Laguna Nigel's Patsy's Irish Pub Homicide Investigation Ongoing

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. – At approximately 12:15 a.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a stabbing victim at the Laguna Nigel's Patsy’s Irish Pub located at 28971 Street of the Golden Lantern.

Deputies arrived and located a male, adult victim suffering from a stab wound to the upper torso area of his body.  The victim was treated at the scene and transported by Orange County Fire Authority paramedics to an area hospital where he has since been pronounced dead.

According to Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) spokesperson Lt. Jeff Hallock, on Monday, September 07, 2015, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Unit initiated an investigation following the physical altercation between two males outside Patsy’s Irish Pub. During the altercation, the male adult victim was fatally stabbed by a male suspect who fled the location.

Identification of the victim is being withheld pending further investigation of the incident. 

The suspect is described as a male, Caucasian; no further details available.  

Anyone with additional information is asked to call Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Unit at (714) 647-7055 or (714) 647-7000.  

Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.    

Nicholas Otte, Laguna Hills Robbery Suspect Arrested

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.  – Yesterday,  Orange County Sheriff’s (OCS) deputies arrested Nicholas Daniel Otte, 21, Laguna Hills, following a robbery at the Bank Of America located at 30162 Crown Valley Parkway.  Otte was arrested as he exited the bank, attempting to blend in with customers who were also exiting.  

According to OCS spokesperson Lt. Jeff Hallock, at approximately 5:11 p.m. deputies responded to a robbery in progress at the Bank of America.  The first responding deputies arrived in 92 seconds and immediately began establishing a perimeter around the bank.  Additional information, a description from bank employees and observation skills by deputies resulted in Otte being detained as he exited the bank, attempting to leave the area on foot. 

Based on the preliminary investigation, Otte entered the bank and passed a note to the teller demanding cash; however, no weapon was seen by bank employees or recovered by deputies at the scene.  Bank employees confirmed Otte was not given any cash by the teller before he exited the bank.  Investigators do not believe Otte is connected to any other robberies in the area. Primary responsibility for the investigation is being handled by the Orange County Bank Robbery Apprehension Team (BRAT).

Otte was arrested for robbery and booked into Orange County Jail.  He is being held on $250K bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, September 8, 2015.  

Bank Robbery Apprehension Team (BRAT): Federal task force that collaborates with law enforcement in cities where suspects rob banks and is made up of FBI agents and investigators from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Otte was arrested for robbery and booked into Orange County Jail.  He is being held on $250K bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, September 8, 2015.  

HOA loses court showdown: Judge says purple swing set can stay

recently, a Missouri homeowners association took one of its families to court — even raising the specter of a possible "daily fine or jail time" — over a backyard swing set that the family had stained purple (a color we're rather partial to, here at Yaho

Read more:  https://homes.yahoo.com/blogs/spaces/hoa-loses-court-showdown--judge-says-purple-swing-set-can-stay-003245608.html

At Saddleback College Your Music Concerts and Art Events are Freeeee

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - The Saddleback College's  Division of Fine Arts and Media Technology is presenting a series free events throughout the fall semester, including:

On September 14^th through October 8^th : Marmo A Mano: Sculpture by Béla Bácsi. Bácsi was born into an extended family of stonecarvers and stonemasons, and at the age of eight, he was carving fragile filigree designs into pieces of school chalk with a straight pin. His passion for the reductive process took him to Italy to apprentice in the marble studios of Carrara and Pietrasanta, and has earned him international acclaim. There will be an artist’s reception on Thursday, September 10^th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and an artist demonstration and lecture on Saturday, September 12^th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Art Gallery. The gallery will also be open on Saturday, September 26^thfrom 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Gallery hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Tuesday from Noon to 8:00 p.m. The gallery will be closed on Fridays. For more information and directions to the Art Gallery please visit: www.saddleback.edu/gallery 

On Friday, October 2^nd at 7:00 p.m. in FA 101, the Instrumental Studies program will present a master class performance with Chapman University violin professor William Fitzpatrick. Saddleback College advanced violin students will perform. Fitzpatrick is currently the director of ChamberArtsFest, an annual international chamber music festival. From 1978-1983 he was first violinist of the New York String Quartet, ensemble-in-residence at the University of California, Irvine and the Aspen Music Festival. He was a student of Dorothy Delay at the Juilliard School and Stephen Clapp at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music.

On Thursday, October 8^th at Noon in FA 101, composer, educator, producer and recording artist, Dimitri Matheny will give a free lecture on the music business and tips for marketing.

On October 28^th through November 19^th, the Saddleback Art Gallery presents the 5^th Annual Student Photo Exhibition.  A wide-range of photography will be displayed. An Artists Reception will be held on Tuesday, October 27^th, 5 – 8 p.m. For more information and directions to the Art Gallery please visit: www.saddleback.edu/gallery.  Gallery hours are Monday-Wednesday-Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Tuesdays, Noon to 8:00 p.m. The gallery will be closed on Fridays. The gallery will also be open on Saturday, November 14^th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

On Friday and Saturday, October 30^th and 31^st at 7:30 p.m., the Department of Theatre Arts presents the world premiere of Blackbird starring Jonelle Allen in the Studio Theatre. This is a multi-character one-woman show about the first legitimate African American Broadway star, Florence Mills. Allen will showcase such iconic songs as I’m Just Wild About Harry, A Good Man is Hard to Find and Mills’ signature song, Black Bird. Through the magic of technology Allen will interact with Florence Mills and together they will bring her story to life.

On Friday, November 6^th at 7 p.m. in FA 101, virtuoso violinist Eric Silberger will present a master class to Saddleback College violin students. Silberger is a prize winner of the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition and the Michael Hill International Violin Competition

On Thursday, November 12^th at Noon in FA 101, composer and arranger Dr. David Karp, Professor and Co-Chair of the Keyboard Department at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas will present a lecture/master class/performance demonstration as well as a jazz piano session for classical pianists. Saddleback students will participate.

On Tuesday, November 24^th at 7:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre, the Saddleback College Community Chorale, soloists and Saddleback College music alumni will present A Concert of Thanksgiving. This free concert will accept donations to benefit Mary’s Kitchen, a non-profit program that feed our disadvantaged community.

On Tuesday, December 1^st at 7:30 p.m. in the fine Arts Courtyard, the Saddleback commercial music ensemble students perform classic rock, folk, hip hop and original compositions.

On Thursday, December 3^rd at Noon in FA 101, Voice, instrumental, piano, and jazz students perform in recital. Come see why Music at Saddleback College is so highly regarded – it’s our very talented students!

On Friday, December 4^th at 9:00 a.m. in FA 101, the Department of Music presents a Chamber Music Concert. Saddleback instrumental studies students will perform.

On December 4^th through 8^th, the Art Department is thrilled to present its 37^th Annual Student Art Holiday Sale 2015 in the Saddleback College Art Gallery. The sale takes place on December 4^th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., December 5^th and 7^th from noon to 8:00 p.m., and December 6^th and 8^th from noon to 6:00 p.m. Fabulous handcrafted gifts all made by Saddleback College art students at very reasonable prices. Come shop early and purchase unique holiday presents for someone special or for yourself. On display will be ceramics, sculpture, paintings, prints and jewelry featuring one-of-a-kind pieces and handmade glass beads.

On Friday, December 11^th at 9:00 a.m. in FA 101, the Department of Music presents a Chamber Music Concert. Saddleback instrumental studies students will perform.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit.  Parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visitwww.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.  

Back, back from the USSR: Vladimir Khomiakov Back by Popular Demand at Saddleback College

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – On Sunday, September 20^th at 2:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre, Saddleback College's in its Reflections of the Ocean Classical Keyboard Series, presents a piano recital by Vladimir Khomiakov. 

Back by popular demand, Khomiakov, winner of several international piano competitions, graces the McKinney Theatre stage to the delight of piano music lovers of all ages. He will perform a piano recital featuring classical and romantic favorites before going on his Russian tour. 

Khomyakov was born in Kirovograd (USSR), in a musicians’ family. His father, Vladimir Viktorovich Khomyakov, is one of the most outstanding Russian concert organists, founder of the most important international organ festivals in Russia and Europe. His mother is a piano teacher – both his parents are graduates of the Odessa State Conservatory. Mr. Khomyakov began his music studies at the age of four with his mother and performed his first solo piano recital at the age of ten at the Chelyabinsk State Philharmony, Russia.

Tickets are $15 general; $12 seniors(presale only); $10 students (presale only); children free with paying adult; 2 for 1 for music teachers with MTAC/CAPMT ID. The ticket office is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4:00 p.m. or order your tickets online at any time at www.saddleback.edu/arts.

The Department of Music has established a comprehensive program which is considered to be one of the finest in California: a complete lower-division curriculum for transferring music majors, numerous performance groups, private and group lessons, a full concert series with faculty and guest artists, and general music courses. The nationally-recognized faculty is dedicated to performance and to teaching in all areas such as vocal, instrumental, jazz, guitar, and piano.  

Other music classes include harmony, musicianship, composition, history, and appreciation of western art music, rock, jazz and world. The new Commercial Music program offers classes in Songwriting, Multi-Track Recording, Intro to the Music Industry, and Commercial Music Ensemble.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit. Free parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visitwww.saddleback.edu.  For Fine Arts events, visit www.saddleback.edu/arts. 

The Jonathan Rowden Jazz Trio at Saddleback College

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita,  CA--On Monday, September 14^th at 7:30 p.m., The Saddleback College Jazz Studies will be hosting the Jonathan Rowden Trio performing its paradoxic music that sounds as ancient as it does futuristic. This innovative concert features Rowden on saxophones and electronics, and Chris Wabich and James Yoshizawa on drums. With a myriad of world percussion instruments, the trio abandons all semblance of traditional harmonic and rhythmic orchestration, and journeys into the unknown together for a special performance at Saddleback College’s McKinney Theatre.

Tickets are $10 general; $7 students/seniors (presale only). Tickets may be purchased by calling 949-582-4656 (Tuesday through Friday, noon-4:00 p.m.) or online at www.saddleback.edu/arts.

Jazz Studies at Saddleback College emphasizes creativity through improvisation and ensemble performance. Focusing on the historical, theoretical and intuitive aspects of this American music, Director of Jazz Studies Joey Sellers and an outstanding cadre of nationally-recognized musicians comprise the jazz faculty. Curricula include Improvisation, Jazz Composition and Arranging, Jazz History Syllabus, Jazz History Audio, Jazz History Podcast, Jazz Piano,Saddleback Big Band, Jazz Lab Ensemble, and Combos. 

Students in Jazz Studies at Saddleback College have transferred to prestigious institutions including University of Southern California, Eastman School of Music, Berkeley School of Music, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, University of California at San Diego, and other regional institutions.  Some of our alumni have gone on to play professionally with Frank Zappa, Diana Ross, and other high-profile artists and organizations.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway and turn left.  Turn right into the campus at the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Take the second left to Theatre Circle and turn right into Parking Lot 12. Parking is free in Lot 12 for these performances.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu.  For Fine Arts events, visit www.saddleback.edu/arts. 

Classical Guitarist Touring Artist and Professor Randy Pile at Saddleback College.

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – The Department of Music at Saddleback College will present Saddleback’s guitar professor Randy Pile in a solo performance on Saturday, September 19^th at 7:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre. 

His classical guitar repertoire includes music from Spain and Cuba. Included in the program are works from renowned classical Spanish guitarist Joaquin Rodrigo, who wrote the Concerto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra. Following a brief intermission, Pile will perform music composed by Leo Brouwer, Cuba’s most famous composer.

Tickets are $15.00 (general); $12.00 (presale); $5:00 (student) - call 949-582-4656 (Tues-Fri noon to 4:00 pm or online at www.saddleback.edut/arts

Randy Pile, trained in the Old World tradition of sophisticated elegance, tempered in the New World exploration of flamboyant virtuosity, and distilled through flawless technique, has been placed within a handful of the world's finest performers. 

As a touring artist for the California Arts Council, he was one of the most sought after performers of his generation, both at home and abroad. His international following has been gained through performances in the U.S., Europe, Canada, and the South Pacific with appearances in major music festivals. Pile was among a handful of musicians chosen to honor Guitar Greats like Chet Atkins, Charlie Byrd, Doc Watson, and Celedonio Romero, in North Carolina. He has shared the stage with the late Maestro Romero, and his sons Pepe and Celin. He has performed numerous duos with Pepe throughout the U.S. and Europe as well as joining him and Celin in recording the Concierto Vasco with the Bilbao Symphony for the Philips label. 

The Department of Music has established a comprehensive program which is considered to be one of the finest in California: a complete lower-division curriculum for transferring music majors, numerous performance groups, private and group lessons, a full concert series with faculty and guest artists, and general music courses. The nationally-recognized faculty is dedicated to performance and to teaching in all areas such as vocal, instrumental, jazz, guitar, and piano.  

Other music classes include harmony, musicianship, composition, history, and appreciation of western art music, rock, jazz and world. The new Commercial Music program offers classes in Songwriting, Multi-Track Recording, Intro to the Music Industry, and Commercial Music Ensemble.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit.  Free parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to “Theatre Circle,” turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu.  For Fine Arts events, visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.  

From Russia with Love at saddleback College: Cello-Piano Duo Recital with Kyung Eun Choi and Kirill Gliadkovsky

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita,  CA – On Thursday, September 10^th at 7:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre, Saddleback College's Reflections of the Ocean Classical Keyboard Series presents a cello-piano duo recital featuring mostly Russian composers. 

Performances by Saddleback’s Director of Keyboard Studies Kirill Gliadkovsky (piano) and Dr. Kyung Eun Choi (cello) include George Crumb Sonata for Solo Cello, Galina Ustvolskaya grand Duet for Piano and Cello, and Sergei Rachmanioff Cello Sonata, Op. 19. 

Tickets are $15 general; $12 seniors (presale only); $10 students (presale only); children free with paying adult; 2 for 1 for music teachers with MTAC/CAPMT ID. The ticket office is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4:00 p.m. or order your tickets online at any time at www.saddleback.edu/arts.

Dr. Kirill Gliadkovsky, concert artist, is the newest faculty member in the Department of Music and  Director of Keyboard Studies in the Department of Music.  He teaches and supervises all things keyboard – piano, organ, harpsichord, piano pedagogy, piano literature, ensemble and group piano classes.  

He was born in Moscow and has studied music since the age of 5. He attended the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow where his teachers included renowned musicians Lev Vlasenko, Mikhail Pletniev (piano) and Leonid Royzman (organ). He also earned both his Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the University of Southern California with Professors Daniel Pollack (piano), Cherry Rhodes (organ), and William Schaefer (conducting). 

He also coached with Ann Schein, Herbert Stessin, Stephen Kovacevich and Lev Naumov. Dr. Gliadkovsky took numerous prizes at international piano competitions in Europe and the United States.  Since making his first public appearance at the age of 6, he has toured extensively on three continents performing piano and organ recitals and as a soloist with orchestras in various cities in Russia, including Moscow's prestigious Bolshoi, Maliy and Rachmaninoff Halls, St. Petersburg Philharmonic's Glinka Hall, as well as in Italy, U.K., Poland, Mongolia, Canada, Japan and throughout the United States.  

Dr. Gliadkovsky combines his busy concert schedule with teaching. Prior to coming to teach at Saddleback College, he has been on the faculty at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, UT, as the head of piano area. His wife, Anna Gliadkovskaya, has been on the piano faculty at SUU, as well.

Dr. Choi has enjoyed great success in prestigious national and international competitions including the Julio Cardona (Portugal), the Aldo Parisot (Brazil), the RNCM concerto Competition (UK), and she received the Gold Medal at Japan’s Kirishima International Music Competition. She received Unpa award given to honorable Korean young artists by legendary conductor the Won-Sik Lim foundation in 2009. 

She has been invited to teach and perform in many renowned cello festivals such as Adelaide International Cello Festival, Piatigorsky International Cello Festival, Manchester International Cello Festival, and Kronberg Cello Festival. As a soloist, Choi has performed with many Major orchestras such as Macau Philharmonic, Prime Phil orchestra, Chester Philharmonic. She also performed in many major concert halls in Europe and Asia including Seoul Art Center, Suntory Hall, Miyazaki Prefectural Arts Center, Wigmore Hall, Elder Hall, and Bridgewater Hall with leading conductors including Yan Pascal Tortelier, Pinchas Zukerman, Mastro Micha Damev, Won-Sik Lim and fellow rising star, Ewa Strusinska and Matthew Wood. 

As a recitalist and chamber musician, Choi has appeared in many venues across the U.S., Europe and Japan collaborating with Yo-Yo Ma, Jian Wang and the Julliard String Quartet. She toured France at the invitation of the Rencontres Franco-Americaines Music Accociation, and was invited by Pinchas Zukerman to participate in Japan’s Miyazaki Music Festival. Dr. Choi is a faculty at El Camino College and Montecito International Music Festival.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit. Free parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

The Music Department has established a comprehensive program which is considered to be one of the finest in California: a complete lower-division curriculum for transferring music majors, numerous performance groups, private and group lessons, a full concert series with faculty and guest artists, and general music courses. The nationally-recognized faculty is dedicated to performance and to teaching in all areas such as vocal, instrumental, jazz, guitar, and piano.  Other music classes include harmony, musicianship, composition, history, and appreciation of western art music, rock, jazz and world.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visitwww.saddleback.edu.  For Fine Arts events, visit www.saddleback.edu/arts. 

Without suing, owner is locked in a losing battle with HOA board

Question: Eleven years ago, I bought the perfect town home. I read all governing documents, attended board meetings, talked to owners, then closed escrow. After I moved in, the board fined me for something preposterous. I paid it to get them off my back.

Since then, reserve accounts have been depleted and special assessments reign. There's perpetual maintenance going on, but nothing gets fixed. I'm acting as my own attorney in a dispute with the board, which stays in power because of inertia and a complicit management company.

Read more at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-associations-20150830-story.html

John Kudla sentenced for attempted murder of relative in their Trabuco Canyon Home.

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. - John Kudla  was sentenced today to 10 years in state prison for attempting to murder his relative as he slept in their Trabuco Canyon home
. 

John Edward Kudla, 19, pleaded guilty on Jan. 16, 2015, to one felony count of attempted murder and one felony count of aggravated assault with a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's (OCDA) office,  sometime  before May 2013, Kudla moved into his relative's Trabuco Canyon home, where another family member also lived. The victim, John Doe, was a reserve sergeant for Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD), Search and Rescue.

At approximately 6:30 a.m. on May 22, 2013, Kudla woke up, took a large construction hammer from the kitchen area that was under renovation, and walked upstairs to John Doe's bedroom. Kudla used the hammer to hit the sleeping victim in the head nine times. Kudla then got dressed, ate breakfast, and told his other family member that John Doe was sick and would probably stay in bed all day. Kudla stole the victim's wallet and keys and drove John Doe's Volkswagen convertible to school. Kudla met up with his friends and drove the victim's vehicle to drop them off at a McDonald's restaurant, but did not go back to school.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., the family member found the victim injured and bleeding, and John Doe was transported by paramedics to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where he remained comatose in critical condition after an emergency life-saving surgery was performed. The victim suffered brain damage and severe injuries to his skull and required several brain surgeries.

Shortly after 1:00 p.m., a California Highway Patrol officer spotted the Volkswagen vehicle going northbound on Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County.  Kudla was pulled over and taken into custody.

During the investigation, the hammer used in the attack was found rinsed off and left in a bathroom sink between the defendant's and victim's bedroom.

Deputy District Attorney Robert Goodkin prosecuted this case.

If you do business in The OC, chances are you are being ripped off by the Tax Assessor. First Guillory, now Parrish: Lawsuit

 Employees Fired for Reporting Corruption in Assessor's Office

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – a complaint (30-2015-00805368-CU-WT-CJC) was filed earlier this week, with the Superior Court of California County of Orange by Jorge Lopez and Larry Bales against the Assessor’s Office.

 When Claude Parrish, the County Assessor took over he hired Lopez and Bales, two retired supervisors from the Assessor’s Office to come back to work to help him identify problems within his new office, and get his office in order.   Within weeks of Parrish taking office, the  two newly reinstated supervisors discovered so many statutory and regulatory violations that Parrish fired both of them to avoid publicly exposing the issues they brought to his attention.

According to the complaint, prior to terminating them, Parrish made comments indicating that the plaintiffs  were identifying too many problems within his office and according to Claude Parrish, The Orange County Assessor is ranked 54^th out of 58 Counties by the California State Board of Equalization

Lopez, one of the plaintiffs in this case, on March, 2014  filed a complaint against Webster Guillory with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Orange County Grand Jury, including

1. Perjury
2. Political campaigning in the workplace
3. Misuse of public funds
4. Violation of Assessor’s Department policy regarding political campaigning
5. Violation of County of Orange policy regarding political campaigning
6. Inappropriate and unethical behavior in the workplace
7. Indirect/direct pressure on public employees to sign nomination papers

Lopez also filed complaints with the Political Corruption Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigations Office in Organge County.

In September 2014, the OCDA charged Webster Guillory with three felony counts of filing false nomination papers.

The lawsuit against the County of Orange includes the following allegations:

1. Working While Under the Influence
2. High-level manager filing false payroll & expense reports with his supervisor’s knowledge
3. Employee discrimination over political affiliations and voting preferences
4. Management’s failure to provide reasonable accommodations to and employee for a documented medical condition
5. Intentional over-assessment of taxpayers
6. Manipulation by management of the mandatory audit list for 2014 in order to avoid refunding overpayments
7. Lack of control & accountability for service contracts for equipment not being serviced
8. Outside contractors providing services to the Assessor not being monitored
9. Appeals deputy harassing and abusing taxpayers with the supervisor’s knowledge
10. Arbitrary assessment of taxpayers without any basis

While it remains to be seen whether the allegations are proven true I court, what is clear is that the Assessor’s office can benefit from an independent audit.  Not only that, but everyone doing business with the county should perform her own audit to make sure she is not being ripped off by the Assessor’s office.

We contacted the Orange County Performance Audit department for comment on the complaint but have not received a response.

Fatal Traffic Collision near Beach Boulevard and Chapman Ave.

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca  –  On Monday, August 17, 2015 at approximately 2:08 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of an injury traffic collision near the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Chapman Avenue.  

According to OCSD Lt. Jeff Hallock, deputies arrived and located a male, adult victim lying in the roadway suffering from significant injuries as a result of being struck by a 53’ tractor-trailer.  The victim was treated and transported to UCI Medical Center by Orange County Fire Authority paramedics where he was pronounced dead a short time later.  

Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears the tractor-trailer was making a right turn from eastbound Chapman Avenue onto southbound Beach Boulevard when the collision occurred.  Investigators are continuing to interview witnesses, collect evidence and obtain information in an attempt to determine how the collision occurred.  

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Accident Reconstruction Team (MART) is investigating the collision.  A “Sig-Alert” was issued immediately following the collision until completion of the scene investigation that concluded at 8:00 p.m.  

The identity of the victim is pending confirmation by the Coroner Division and next of kin notification. 

Anyone with information or who witnessed the collision is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Bureau at (949) 425-1860 or (714) 647-7000.  

Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.   

HOA threatens 'jail time' for family over color of backyard play set

The offense: the color of their 2-year-old play set. It's stained a shade of purple. (Purple! It's practically a neutral! Well, here at Yahoo, anyway.)

The Raintree Lake Property Owners Association first put the Stouts on notice a year ago that the family's play set did not comport with the Architectural Review Board Guidelines for Architectural Control.

Read more:  https://homes.yahoo.com/blogs/spaces/hoa-threatens--jail-time--for-family-over-color-of-backyard-play-set-004012326.html

Béla Bácsi's Marble by Hand: Marmo a Mano, Sculpture Exhibit at Saddleback College - Free Event

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – The Saddleback College Art Gallery has announced a  Marmo A Mano (Marble by Hand), Sculpture e exhibit by Béla Bácsi, on September 14^th through October 8^th in the Saddleback College Art Gallery.

 Bácsi was born into an extended family of stonecarvers and stonemasons, and at the age of eight, he was carving fragile filigree designs into pieces of school chalk with a straight pin. His passion for the reductive process took him to Italy to apprentice in the marble studios of Carrara and Pietrasanta, and has earned him international acclaim.

 Fellow of the National Sculpture Society (NYC, est. 1893) and a Signature Artist of the California Art Club (Pasadena, est. 1908), Bácsi uses the techniques of an old master carver to express contemporary artistic sensibilities.

The exhibition is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday-Friday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Tuesdays, noon to 8:00 p.m. The gallery is closed on Wednesdays. 

The Gallery will also be open Saturday, September 26^th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

An Artists’ Reception will be held on Thursday, September 10^th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

A special free event: artist demonstration and lecture will be held on Saturday, September 12^th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon with Béla Bácsi. There will be free parking in Lot 12 for the artist’s reception and the special event.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit.  Free parking is available in Lot 12 only the night of the artists’ reception on September 13th.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the third left to “Theatre Circle,” turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visitwww.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddl