The order of appearance for floats and groups participating in the New Year’s Day parade was provided to the Dispatch today by Tournament of Roses media assistant Miranda Spradlin.
The Mission Viejo Float will be the 6th of 46 floats to move down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. It will follow the Science Hill High [...]
Archive for December, 2008
Updated Photo: Rose Parade Order: MV Will Be 6th Float
Posted in Events, Rose Parade Float, tagged Mission Viejo Rose Parade Float, Tournament of Roses on December 29, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Letter: Defending The SVN; Smokey & The Bandit
Posted in Animals, Letters to Editor, Media, Re-Branding & Mixed Use, tagged Saddleback Valley News, Smokey & the Bandit on December 28, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Before we launch into another rebuttal of Allan Pilger”s conservative Dispatch rants, let us note for the record that newly elected city council member Cathy Schlicht, in her acceptance speech, thanked Allan for helping her get Smokey and the Bandit’s endorsement. That was more important than standing on a street corner holding a campaign sign [...]
Chloe Shows Depth In Oklahoma City
Posted in People, Rose Parade Float, Sports, tagged Chloe Sutton, Claire Singley, Kati Meili, Mission Viejo Nadadores, Tom Shields on December 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Next week 16-year-old Chloe Sutton will represent the Nadadores on the Mission Viejo Rose Parade Float, but yesterday she was competing in Oklahoma City at the Chesapeake Elite Pro-Am.
Best known for her longer distance swimming, Sutton exhibited a broader range during the weekend event with a second-place 2:03.82 in the women’s 200 fly. Teammate Tom Shields [...]
Letter: Heads In Sand
Posted in Budget, Letters to Editor, tagged California Bankrupt, Michael Kennedy, Mission Viejo Budget on December 22, 2008 | 6 Comments »
The city staff and most of the council have their heads deeply embedded in sand. They have squandered city funds and seem not to have any intention of cutting back before they get into serious trouble. There should be NO salary raises for staff or council members. The state of California may go bankrupt in [...]
Revenue Shortfall: Cut Proposed To Staff Pay Raise
Posted in Budget, Council Votes, tagged City Hall Pay Raise, Mission Viejo Budget Deficit on December 20, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The approximately 150 employees (full-time-equivalent) at City Hall are scheduled to receive a 3.5% pay raise next month which was previously approved by the City Council. But the City is experiencing a revenue shortfall, and is considering reducing the raise to 2%.
”The City currently anticipates that its General Fund revenues for FY 2008-09 will come [...]
Federal Agents Raid MV Company
Posted in Business, tagged Department of Justice DOJ Investigation, Ensign Group, Federal Raid, Medicare Fraud on December 20, 2008 | 1 Comment »
On Wednesday federal authorities raided the Mission Viejo headquarters of the Ensign Group, located on Puerta Real. The raid was reportedly seeking evidence relating to a Medicare fraud investigation.
Ensign provides skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services and assisted living at 63 facilities in 6 Western states. Warrants were also served at 6 of those locations [...]
Water Commissioners Double Their Max Compensation
Posted in Utilities & Resident Services, tagged and Bill Lawson, Betty Olson, Charley Wilson, Roger Faubel, Santa Margarita Water District, Saundra Jacobs on December 20, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Most residents can’t vote to double their own compensation to offset the effects of a bad economy, but local offiials can. On Wednesday night water commissioners for the Santa Margarita District doubled their potential stipends, following a recent example by the Mission Viejo City Council.
The commissioners were receiving $175 per meeting up to 6 [...]
19-Yr-Old Driver Dead; Crashes Near Curtis Park
Posted in Crime & Public Safety, Passings, Traffic & Transportation, tagged Fatal Car Accident in Mission Viejo, Jose Merino Pacheco, Mission Viejo Fatal Car Crash, Mission Viejo Street Racing Crash on December 20, 2008 | 1 Comment »
At about 10:45 last night (Friday) a VW Jetta loaded with 5 male passengers crashed into a light pole and a tree at Olympiad and Escatron, just north of Curtis Park. The 19-year-old driver was pronounced dead at Mission Hospital about an hour after the crash. The coroner made a positive identification Saturday afternoon, and revised the [...]
Winning MV Holiday Displays: Addresses & Driving Directions
Posted in Events, tagged Christmas Lighting Displays, Holiday Lighting Contest, Holiday Outdoor Lighting Contest Winners, Mission Viejo Activities Committee on December 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Mission Viejo Activities Committee has announced this year’s 10 winning outdoor holiday displays. Residents can take their own tour by using the following link showing the addresses and directions to the homes.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ADDRESSES AND DRIVING DIRECTIONS . . .
Carter Survives Firing Frenzy; Future Uncertain
Posted in Schools, tagged Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees, CUSD Board, Ellen Addonizio, Woodrow Carter on December 19, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Opponents of the new CUSD Board, led by the teachers’ union, went into a frenzy at the prospect that Superintendent Woodrow Carter might be fired yesterday. Carter was appointed to his position by the old Board after James Fleming was terminated amid a District scandal.
On Wednesday a 24-hour notice was posted for a Special Meeting with [...]
Letter: Local Newspaper Shrinks; Drops Wednesdays
Posted in Letters to Editor, Media, tagged Allan Pilger, Orange County Register, Saddleback Valley News on December 19, 2008 | 3 Comments »
The Orange County Register announced this week it is discontinuing Wednesday publication of the Saddleback Valley News. The weekly will continue publishing Fridays.
Earlier this year the Register resumed Wednesday publishing after many years of Friday only service with pickup of many ads from Friday. As important, an SVN reporter connected with a city activist and covered [...]
Tollroad: U.S. Paves Different Route For 241 Extension
Posted in Traffic & Transportation, tagged 241 Toll Road, 241 Tollroad Extension, Coastal Commission, Department of Commerce, Foothill Tollroad Extension, La Pata, TCA, TCA Appeal, Transportation Corridor Agency on December 19, 2008 | 4 Comments »
The Commerce Department released a report yesterday identifying a less costly alternate route for extending the 241 Foothill Toll Road. The Foothill Tollroad Agency (TCA) had appealed to the federal department because the California Coastal Commission earlier denied its preferred route (green on map) from Oso Parkway in Mission Viejo to the I-5 Freeway near the Trestles [...]
‘Jingle Run’ By Schoolkids Delivers Toys
Posted in Events, Schools, tagged Mini-marathon, Sally Bolles on December 13, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Students from Del Lago, Barcelona and Castille Elementary Schools took a one-mile ‘Jingle Run’ this morning (Saturday) after donating toys at a local Fire Station.
The run between the Fire Station to Flo Jo Park was part of ongoing running activities which will lead to ‘marathon’ achievement for the K-6 students. The program began several weeks ago at each [...]
Outside Facilitator Will Help Set City Goals
Posted in Uncategorized on December 12, 2008 | 4 Comments »
An outside consultant will try to help the Council set strategic goals for the City at its budget meeting next Monday. The consultant was hired by the city manager to help facilitate a harmonious working relationship among council members.
A ‘kumbaya’ facilitator has been retained by the City several times over the past few [...]
