SC Insider

Camp Pendleton Marine Dies in Afghanistan

 

From the Governor's Office:   Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement regarding the death of Lance Cpl. Nigel K. Olsen, 21 of Orem, UT: "Lance Corporal Nigel Olsen was a heroic Marine who put his life on the line, willingly facing danger to defend the freedoms we are lucky enough to enjoy every day. His death is a terrible loss for our country and our armed forces. Maria and I send our most sincere condolences and prayers to his family, friends and fellow Marines during this very difficult time." Olsen, 21, died March 4 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, CA. In honor of Lance Cpl. Olsen, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.

California Fair Elections Act Meeting on Feb. 28

California Fair Elections Act
WHEN: Meeting Sunday, February 28th  4 pm to 6pm
WHERE: Laguan Woods Village, Clubhouse 3, Dining Room 1, 23822 Avenida Sevilla, Laguna Woods
WHAT: Learn how fair elections will take politicians out of the fundraising game.
              And, enjoy FREE refreshments
More info: www.YesOnProp15.org or (310) 397-0200

Here's an Example of Not-So-Good Government...

This doesn't happen here ...

From the Los Angeles Time:

D.A. launches inquiry into Carson mayor's use of a mute button

February 9, 2010

Carson's mayor has a tool that almost any politician would love to have: a mute button. If someone talks too much at a City Council meeting, with a flick of the finger, the microphone goes dead.

 

But after receiving a complaint that Mayor Jim Dear was shutting people down because he didn't like what they were saying, rather than waiting until they had used up their allotted three minutes of free speech time, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office is looking into whether he has violated the state's open meetings law.

It's a very unique complaint," said David Demerjian, who heads the district attorney's Public Integrity Division. "I have never heard of a mute button being used by a mayor of any city in the county of Los Angeles

Here's the entire story.

Any Ideas for a New CUSD Superintendent?

WE WANT YOUR INPUT: The CUSD Board of Education has initiated its search for a new superintendent.  Information regarding the Superintendent Search is available at www.capousd.org.   A Parent Forum will be held to gather your input on the development of a profile of leadership for the new superintendent.  The Parent Forum will be held on:

 

Tuesday, February 16th

7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

at two locations…

Las

Flores

School

25862 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita 92688

&

CUSD Education Center Board Room

33122 Valle Road

,

San Juan Capistrano

92675

 

 

We have also provided a Leadership Profile Assessment Form on our website which will give all stakeholders the opportunity to voice input. We hope that you will take some time to fill this out and return it as directed.  Your input is valued. 

 

Columbine Victim's Drawings, Diary at Saddleback

•  

   

  Saddleback College’s Five Minute Project, a student organization that focuses on deliberate acts of kindness, invites the community to experience Rachel’s Challenge, a story of hope and courage as told through the diaries and drawings of Rachel Scott, the first person killed in the tragic Columbine shootings, on Monday, February 8th at 12:00 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre. Admission is free and open to the public. Parking is free in lots 9 and 10.
  
  President Tod A. Burnett, President of Saddleback College, stated, “Rachel’s Challenge is a truly powerful presentation and I encourage all to attend this life-changing event.  Thank you to our students in the Five Minute Project for their leadership in sponsoring this event and encouraging kindness and compassion as a way to make positive change.”
  
  Justin Huft, Founder and President of the Five Minute Project, stated, “On behalf of The Five Minute Project at Saddleback College, I would like to say how excited we are to have Rachel’s Challenge here on campus.  The Five Minute Project’s vision of kindness and compassion matches Rachel’s ideas of altruism and doing the right thing.  We think that this presentation will be really great for this campus and our students.  Let’s start a chain reaction!” 

  On April 20, 1999, schools were changed forever when the Columbine shootings took place. Rachel Scott was the first student to be killed, but thankfully her loving spirit has lived on through Rachel’s Challenge, an organization founded by her father, Darrell Scott. Rachel’s Challenge uses writings and drawings from Rachel’s diaries to illustrate the need for a kinder, more compassionate nation. Powerful video/audio footage of Rachel's life and the Columbine tragedy holds students spell-bound during a one hour school presentation that motivates them to positively change the way they treat others.

   

  The Five Minute Project is an organization founded by Saddleback College students Justin Huft and Vince Breck, who were inspired by Rachel’s life and created their organization to focus on deliberate acts of kindness, change the way we look at ourselves and others, chivalry, and kindness and compassion.

   

  Please join The Five Minute Project and Rachel’s Challenge to learn how you can take action!

   

  For more information on the Five Minute Project, visit http://www.thefiveminuteproject.org/ and for Rachel’s Project, visit http://www.rachelschallenge.org/

   

  For Saddleback College maps and parking information, please go to: www.saddleback.edu

Hapa J's Fundraiser for SCHS Surf Team

Come out and support the San Clemente High School surf team on Wednesday, Jan. 27 as the restaurant will donate 15% of all proceeds collected that day and night to the team.

"Simply come enjoy a Hawaiian style meal at Hapa J's and at the end of the meal place your receipt in the designated Surf Team box," said SCHS surf team coach John Dowell.
 
Hapa J's is located at 2016 S. El Camino Real.

Orange County Law Enforcement initiates holiday DUI campaign

(release from OCSD)

Friday, December 18th

AVOID – A Multi-Agency DUI Task Force.

This last weekend there were a total of 31 DUI arrests and one incident that resulted in an injury. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. During the holiday season Orange County Law Enforcement Officers will increase their efforts to make the streets and highways of Orange County safer from motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol.

This will be accomplished through saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints. Law Enforcement Officers will apprehend individuals with outstanding arrest warrants for DUI- related offenses. Law Enforcement Officers will also be assigned to patrol the county’s courthouses for anyone driving to court without a driver’s license.

Local police, Sheriff, and CHP encourage all motorists to assist in making our communities safer by reporting Drunk Drivers. When you see a car swerving, driving much too fast or much too slow, braking for no reason, driving with no headlights at night or signaling one way and turning the other, please call 9-1-1.

Additional information about the Avoid Program and operational plans from around the region can be found at www.californiaavoid.org. Statistical data on the number of DUI arrests and DUI fatal crashes will be released from the previous day’s activities throughout the holiday weekend.

 

DUI Checkpoints Galore in 2010

 

MORE THAN 250 CHECKPOINTS PLANNED DECEMBER 18-JANUARY 3,

2500 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

(Sacramento, Calif.) — Just in time for the upcoming holiday travel season, state traffic safety officials continued to tighten their firm grip on drunk drivers today by and declaring 2010 as “The Year of the Checkpoint" and announcing a record $8 million in grant funding to 148 law enforcement agencies for DUI checkpoints – up from $5 million in 2009.  The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) will fund more than 2,500 sobriety checkpoints in 2010, a 47 percent increase over the 1,700 conducted this year, more than 250 of which will take place between December 18 and January 3 as part of the December DUI Crackdown enforcement campaign, Report Drunk Drivers. Call 911.

“To my knowledge, California conducts more checkpoints than any other state,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy.  “DUI checkpoints are time-tested and proven as the most effective DUI countermeasure and I’m gratified that we’re seeing the life-saving results.”

Since OTS and law enforcement began placing increased emphasis and funding toward sobriety checkpoints in 2006, alcohol-related deaths have declined in

California

.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System, DUI deaths declined in

California

by 9.1 percent between 2007 and 2008, marking a total decrease of nearly 21 percent from the most recent

high point

in 2005.  In addition, statewide DUI arrests in 2008 were 214,811 – the highest since 1993.

“The California Highway Patrol will join more than 400 local agencies across the state over the next two weeks and throughout next year, taking part in sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and multi agency task force operations to get drunk drivers off the roads,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.  “The public can help by, first and foremost, planning ahead before you celebrate and designating a non-drinking driver.  If you see a drunk driver, call 911.”

All the research points to DUI checkpoints as a major contributor to the declines.  When checkpoints are mounted effectively and regularly, studies have shown up to 25 percent declines in alcohol related deaths and injuries.

OTS will fund checkpoint operations by the CHP and regional ‘Avoid’ DUI task force programs covering 42 counties and over 400 local police departments.  Increased checkpoints will target California’s “Top 50 DUI Cities” with even more sobriety checkpoints in 2010.  The number of OTS-funded DUI checkpoints in these ‘Top 50 DUI Cities’ topped out at 605 in FFY 2009.  With increased funding, that number is expected to hit 975 in 2010, an increase of over 60 percent.

In addition to the checkpoints, the state’s traffic safety and transportation departments are working together on multiple enforcement and public education fronts, with OTS, CHP, Caltrans, Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) all playing major roles.  Among private sector partners in the effort are more than 1,300 7-Eleven stores throughout California and 115 Raley’s supermarkets in Northern California that have joined the campaign to promote the Plan Ahead. Designate a Sober Driver message.

“We are grateful for and heartened by the support of 7-Eleven and Raley’s management and employees,” said Director Murphy.  “By working together to encourage customers to use a sober designated driver when they celebrate, we can prevent serious DUI tragedies this holiday season.”

This special campaign is one of many tactics that are part of the on-going anti-DUI effort from the California Strategic Highway Safety Plan.  The plan lists the reduction of impaired driving-related fatalities as its first Challenge Area.

Grant funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be administered by the OTS through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.   For a list of the “Top 50 DUI Cities” and 148 special DUI grant cities, visit www.ots.ca.gov.

Ribbon Cutting for SC-SJC Trail Completion on Dec. 18

(City of San Clemente press release)

 

The long-awaited Forster Trail connection to San Juan Capistrano will soon be completed and will be formally dedicated on Friday, December 18^th at 10 a.m. by Orange County Board of Supervisors Chair, Pat Bates and members of the San Clemente City Council.  The ribbon cutting will take place in the general vicinity of the connection point along the trail.

On August 18^th, the City Council accepted an easement through the County’s Prima Deshecha Landfill located at 32250 Avenida La Pata in San Juan Capistrano. This was one of the hurdles to clear before the trail could officially open to the public.  Subsequently, the easement was approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Both approvals allowed for the physical improvements to be constructed by Stewart & Associates who graciously volunteered their services.  The improvements include:

·         Fencing to delineate the trail and landfill service road from sensitive habitat areas;

·          Vehicle and walk-thru gates at the junction between the two agencies; and,

·         Directional signage. 

                Now that the physical improvements are in place, the trail can be officially opened.  For more information, call (949) 361-8267 or log onto www.san-clemente.org.

SC Fire Station Participates in Food Drive

On Tuesday, November 24^th, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) will partner with KTLA Channel 5 and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County to hold a one-day food drive at 25 fire stations across Orange County from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. Only the listed OCFA Fire Stations will accept non-perishable food items

Donated foods will be distributed by Second Harvest Food Bank, who assists thousand of OC residents year round. “The Orange County Fire Authority is honored to be involved in this year’s event,” says Fire Chief Keith Richter. “Our employees are very active in their local communities and this is an excellent way to assist those in need.” This annual food drive has been very successful in Los Angeles County and this is the first year that it will take place here in Orange County.

San Clemente Fire House 50 is participating. It is located at 670 Camino de los Mares.