Orange County, CA Focus

Jan 26 Tuesday noon, Irvine: MoveOn Emergency Don't Give Up on Health Care Rally John Campbell's Newport Beach Office 610 Newport Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 pol.moveon.org/event/healthemergency/100634


News from Orange County:

GGUSD and Brown Act Violations: A follow-up...background here: The Importance of The Brown Act: An Elected Official’s Perspective

OC Deputies Ratify New Contract

Vietnamese Businessman Phu Nguyen Announces Assembly Bid

Melissa Fox Gears Up for 2010 Assembly Race


Harvey Milk Stonewall Democrats of Orange County: The Harvey Milk Stonewall Democrats of Orange County are dedicated to the mission of electing LGBT and Pro-Equality Democrats in California and throughout the country.

The Harvey Milk Stonewall Democrats of Orange County typically meet on the last Sunday of the month:

Local 50 Union Hall
527 S Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92805

Click here to join.


Orange County Biodiesel Cooperative: Working together to increase availability of biodiesel in the Orange County region. Biodiesel is better for the environment because it is made from renewable resources and has lower emissions compared to petroleum diesel. It is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. Since it is made in the USA from renewable resources such as soybeans, its use decreases our dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our own economy. Go to their website to sign up for more info.

And here are some other biodiesel stations in/near Orange County, CA:

Extreme Biodiesel: 1560 N Maple St, Corona, CA 92880, 888-998-7223. Offers B99.9 (nearly 100% biodiesel, good for newer diesel engines, some old engines not ok). MEMBERSHIP REQD

Nickey Petroleum: 925 S Lakeview Ave, Placentia,, CA 92870, 714-547-4123. Offers B20 (good for any diesel engine), B99 (ok for newer diesel engines). CALL AHEAD

Socal Biofuel: 1006 E South St, Anaheim, CA 92805, 888-888-4121. Offers B99 (good for newer diesel enginns, some old engines not ok). Open 8-4:30 M-F


I found this round up of events in Orange County, California, thanks to Orange County Democracy for America:

Jan 24 Sunday 11:30am, Santa Ana: United Nations Association Orange County Chapter Annual Meeting/Brunch/Silent Auction, Hacienda Restaurant, 1725 College Ave., Santa Ana. una-oc.org

Jan 24 Sunday 1pm, Irvine: Duck Club Democrats
Irvine Ranch Water District's Duck Club, 5 Riparian View, Irvine (at the end of the San Joaquin Preserve). The Duck Club is located at the end of Riparian View. Riparian View intersects Michelson Drive between Culver Drive and Jamboree Rd.

Jan 25 Monday 6:45-9pm, Fullerton: NUFF Orange County Supervisor Candidate Forum Fullerton Public Library 353 W. Commonwealth Ave. Fullerton, CA 92832-1796
Neighbors United for Fullerton will be hosting a forum featuring the Orange County Supervisor Candidates. The event will be moderate by O.C. Register journalist, Jennifer Muir. All are welcome to attend. The forum will allow voters to learn the candidates platform and important issues for Orange County.

Jan 27 Wednesday 6-8pm, Tustin: Dan Jacobson and Larry Agran Fundraiser for Melissa Fox at the offices of Jacobson & Associates 315 Centennial Way Tustin, CA 92730
Sponsor: $1500 Friend: $500 Guest: $75 RSVP at melissa@votemelissafox.com votemelissafox.com

Jan 27 (4th Wednesday) 6:30pm, Fountain Valley: Democratic Club of West Orange County Green Valley Community Center, 17250 Los Jardines West, Fountain Valley The Pernicious Effects of the Current War on Drugs. Speaker: Judge Jim Gray presiding judge of the Superior Court of Orange County. Much of Gray's legal career has dealt with drug-related issues. In 2001 he wrote Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It - A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs. He has argued for legalization of marijuana. Gray, a member of the Libertarian Party opposed Barbara Boxer in the Senate race in 2004. Gray is also featured in the 2007 documentary American Drug War: The Last White Hope.
Contact: Jo Anne Jennings 714-846-5201 j.l.jennings1944@yahoo.com. Web site: dcwoc.org

Jan 29 Friday 8:30am-4pm, Costa Mesa: Environmental Sustainability Conference at Vanguard University is a day long event to inform the public how to become more environmentally aware. Keynote speaker Martin Diedrich of Kean Coffee will focus on environmental sustainability with an emphasis on innovation and creativity. There will be various breakout sessions featuring speakers with expertise in living a green lifestyle, an exhibition of local businesses who employ eco-friendly practices, a panel of environmental experts for a time of Q&A with the audience, and a low carbon catered lunch. This event is open to anyone concerned about the health of our planet, with a special discount given for early bird registration and students. More information can be found on the Environmental Sustainability Conference website: greenconf.vusife.org

Jan 29 Friday 7pm, Westminster: Fundraiser for 68th AD Candidate Phu Nguyen. Paracel Seafood Restaurant, 15583 Brookhurst Street, Westminster, CA 92683. For more info: votephu.com or Email: votephu@gmail.com

Jan 30 Saturday 1-3pm, Buena Park: Fair Elections campaign North Orange County Kick-Off Come to the local campaign kick-off for the California Fair Elections Act! Join Assemblymember Hector De La Torre, campaign chair Trent Lange, and others so you can help pass Fair Elections that money can't buy.
Buena Park Senior Center, 8150 Knott Ave.., Buena Park Register Now Download Flyer
Please invite anyone you know who is sick of the outrageous amount of money in politics and might be interested in helping bring about Fair Elections. Imagine what California could be if our elected officials could focus on governing instead of fundraising!
Sponsors: California Clean Money Campaign, California Common Cause, California Nurses Association, League of Women Voters of North Orange County, Democrats of North Orange County, the Orange County Chapter of PDA, Reclaim Democracy, Robert F. Kennedy Democratic Club, Unitarian Church of Fullerton, and others to be announced.

Jan 30 Saturday 2:30-5:30pm, Santa Ana: Mexica New Year MEXICA MOVEMENT AND COLECTIVO TONANTZIN PRESENT:MEXICA NEW YEAR Celebrating Nican Tlaca Anahuac Heritage Saturday, January 30th 2010 at the Centro Cultural De Mexico 310 West 5th St. Santa Ana, CA 92701 Speakers Include: Gaby Trujillo * Scott Celtic Knot *Arturo Tolenttino * Gema Suarez *Nelyollotl Toltecatl * Carlos Cordova * Citlalli CitlalminaAnahuac * Olin Tezcatlipoca Special guest speaker:Enrique Morones from Border Angels to speak on the 2010 Caravana For Human Rights Event Program: 11 A.M. to 2 P.M : Spanish Language Lecture 2:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. English Language Lecture The lecture will cover Nican Tlaca identity,Nican Tlaca education and liberation,"Four Corners" history and cultures,"Indian Schools" of 16th thru 20th centuries,feminism, "spirituality", our theology, and mislabels:Hispanic, Latino, Raza. This event is free but we accept donations.
El Centro Cultural De Mexico 310 W. 5th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701

Jan 30 Saturday 4-6pm, Irvine: Fair Elections campaign Irvine Kick-Off Come to the local campaign kick-off for the California Fair Elections Act! Join Irvine Mayor Pro Tem Larry Agran, campaign chair Trent Lange, and others so you can help pass Fair Elections that money can't buy.
Irvine United Congregational Church Plumer Hall (the small dome) 4915 Alton Parkway, Irvine Download Flyer Register Now
Please invite anyone you know who is sick of the outrageous amount of money in politics and might be interested in helping bring about Fair Elections. Imagine what California could be if our elected officials could focus on governing instead of fundraising!

Sponsors: California Clean Money Campaign, California Common Cause, California Nurses Association, Back Bay Democratic Club, Laguna Woods Democratic Club, Orange County Democracy for America, Orange County Chapter of PDA, Irvine United Congregational Church Advocates for Peace and Justice, Reclaim Democracy, UCI Young Democrats, Women For: Orange County, and others to be announced.

Jan 30 Saturday 6pm, Anaheim: Access California Annual Gala - Triumph Over Hardship Access California Services Family Resource Center. Hilton Anaheim, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802 (714)750-4321. Featuring: Keynote Speaker Farouk Shami; Recipient of the Public Service Award Shabbir Mansuri; Entertainment by Rahim Al Haj. Tickets: $60 per person, $75 after 1/25/10. No children please. Contact Ameera Basmadji, 714/917-0440 or Ameera@accesscal.org. AccessCal.org.

Feb 2 Tuesday 7am-8pm, Mission Viejo: Recall Election ocvote.com/election/mvrcl10/mvrcl10.htm Notice is hereby given that a Special Recall Election will be held on February 2, 2010 in the City of Mission Viejo. In order to be eligible to vote in this election, a person must be registered to vote in the City of Mission Viejo by January 18, 2010.

The purpose of this election is to determine whether or not the officer named in the recall petition, Lance MacLean, shall be recalled. If a majority of the voters determine the officer sought to be recalled shall be removed from office, then the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for the office shall be elected for the unexpired term.

Notice is further given that the polls for said election will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. All ballots cast in said election will be counted centrally at the Orange County Registrar of Voters office, 1300-C South Grand Avenue, Santa Ana, California.

Notice is further given that vote-by-mail ballot processing will begin on January 4, 2010, and will continue Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. until the election is certified on or about March 2, 2010. The vote-by-mail process is open to the public at the Orange County Registrar of Voters office, 1300-C South Grand Avenue, Santa Ana, California.

Notice is further given that the manual tally of specific precincts will begin on February 3, 2010, at the Orange County Registrar of Voters office, 1300-C South Grand Avenue, Santa Ana, California.

Notice is further given that a report on the results of the 1 percent manual tally will be included in the certification of the official canvass of the vote.
Dated this 30 th day of November, 2009.
Neal Kelley Registrar of Voters County of Orange

Feb 2 Tuesday 7pm, Laguna Woods Village: Concerned Citizens of Laguna Woods Village: African American History Month lagunawoodsvillage.com/article.cfm?id=3130 SPEAKER: Frank Wilderson III, Assistant Professor of African American Studies and Drama, African American Studies School of Humanities at UC Irvine. He is an award-winning writer, poet, scholar, activist and emerging filmmaker. cclagunawoodsvillage@gmail.com
We're moving! After review of the inadequate lighting in parking lots at Clubhouse 1 and a concern for the safety of CCLWV members and guests who attend our evening meetings, the Steering Committee decided to move future meetings to Clubhouse 7. Starting with the February 8 meeting, all meetings will be held at Clubhouse 7. Please join us there!
DIRECTIONS TO CLUBHOUSE 7 at Moulton Parkway: Directions from the 5 Freeway South: Take the El Toro Road Exit (brings you onto Paseo de Valencia and a stoplight). Go through the first stoplight, remaining on Paseo de Valencia, and then turn right at the next stoplight onto El Toro Road. Continue to Moulton Parkway and turn right at the stoplight. At the next stoplight, turn left into the Clubhouse 7 parking lot. Directions from the 5 freeway North: Take the El Toro Road exit and turn left onto El Toro Road. Continue to Moulton Parkway and turn right at the stoplight. At the next stoplight, turn left into the Clubhouse 7 parking lot

Feb 6 Saturday 6-10pm, Newport Beach: Please join us at ROE V. WADE 37thanniversarycelebration Presented by The Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties FEATURING GUEST SPEAKER Sheryl WuDunn Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Half the Sky: From Oppression to Opportunity for Women Worldwide AND MASTER OF CEREMONIES Speaker Karen Bass Speaker of the California State Assembly SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2010 FAIRMONT NEWPORT BEACH WWW.ROE2010.ORG BUY TICKETS/SPONSOR NOW! 6:00 P.M. Private Sponsor Reception with Sheryl WuDunn 6:30 P.M. Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction featuring local women artists 7:15 P.M Dinner and program Book signing to immediately follow program For more information on this speaker, please visit apbspeakers.com For more information on this event, please visit roe2010.org

Feb 6 Saturday 7-10pm, Santa Ana: National Candlelight Vigil for LGBT Youth BSA Orange County Council office, 1211 E Dyer Rd Santa Ana, CA 92705 sacbrat1969@yahoo.com

Feb 12-14 Friday 2pm-Sunday 9pm, Garden Grove: Tet Festival 2010 Feb 20 Saturday 2pm, Irvine: Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Dr. Phil Zuckerman, professor at Claremont and prolific author. Also a contributor to The Huffington Post where he wrote on
"The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8." Dr. Zuckerman will be speaking on "The Separation of Church and State And What We Can Learn From The Least Religious Countries" Irvine Ranch Water District, 15600 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine au-oc.org or call 714-299 -4551 for information.

Visit the Courage Campaign and Equality California booth (C29) at the Vietnamese Lunar New Year's Festival 2010 in Garden Grove. The event takes place for three days: Friday, February 12th, 2010, from 2pm to 10pm Saturday, February 13th, 2010, from 10am to 10pm Sunday, February 14th 2010, from 10am to 9pm Visit our booth to sign our marriage equality pledge, pick up some stickers and flyers, check out pictures/videos of our past activities, sign up for upcoming activities, learn how to canvass and most importantly be part of the team that is working to win back marriage equality in Orange County. We need a lot of volunteers to talk to masses of people walking by (especially if you speak Vietnamese!), so please email nguyentriminh@yahoo.com to sign up for shifts! couragecampaign.org/page/event/detail/wbv couragecampaign.org/page/event/detail/wbl couragecampaign.org/page/event/detail/wbq

Feb 12-14 Friday 5pm-Sunday 7pm, Laguna Beach: Green Valentine Festival Because our Mother is calling us to Action Now! Our children deserve it!
Bridge Hall, 340 St. Ann's drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Friday February 12th, 2010, 5 pm to 11 pm: Fundraiser Dinner with Pachamama "Awaken the Dreamer" Symposium and Music including performance of the winner of "Green" Song Contest along with Green Hearts Awards.
Saturday February 13, 10 am to 8 pm: Festival with Speakers, Jason Feddy and other Musicians, Movies, Vendors, Food, Healing space and workshops plus kids corner fun with jumpy, popcorn and art tables.
Sunday February 14, 1 pm to 7 pm: A day of celebrating Mother Earth, sending love and healing to our small planet from diverse spiritual groups, chanting, dancing, experiencing kundilini yoga, healing ceremonies, with yummy foods and drinks ending with a fabulous drum circle from 6-7 pm.

Feb 25 Thursday 7:30-9:30pm, Laguna Beach: Equality ~ Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann?s Drive, Laguna Beach
JOY Ministry (Justice, Outreach and You) and Pacific Shore NOW invites you to an evening of conversation about equality. From Marriage Equality to the ERA, Restore 2010 and HJ Res 61, its all about equality. Join us for refreshments and conversation. For information contact the church at (949) 494-8061 or contact Pacific Shore NOW.

Feb 26 Friday 7pm, Mission Viejo: Debate at Saddleback College sponsored by: Saddleback College Freethinkers, Saddleback College Campus Crusade for Christ, Americans United for Separation of Church and State Orange County Chapter. "Is God the Best Explanation for Moral values?" Debaters: Dr. James Corbett and Sean McDowell. Debate moderated by Dr. Craig Hazen, Director of the M.A. Program in Christian Apologetics at Biola University. Dr. James Corbett teaches Advance Placement European history at Capistrano Valley High School. He received his Ph. D from Ohio State University in communication journalism. Sean McDowell is the head of the Bible Department at Capistrano Valley Christian Schools, where he teaches courses on Philosophy, Theology, and Apologetics. He graduated from Talbot Theological Seminary with a double Master's degree in Theology and Philosophy. Debate is open to the public. Cost is $5 for the public and free for the Saddleback College community. For more information, email: feb26debate@gmail.com Garden Grove Park, 9301 Westminster Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92844