket sized which we shall provide). Proceeds go to aid the Orange Library.

The Friends of the Orange Public Library is a non-profit organization of community residents who believe in the value and future of our public library. Since 1959 the “Friends” have support the Orange Library in a variety of ways including: the Friends Bookstore; by receiving and encouraging personal donations and bequests from estates and distributions from trusts; and by encouraging community support for a better library..

The support group has generously provide the Orange Library with the following: Financial support for the Children's Summer Reading Program; Large print books Children's books for branch libraries; Encyclopedias and CD Roms; Funds for other projects requested by the Library; Outreach Programs - books to transient children, veterans, the Olive Crest Home for Abused Children and other groups; Animal sculptures in Children's Library & support Orange Unified School District's yearly Festival of the Arts.

Pitcher Park Persimmon Party
The 14th Annual Pitcher Park Persimmon Party will be this Sunday November 16th from 12 noon to 3 pm. Music, vendors and exhibits, cookbooks, baked goods and of course…lots of persimmons! The Pitcher Park Museum, Fire Museum and Honey House will also be open.

Pitcher Park was the home of Henry and Grace Pitcher beginning in 1912, and was gifted to the city of Orange in 1988

Metro TALK
is a community service of ORANGE NET NEWS /O/N/N/
OrangeNet.News@gmail.com

ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD

$30,000 for “Limited Benefits” Consultant Program

A month after the latest release of an on-going federal report by the U.S. Department of Education on the Bush Administration’s consultant driven Reading First program found “limited benefits” to the program, the Orange Unified School Board at the November 13th meeting is scheduled to approve a request for $300 per person training for 100 OUSD teachers by the San Diego County Office of Education for “customized training to support Reading First schools with the implementation of the Reading First grant for the 2008-2009 school year”. The $30,000 request to use the Reading First Grant educational tax funds by the Drier Administration for the controversial federal program is on the automatically approved November 13th Consent Item (Agenda Item 14 L page 46). Reading First was mandated seven years ago in the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act and has cost taxpayers $1 billion dollars a year. Those funds are allotted by formula to states in grants. In 2002, California was allotted $900 million over a six-year period for the Reading First program. The agenda item is to use the grant funds for two-day training in San Diego by the San Diego Office of Education to implement the program that by all accounts will not be renewed in the next federal budget, especially after last months federal report that showed the program has failed to work.

The Reading First program requires that federal designated Title I Schools use the federal educational tax funds on “Scientifically Based Reading Research” and consultants called “coaches” to provide children be proficient readers by third grade. However, having billions of dollars in tax funds flowing to consultants opened a Pandora’s Box of problems. In September 2006 an internal report by the Office of Inspector General in the U.S. Department of Education found sever conflicts of interest with consultants hired to train teachers and state education personnel. Using a practice common to the educational consultant world, the report found that the consultants were co-authors of reading materials that they were selling as part of the training, causing states to believe that they were required to purchase the consultant written materials with the federal Reading First funds in order to keep the funding. The consultant deceit caused the U.S. Department of Education to take the unusual step of publishing a statement to correct the widely circulated consultant propaganda that the states were not required to purchase a particular reading program (pushed by consultants) as a requirement to receive the federal funding. The U.S. Department of Education then undertook a large scale nation-wide study into the effectiveness of the Reading First program called the Reading First Impact Study. The study released this year found that the Reading First program does not improve student’s reading comprehension over schools that do not use the program, but instead just follow standard best practices for reading.

The U.S. Department of Education’s final implementation report on Reading First was released October 9, 2008 and received wide publicity in both the education world and by the mainstream news media. The report concluded that while the Reading First principles had been implemented in participating schools, those changes resulted in limited achievement gains. Schools not participating in Reading First used many of the commonly accepted best practice tenets of the program; use of assessment data; scientifically based instructional materials; and extended reading blocks.The study found that those schools had gains as much if not more in reading than the Reading First schools. The study found that schools that did not spend money on the Reading First program were still implementing the widely-known best practices that were incorporated into the Reading First program. U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings stated:

“Title I schools that are not receiving Reading First funds are applying many of the same strategies and are seeing results”

Earlier this year an interim federal impact study on Reading First by the Institute of Educational Studies concluded that there is little definitive data on the programs effectiveness. The research study found that Reading First had no measurable effect, on average, on student’s reading comprehension. Despite the growing research on its ineffectiveness, the Reading First program is popular in educational mega-businesses. The program is especially popular with educational consultants and education publishers because of the billions of tax dollars pumped into the bloated education industrial complex through the now discredited program. In light of the growing evidence against the effectiveness of Reading First, in the 2008 federal budget, the program funding was cut by 62% and two Congressional panels have recommended eliminating the program altogether in 2009. OUSD however seems not to have been in the loop.

Despite all the very public evidence against the effectiveness of Reading First, the realities of a national financial crisis and the reality that the program will not be around next year, the Drier Administration apparently is not concerned with the waste of funds and is proposing wasting $30,000 in educational tax funds and wasting the time of 100 OUSD teachers in a program that is on the verge of being cancelled. Like OUSD’s failed Focus on Results consultant program, Reading First is on the verge of being part of the OUSD Boondoggle Hall of Fame.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on the research:
INSTITUTE REPORT
and
USDE Reading First
and
Washington Post Story
and
EDUCATION WEEKLY REPORT
and
NPR REPORT


INSIDE Review of the October 30th OUSD Board Meeting

A healthy looking and typically jovial OUSD Board President Wes Poutsma stayed for most of the Open Session of the October 30th OUSD Board Meeting as the OUSD Censors again censored the dais photo display of OUSD Trustee Steve Rocco in the community broadcast to the public.

The OUSD Board approved the Certificates of Participation to fund continued OUSD school modernization projects. Borrowing $95 million to fund $42.3 million dollars in projects, the total projected cost after interest, insurance (Letter of Credit), and Remarketing Fees will be $208 million dollars over the 30 year life of the program. Fiscal conservative Trustee Rick Ledesma questioned OUSD Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Jon Archibald about refinancing fees after the initial 3 year fixed rate. Archibald stated that the contract was “multimodal” and converting the loan’s terms after the fixed three year 3% period could be done without incurring additional finance charges. Ledesma went on to congratulate the OUSD Administration for aggressively finding money in grants and other available state funding sources that traditionally have gone to other districts to fund modernization.

OUSD Trustee Kathy Moffat asked Archibald to explain if the current OUSD borrowing of Certificates of Participation modernization strategy, a pay as you go strategy, or a local bond was needed to fund all of OUSD’s school modernization. Archibald explained that the $43 million in the current projects will end up with a total of 23% of OUSD classrooms modernized. Archibald explained that the current model and a pay-as-you go model does not address all schools district-wide or many needed modernization issues (like multipurpose rooms), is a slower process, plus creates inequities in the district and with surrounding districts that have passed facilities bonds. Archibald added that the current model of borrowing allows OUSD to access matching state funds that a pay-as-you-go model may not allow.


Archibald to Moffat: “It’s our own people”
Moffat then echoed Ledesma’s sentiment of congratulating the OUSD Administration for doing a good job in getting state funding from a variety of funding sources. Then in a strange moment, Moffat tried to tie that success to the OUSD Consultant Culture. Moffat tried to use the feel-good moment to defend the millions of wasted dollars voted on by OUSD Trustees for wasteful educational consultants (not surprising, Moffat has a 100% YES voting record for spending those educational tax dollars on consultants). In an awkward moment, Archibald however corrected Moffat telling her that it was OUSD employees, not outside consultants, that worked hard to get the outside funding sources. While Archibald stated that his office does use architects and the like for needed technical consultations, he quickly corrected Moffat’s attempt to tie the unpopular OUSD “Cosmetic Consultants” to his offices work in securing the additional funding. Archibald told Moffat, “It’s our own people” responsible for the finding the funding not consultants.

Ortega focuses district on Homework Gone Wild
Responding to continual complaints of overburdened homework by maxed out parents, OUSD Trustee John Ortega asked the OUSD Administration to present information on the OUSD homework policies. The OUSD Administration presented the OUSD district homework policy and elementary and secondary district-wide homework surveys with guidelines on how much homework should be expected at different grade levels. In the end, the OUSD Administrators thanked the Board for making them focus on the issue. Ortega however would not let the Administrators off so easy. In eloquent and non-confrontational tone he lamented that “kids don’t have time” to be kids as he made a case for balancing school and family life that he and many parents face. He made a case for “quality not quantity” and while recognizing that state standards must be met, he questioned the inconsistency of homework given across the district. As the OUSD Assistant Superintendent for Educational Service Marsha Brown told the Board that the efforts on homework would be a “work in progress”, Ortega refused to let the issue end asking for frequent follow-ups to see how the issue is being addressed. Of note was the educational buzz word “rigor” was not uttered once by the OUSD Administrators .

INSIDE the November 13th OUSD Board Meeting: Rocco and Poutsma Farewell

The November 13th, 2008 OUSD Board meeting will be the final meeting for Trustees Steve Rocco and Wes Poutsma. At the December 11th OUSD Board Meeting, newly elected trustees Mark Wayland and Alexia Deligianni will be seated and the Trustees will select Board officers for next year. The Board will also review the Superintendent’s Goals and Objectives for 2008-2009, get an update on the OUSD Energy Saving Program and get an updated Audit Report of the current fiscal year.

Item 14 A page 6: Parker & Covert law firm $200,000 for anticipated legal services for the period January 1, 2009- June 30, 2009.


INSIDE the OUSD Budget

INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2008:
$883,800 Total
2008 Attorney Fee Tally:
11/13/08 Parker & Covert (for 1/09 -6/09) ($200,000)
6/19/08 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
6/05/08 Miller, Brown & Dannis $ 40,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $150,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $200,000
2/07/08 Parker & Covert $100,000
11/15/07 Parker & Covert (for 1/08 to 6/08) $200,000
Attorney Fee TOTAL: $750,000

2008 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
11/13/08 SDCDE (Reading First) $30,000
10/30/08 Dr. Willard Daggett (ICLE) $ 4,500
10/16/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 4,200
9/25/08 Visual Ink for Sadler Consultant $ 6,600
9/25/08 Bob Sadler Consultant Fee $ 8,500
9/25/08 Candace Simpson-Sadler Helper $ 5,500
7/24/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 10,000
4/17/08 Dr. Kenneth Stichter Speaker Fee $ 6,500
3/7/08 Dr. Kathleen Weigel Speaker Fee $ 8,000
Consultant Total $ 83, 800

2008 TOTAL $883,800

Former Superintendent Godley’s Retirement Bonus running total (beginning 8/2008):
$4840.00*

* The Godley Retirement Bonus presented here is an estimate of the amount in “bonus retirement” accrued since the Superintendent’s retirement on 6/30/08 using a 6% lifetime formula calculated at $1210 a month since 8/08. The actual retirement plan the former OUSD Superintendent opted to take is not public information and the figures presented are only as an estimate of the taxpayer costs after the OUSD trustees voted against an amendment to exclude Godley from the retirement program. The on-going estimated figure is presented as a reminder to the community of the high cost in educational tax dollars the OUSD Board vote to allow the former Superintendent to participate in the 6% retirement incentive cost the OUSD education community in tax dollars. Godley retired from OUSD on June 30, 2008 after he worked for the school district for a little over five years.

Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00
2007 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
4/30/07 Debra Ford Speaker Fee $ 4,090
4/30/07 Danny Brassell Speaker Fee $ 3,500
3/8/07 Dr. Daggett Speaker Fee $ 9,000
9/27/07 Dr. Daggett Speaker Fee $ 35,000
11/15/07 OCDE High Priority Consultants $115,000
Total $166,590

2007 Attorney Fee Tally:
1/18/07 Parker & Covert (1/07 to 6/07) $175,000
(6/07-12/07) $200,000
2/08/07 Miller, Brown, and Dannis $ 7, 500
2/22/07 Parker & Covert $ 45,000
5/10/07 Miller, Brown and Dannis $ 50,000
7/19/07 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
Total $537,500

2007 Administrative Conference/Travel: hidden since 6/8/06**

**JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to APPROVE Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA

Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2006: $849,717.00*
2006 Consultant Fee Tally: Total $176,400
2006 Attorney Fee Tally: Total Approved $655,000
2006 Administrative Conference/Travel: Total $ 18,317 *

* JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to
APPROVE OUSD Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA

Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2005: $978,300.00:
Total 2005 Conference Administrator/Board Fees: $ 7,500.00
2005 Attorney Fee Tally: $730,600.00
Total Watched 2005 OUSD Consultant spending: $ 270,200.00


Next OUSD Board Meeting November 13th, 2008
for more information CLICK ON:NOV 13 MEETING

OUSD CLOSED SESSION STARTS 6:30 PM, Regular Session: 7:30 pm
For more information call the OUSD Superintendent’s office at 714-628-4040
For budgeting questions call Business Services at 714-628-4015

ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
Independent insight into OUSD
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com

El Modena High School teacher Carlie Attebury pleaded not guilty today, Monday November 10th, 2008 in a Santa Ana Superior Court to eight felony charges that included two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. Attebury’s bail was also raised from $50,000 to $250,000. Charged also with dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, Attebury was ordered to not have any contact with the alleged under aged victim. If convicted, Attebury could receive over eight years in prison on all counts.

Attebury appeared with her attorney Stephen Klarich. a founding partner of the Tustin law firm Wallin & Kalrich, An accomplished lecturer, his presentations include “Defending Sex cases” and “Defending Teachers Accused of Crimes” , His website states:

"Over the past 27 years, I have successfully defended over 5000 people accused of committing crimes, including murder, manslaughter, rape, child molestation, attempted murder, conspiracy, drug offenses, domestic violence, all juvenile matters, three strike cases, robbery and burglary in both state and federal courts."

Attebury's preliminary hearing will take place on January 26th, 2009.

FOR MORE INFROMATION CLICK ON:
S. KLARICH

Greater Orange to celebrate Veterans Day

Orange’s Depot Park will again host the local observance of Veteran’s Day on Tuesday November 11th from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Depot Park’s .44 acres is located adjacent to Orange’s historic Amtrak train station. The land for the park was originally acquired in 1887. Today Depot Park is the site of Orange’s Veteran’s Memorial at the Memorial Monument and Fountain. The local landmark was dedicated in the year 2000 along with the iconic Millennium Clock at the park and has become host to the annual local Veteran’s Day observance.

The Orange Public Library, Friends of the Orange Public Library, and the El Modena Community Historical Committee are hosting a celebration honoring military veterans’ outstanding service to our country from the El Modena Barrio. Part of the Orange Public Library local history project, “Shades of Orange-El Modena Barrio” will feature a digital photo display featuring El Modena area veterans. The Shades of Orange project is part of a federal Library Services and Technology Grant. The project’s goal is to preserve the local heritage of the El Modena Barrio area in stories and photographs. The project will part of the permanent collection of the Orange Public Main Library and History Center with the El Modena Branch housing the veteran’s display.

The free public event honoring the local veterans will take place at the El Modena Branch Library, 380 S. Hewes Ave., on Thurs., Nov. 13, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. Many Americans confuse the Veterans Day holiday with Memorial Day. In addition to the confusion, some Americans don't know why we commemorate our veterans on November11. Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Deceased veterans are also remembered on Veterans Day but the day is set aside to thank and honor living veterans who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime.

It is important to understand the history of Veterans Day to honor our former service members properly. Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, November 11th was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'" . The new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress , at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971.

After much lobbying from veteran’s groups, on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on November 11.

Faces of Freedom Tribute CLICK ON:
Faces of FREEDOM


THE BIG ONE to hit Greater Orange
on November 13 in ShakeOut

Imagine a 7.8 earthquake occurring on the southern San Andreas Fault that is approximately 5,000 times stronger than the 5.4 earthquake we all felt in Southern California on July 29th. In a 7.8 quake, the shaking will last for over two minutes causing unprecedented damage in Southern California many times dwarfing the 1994 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake.

That’s the scenario for this week’s statewide earthquake drill known as The Great Southern California ShakeOut that state and local public agencies and Orange Unified schools in the Greater Orange Communities will be taking part in. This year’s exercise is codenamed “Golden Guardian ‘08”. The ShakeOut scenario estimates the simulated 7.8 quake on November 13th will cause 2,000 deaths, 50,000 injuries, $200 billion in damage and severe regional long-lasting disruptions.

ShakeOut exercises will be happening in conjunction with the three-day International Earthquake Conference in downtown Los Angeles on November 11-14. The conference has scientists, policymakers and emergency responders from around the world discussing quake-related policies and recommending measures to increase safety.

The goal of the ShakeOut, which is being spearheaded by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the Caltech seismology department, is to develop disaster relief plans for the next big temblor, which many of the scientists involved say could measure as high as magnitude 7.8 on the Richter scale.

Although imaginary, the Shakeout Scenario is based on scientists' best predictions of what would actually occur during and after a major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault.

The ShakeOut Scenario outlines a hypothetical earthquake on November 13th at 10 am in which:

• The strongest shaking and greatest damage is near the stretch of the San Andreas Fault that extends through the fastest growing areas of Southern California, including the Coachella Valley, Inland Empire and Antelope Valley.

• At least 10 million people will be exposed to heavy shaking. California's efforts at mitigation have concentrated on life safety and have been largely successful. Thus, in spite of the large numbers of people in highly shaken areas, deaths are estimated at only 1,800.

• Building types known to be vulnerable to damage and collapse, do indeed sustain major damage. All un-reinforced masonry buildings within 15 miles of the San Andreas Fault are completely destroyed. Those that are not retrofitted kill many occupants. Many other older building types without retrofitting contribute to over $33 billion in damage to buildings.

• The fault offsets all lifelines crossing into Southern California at Cajon Pass (Interstate 15), San Gorgonio Pass (Interstate 10) and along Route 14, including pipelines, power lines, roads, railways, telecommunications and aqueducts.

• Strong shaking continues in downtown Los Angeles for 55 seconds - nearly 8 times longer than in the Northridge Earthquake

• The prolonged, strong shaking heavily damages and sometimes collapses hundreds of old brick buildings, thousands of older commercial and industrial concrete buildings, many wood-frame buildings, and even a few, high-rise steel buildings. Over 600,000 buildings suffer at least some damage that causes tens of thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths, and leaves many thousands of people without homes or jobs.

• Fire doubles the fatalities and economic losses. Around Southern California, there will be 1,600 fires started large enough to warrant a 911 call, and some fires merge into conflagrations that burn hundreds of city blocks. Assuming no Santa Ana winds, the models still indicate a further $65 billion in direct losses and $22 billion in indirect losses from the fires.

• Nearly two thirds of the hospital beds are non-functional in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. At the same time, 50,000 people will seek treatment at emergency rooms.

• Thanks to a $6 billion investment in seismic safety, the State highway system fares well. However, although collapse is avoided, some bridges are non-functional so that much of the highway is not passable on the day of the event. The long duration of shaking takes a greater toll on bridges and overpasses under the jurisdiction of cities and counties where the retrofitting processes are not complete or have not begun.

• The largest long-term economic disruption comes from damage to the water distribution system. Damage to this system will be so extensive that some areas will have to replace the whole system, and some buildings will be without water for as long as 6 months. The direct and indirect business interruption costs attributed to the lack of water will be $50 billion.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK ON:
ShakeOut


Metro TALK is a community service of ORANGE NET NEWS /O/N/N/
OrangeNet.News@gmail.com

SPECIAL REPORT
eLECTION Watch 2008
an Orange Net News
Special News and Analysis Series

DELIGIANNI and WAYLAND win OUSD

Republican Party backed and Education Alliance tied Alexia Deligianni and Mark Wayland were elected to the Orange Unified School Board Tuesday night. The pair who ran as the AM slate defeated the well-financed and establishment-endorsement-rich Arianna Barrios and Florice Hoffman. The local race was part of a huge ballot that apparently led voters to rely on slate endorsements. Conservative Proposition 8 voters also appear to have made an impact in their voting to approve the initiative in Orange County 57% to 42.3%. In the two way race between Barrios and Wayland, the voting percentages closely mirrored the Proposition 8 vote: Wayland 56.9% and Barrios 43%. The OUSD Board philosophical split still favors the Godley Majority of Kathy Moffat, Lissa Smith, Kim Nichols; and John Ortega. Independent fiscal conservative Trustee Rick Ledesma often was the odd man out with oppositional defiant Trustee Steve Rocco often voting apart from the majority. Rocco came in third in his bid for a Santa Ana City Council seat and will have his last OUSD meeting this month.

Trustee John Ortega now appears to be the swing vote on any major future issues that may split the OUSD Board. The much more conservative Ortega has often appeared to be a reluctant member of the Godley Majority, but has yet to find his own voice on the Board. OUSD Board watchers attribute Ortega’s silent voting style to the demands of his duties as an Orange County Deputy Sheriff and family obligations.

GREATER ORANGE ELECTION RESULTS

ORANGE UNIFIED TRUSTEE AREA 3
Alexia Deligianni 17,503
Jerry Winant 16,928
Florice Hoffman 16,055

ORANGE UNIFIED TRUSTEE AREA 6
Mark Wayland 29,302
Arianna Barrios 22,170

CITY OF ORANGE COUNCIL (2 seats)
Teresa “Tita” Smith 17,948
Jon Dumitru 15,841
Robert Douglas 7,660
Michael Farrel 7,213
Stuart Campbell 5,564

CITY OF ORANGE CITY TREASURER
Helen Walker 22,641
George “Geb” Small 6,697

Orange County Water District Two
Denis Bilodeau 32,981
Bill Nelson 13,437


City of Villa Park Council (2 seats)
Bill MacAloney 1,806
W. Richard Ulmar 1,674
Patricia Burnes 1,102

Silverado-Modjeska Recreation District (2 seats)
Brett Peterson 462
Marty Weel 347
Kip Craig 286
Mike Colgan 165

#AA- City of Villa Park National Motto Display
Yes 2,240
No 668

Santa Ana City Council Ward 3
Carlos Bustamante 15,223
Art Pedroza 5,830
Steve Rocco 5,476
Becky Valencia-Verdin 4,267


eLECTION Watch 2008
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/

Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
“Independent Local Insight”