Where's the Beef?

During the last few weeks of commuting to Mom's in Placentia, and running errands for her in Yorba Linda and Fullerton, I have become confused. Yes, more than usual. Anaheim brags about how much TOT we take in from the Resort District, and I have been among the most vocal of those braggin, I know. What confuses me is this: the streets, curbs and sidewalks of other north county communities are in substantially better condition than Anaheim. Why? Yes, Yorba Linda is a more affluent community, and Placentia and Fullerton have a more stable economic income base than Anaheim, but their property taxes do not come close to the TOT that Anaheim pulls in. So where does the money go? Why are Fullerton's streets in better shape when their General Fund is nowhere near ours?

Just wondering........

Sorry I Haven't Been Posting Lately

Marianna Howland Ward, born March 5, 1930, slipped quietly into the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, December 17 at 9:45 pm. Her son Richard held her right hand, her daughter in law Cynthia held her left hand, and in her sleep she simply did not take her next breath. It was exactly what she had hoped for, and we are blessed that she did not suffer. Right up to the end, even as the cancer spread, Marianna was in no pain. None. The Lord had His hand on her thoughout this ordeal. I know that is hard to think of, when He took her against our wishes, but in the end she had no pain, no struggle, a dignified end for a remarkable woman. We were able to celebrate Christmas as a family before she dropped into sleep, all of her grandchildren gathered together, and she had written them letters that were put into their Christmas cards-with many tears. A dear friend, Kelsey Myers, came and played Christmas Carols on her harp, it was truly beautiful. Marianna left us with no regrets.

Services will be Saturday, December 27 at 11 am.
Memory Gardens Mortuary Chapel
455 W. Central Avenue Brea, CA

Marianna left provision for a lunch gathering after the service, location to be announced at the service, but please plan to join us after interment, as we recall Marianna in a more relaxed setting.

In lieu of flowers Marianna requested that donations be made to:
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
919 7th Street N.W. Suite 1190
Washington, D.C. 20006
Or
St. Joseph Hospice
1845 W. Orangewood Avenue
Orange, CA 92868-9500

We also invite you, in honor of Marianna, to go out and just make someone’s day today. Open a door for a stranger. Call an old friend and tell them you love them. Forgive a hurt. Answer your telephone with a hearty Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening that makes your caller feel special. Marianna made every day count. May we all be so blessed.

With all of our family’s love to you and your family.

Candlelight and Castles

Took a day off from the battle against ovarian cancer to goof with the kids at the House of Mouse. Richard and I have long talked about those Annual Passes, and then we cheap out and don't do it. But it is time, the restorative powers of the Happiest Place on Earth were beyond compare, and especially now that our brilliant leader Ahnold wants to tax Dland tix to the tune of nearly 10%, we figure we better grab those passes now. Yes, the new Sleeping Beauty visuals meet the Disney hype. But some areas bottle neck and we found ourselves essentially trapped in the castle, unable to move forward or back. Just avoid anyone who had the garlic shrimp last night and you're fine.

Candelight was, as always, unbelievably beautiful, it touches my soul like no church service. I had read on some blogs that you can buy dinner passes to the event, but they are pricey and sell out immediately. I'll let y'all in on the dirty little secret. I have attended Candlelight for several years now, and I have yet to buy a ticket. How? VOLUNTEER! Candlelight was intended by Walt to be a thank you to the community. While there may be a few people there who may have bought tickets, I would say the overwhelming number of people I see are the same people I run into at the community events. They are the people who volunteer as City Commissioners, or Board of Directors for local non-profits. Put in some time, make your world a better place, and let Walt's people say "thank you" at Christmastime. Not sure where to put in your time? Give me a holler, I have a huge list of ways you can help Anaheim.

Intl House of Blues Invitation to the Community

International House of Blues Foundation-Anaheim
2008 Foundation Series: Visual Arts Workshop

The International House of Blues Foundation-Anaheim (IHOBF-Anaheim) cordially invites Anaheim community members and their children to attend an IHOBF-Anaheim 2008 Foundation Series: Visual Arts Workshop.

About the Foundation Series: IHOBF's Foundation Series is an annual series presenting opportunities for donors and other community members to learn about IHOBF programming and to experience an IHOBF program or an arts/cultural activity related to IHOBF program content. the IHOBF-Anaheim 2008 Foundation Series: Visual Arts Workshop will offer participants and their children (up to 2 children per attending parent, recommended age is 5 and above) an opportunity to participate in a hands-on art workshop at the House of Blues-Anaheim. The workshop will include a guided tour of the House of Blues art collection, draw on content from the IHOBF Blues SchoolHouse Program, and feature a mixed media/symbols art activity based on the work of folk artist Roland Knox. All materials will be provided by IHOBF and no arts related experience is required.

Date & Time: Saturday, December 6th, 2008, 9:00am - 11:00am

Location: House of Blues-Anaheim, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802

Cost: this workshop is offered free of charge. Registration is required.

Registration: Space is limited and registration is handled on a first-come first-serve basis. To register please contact IHOBF Program Manager Amber Portz by telephone at 714.520.2388 or via email at ihobfanaheim@hob.com

About the IHOBF: IHOBF is dedicated to bringing the arts to schools and communities through programs that promote cultural understanding and encourage creative expression. For more information about IHOBF programs. please contact the IHOBF-Anaheim office by telephone at 714.520.2388 or visit the IHOBF website at www.ihobf.org.

The International House of Blues Foundation is supported by the House of Blues, House of Blues Foundation Room Members, Live Nation and other public and private donors.

Voter Literacy

Today's image is our own Lorri Galloway, not only attending, but clearly leading, a Union protest at Disneyland that disrupted the vacations of our beloved TOT paying visitors, whose vacations help pay for the salaries of the firefighters who helped Re-Elect Lorri (talk about turning yourself into butter). The image is posted in "celebration" of today's swearing in ceremony, which Ms. Galloway insisted on moving to the Heritage Forum so her friends could all attend. Look carefully at the faces of these union leaders, they are certain to be at the party tonight! Sour grapes? Oh yeah, as sour as they get. But not for the reasons you are thinking. If I believed for a second that the people of Anaheim had a grasp of the very real issues that our City faces, if I believed for a second that the people of Anaheim truly understood who Lorri Galloway is and what she stands for, and that 22.6% of my neighbors wanted her to represent them, I would bow to that decision. But the reality is, many of the people who pride themselves on voting in every election do not bother to examine the issues, or the candidates, before casting that vote. Example: Jennifer Rivera, an unknown candidate who never filed a candidate's statement and ran no campaign, did not attend any candidate's forums, and never even posted a website, picked up 8,208 votes! How? She was the first name listed on the ballot-and voters were overheard at the polls admitting they simply picked her because she was first and they wanted to get home. So today I share this photo in one last scream of election futility. When voters were presented with this photo, Lorri lost votes. Sadly, the mainstream press, even the ones who bothered to cover the Union protest, never mentioned the presence of Lorri Galloway, so the exposure of this info was limited to a few political blogs. Thanks guys!

While I am the first to admit my viewpoints may be those of a bitter old (Forty-something) woman, a recent study http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/ shows that more people know that Paula Abdul is a judge on American Idol than understand the origins of the Gettysburg Address.

So what is the answer to increasing, oh lets be nice and call it "voter awareness'? One friend suggests sending voter instructions as a type of scavenger hunt. If you are smart enough to unravel the clues and find your polling place, you are smart enough to vote. I like it. At the very least, I think each and every one of us should be required to pass the same Citizenship test required of immigrants. Just for fun, see if you can pass it. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13442226/ Then tell me, what are your theories for keeping the "eenie-meenie-minie-moe" voters from spoiling it for the rest of us? Discuss among yourselves.

Ovarian Cancer Sucks

Today my beloved Mother In Law came home in an ambulance. She is now in Hospice care, and we will knock ourselves silly making her comfortable for the few weeks she has. I hate this. We are talking about the most vibrant human being I have ever met. I have never heard her utter an ugly word about another person. Ever. Never seen her depressed or even really angry. Maybe frustrated a time or two. When the doctors came in on Friday to tell her the cancer had spread, she sat there for a little bit, absorbed the news, and just muttered, "Damn". Saturday she was down. Nobody can blame her. She wants to see her grandchildren finish college, dance at their weddings, and become a great-grandmother-in that exact order, please (and tease her son at becoming a grandfather). By Sunday, she decided she was done with that pity party. Life is short, and getting shorter fast, and she wants to spent her remaining days smelling the roses. So home she went. She has been a volunteer with the same Hospice group that is now caring for her (talk about awkward, every time I need something I have to tell yet another worker that she is sick) and Marianna has made it her goal to encourage her Hospice team through her passing! What do you do with a woman like that? Well first off you marry her son. Then you love her until you can hand her into the arms of Jesus. Hopefully much longer from now than the doctors figured. I think (and hope) they underestimate the feisty little firecracker they just diagnosed. We will start with getting her to hang on through Christmas, and then we will work on New Year's, and before you know it Valentine Day will be here.....thanks for the prayers. Please keep them up.

Sleeping Beauty and Christmas

Today's image (courtesy of Google images) shows the Sleeping Beauty's castle under construction, prior to opening of Disneyland. The Mouse recently announced they have re-opened the Castle aftrer retooling the interior scenes to reflect the original imagery of the movie. They have also included an "accessible experience" which allows visitors to enjoy the scenes without climbing the flights of stairs. I look forward to seeing it opened again while visiting my favorite place prior to "Candlelight". For those who did not get that coveted invite, there is always the Nutcracker Tree Lighting at Downtown's Center Street Promenade on Saturday afternnon/evening, with snow trucked in againt this year, and the Anaheim Arts Council is again hosting art projects for the kids. I highly recommend the event, it is a great neighborhood kind of experience, and it is FREE.

A piece of trivia I just read today, apparently of all of Walt's princesses that could have been chosen for a castle depiction, Sleeping Beauty was the movie in production at the time, and therefore the blonde got the castle. So for those who think Disney's shameless marketing is new, Walt was doing it early on, and God bless him for it, today that shameless marketing pays for those wonderful firemen who worked their tails off last week. Fitzgerald and Anaheim HOME be buggered, I love the Mouse.

Farmer's Market Today

In celebration of Thanksgiving, the Downtown Farmer's Market will be TODAY from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm, with a great chance to pick up fresh ingredients for your holiday feast!

From the OC Register, Mayor Thom Dies

Former Anaheim Mayor Bill Thom dies
November 24th, 2008, 5:21 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Martin Wisckol, Politics reporter
William J. Thom was mayor of Anaheim 1976-1978 and then served as chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County in 1979 and 1980. He died last week at the age of 78, and a funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow, according to current DPOC Chairman Frank Barbaro.
“He was very colorful, very funny,” said Barbaro, who also served a stint as DPOC chairman immediately before Thom held the post. “He was the consummate politician…. He was always extremely well dressed and well groomed.”
The funeral service is scheduled for St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church, 120 N. Janss St., Anaheim, according to former DPOC Chairman John Hanna. The phone number for the church is 714-956-3110.

Thanksgiving Came Early!

For those who have been praying for My Mother In Law, thank you. After nearly losing her this weekend she rallied and seems to be out of the woods. Thanks to a procedure Saturday morning they were able to reinflate her collapsed lungs, and since she was breathing on her own they could take her off the meds that left her essentially incompetent. Now even her digestive system is kicking in, she is sitting up and running the world from her hospital bed! If she can stay healthy and continue to heal, the oncologist can start low doses of chemo next week and begin beating back the cancer. So we have a race for time, get her better enough to fight the cancer before the side effects of the cancer take her under again. So please keep praying, but for now we are all breathing, including Mom, and that is a miracle! I for one am VERY ready for Thanksgiving, much, much, much to be thankful for!

Cup of Coffee and an Old House

I absolutely love this e-magazine that sends me updated emails once a month. The owner is a period designer with a real passion for restoration and preservation, rather than the "let me make a bigger commision by replacing everything" types. So this morning I give them a shameless plug and invite you to spend a Saturday morning doing nothing but surfing the site.
Enjoy and have a great weekend. http://www.fromtimespast.com/

Fun Stuff in Anaheim Tonight!

Having a much more positive afternoon after lunch with a friend. Amazing how one's outlook can change with just one afternoon not devoted to oncology. Thanks Chris.

And looking for the positive, we have multiple opportunities for great stuff to do in Anaheim tonight. Stephanie Hales Panlillio and her Trucor team invite us all to an Open House to review the completion of her new projects from 4:30 to 6:30 today. The homes are located at:

1231 W. Center
12225 W. Center
1219 W. Center

Some are relocations, and I believe one is new construction to reflect the surrounding Five Points neighborhood. While there, stop to admire Bill Taormina's new/old Five Points Flatiron building, soon to be a Ruby's Restaurant! The big pergola thing in the parking lot will shelter car hops and classic car shows! Also if you are there take note of the unfortunate tagging, and get the contact info for the new grafitti program Bill wants to start. One of these days I will have my camera ready and get a photo to post here.

Then stop by Farmer's Market on Center Street Promenade to enjoy their new hours, and grab some good eats to take to the Colony Potluck. This month it is at the Garner's home, the turn of the century Grim House, at 194 N. Vintage Lane. The team of sisters buys distressed historic homes, returns them to their former glory, and then sets them free on a new life with new owners. God bless them, this is about their 5th or 6th rehab in the Colony, and the place is going to be amazing when they are done. A fun group, I recommend attending. Just bring a dish to share, and your favorite beverage, at 7pm, and no you do not have to live in the Colony to attend.

My Daily Scream of Futility

A challenge. Watch this without shivers running up your spine.
http://www.howobamagotelected.com/

Council Recap

I finally got a break from the hospital, and got to watch the City Council meeting on the internet. Dear God, do we really have to listen to 4 more years of that nasally, petulant whine?

Anyway, the deal with SADI did not address any of the details of the affordable housing project; it merely allowed Lisa Stipkovitch to continue to negotiate the details, which is fair. But this is one I will be watching in the future.

It was highly appropriate that City Council honored the CERT class last night, as they were put to the test during this firestorm. Sadly, Fitzgerald of Anaheim HOME went on a rant about how cowardly some of the off duty firemen were to not come to work, and Mayor Pringle had to point out that many of them live in other communities and could not get in on the freeways. I guess nobody caught the irony of the fact that many of our Police, Fire, and City office Staff do choose to live elsewhere. Why is that? Hats off to our Police Chief for actually living in the City he serves, and he and his wife are very involved in community activities, which is greatly appreciated. I see them at all kinds of events, where I do not see other Department heads, because many of them are sitting on the freeway after 5 pm, heading for their south county homes. Seems like folks should be proud enough of the work they are doing to live close to the decisions they make. But that is just me.

Eyes and Ears on City Council

My mother in law has now developed pneumonia (not a good thing with cancer) and will be having another surgery in the morning to try to alleviate her pain. I will not be at City Council to see if they bump SADI's profits, but I would encourage others to go and watch what happens. I will watch the meeting later on the net, and will report in on what happens. But anyone who wants to go and perhaps even say a few words about the fact that we are again dealing with a developer who already came back to the taxpayer trough for their last development, when others like Mercy or Jamboree are willing to do these projects for the usual 15-85 split.

Help Our Neighbors

To donate to fire disaster relief, contact the Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org/

Corona Fire Jumps to Anaheim Hills

The Yorba Linda/Corona fire has now jumped the 91 freeway, and is burning along Santa Ana Canyon Road in Anaheim Hills. 241 Toll Road is affected, and drivers are abandoning their vehicles to try walking out of the area. Weir Canyon Road is also involved, and we are all advised to stay out of the area and let emergency crews work. Gridlock is impeding the ability to evacuate residents. The Downtown Community Center has been opened as an emergency evacuation center, located at Center Street and Anaheim Blvd. Colony residents should avoid Anaheim Blvd and allow folks to get into the shelter. All residents are advised to stay inside, out of the streets, and close windows. Conserve water and energy to allow emergency services to access power and water pressure.

UPDATE: 4:30 pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ANAHEIM FIRES INFORMATION ANAHEIM, Calif. (Nov. 15, 2008, 3:25 p.m.) – The City of Anaheim Fire Department is calling for mandatory evacuations. BOUNDARIES: 91 freeway on the north 241 freeway on the east Weir Canyon Road or Serrano Avenue to the west And all homes to the north of Marblehead Way AND Mohler Drive on the north Del Giorgio Road on the west Canyon Rim Road on the south Deer Canyon Park and Fairmont Park to the east Approximately 4,500 homes and 12,600 residents have been asked to evacuate. SHELTER AND RECEPTION Those evacuated can report to the care and reception facility at the Downtown Community Center, located at 250 E. Center Street, Anaheim, CA 92805 (cross street Anaheim Blvd.). SHELETER AND CARE Katella High School (2200 E. Wagner), Anaheim High School (811 W. Lincoln), and Loara High School (1765 Euclid) are open as care and shelter facilities. The Annabella Hotel is also offering rooms to displaced residents at a discounted rate. The Annabella Hotel phone number is 714-905-1050. ANIMAL SHELTER Horses only- Rancho Del Rio stables are excepting horses 1314 Sandersen Avenue Anaheim 714-535-3510 As a precaution, the 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. Please visit _www.anaheim.net_ (blocked::http://www.anaheim.net/) , tune in to channel 3 (local only) or call 714-765-4333 for continual updates. Contacts: Maria Sabol PIO, Anaheim Fire Department 714-620-6234 Ruth Ruiz PIO, City of Anaheim 714-420-7797 cell

City Council Spending Our Money Again!

There is a City Council meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, November 18. On the Agenda for the Redevelopment Agency is the following:

Approve and authorize the Executive Director to execute an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with SADI, LLC, in substantial form, for the development of an affordable multi-family housing project on the corner of Manchester and Orangewood Avenue.

Now y'all may recall that the last time SADI LLC came before RDA for an affordable housing project, it was that stucco monstrosity over at Elm Street Commons. Richard Chavez, backed by Lorri Galloway, pulled that project for discussion, and bumped the developer's profit from the standard 15% that every other developer gets, to an unprecedented 50% profit! All this (over Mayor Curt's objections) while Galloway admonished the developer to be sure to acknowledge how cooperative Council had been to them! If you will recall, Lorri Galloway recently received a substantial donation of Independent Expenditure during her campaign from "Elm Street", which popped for those ugly billboards all over town, and a hefty mailer.

So the questions for next Tuesday are:

A) Can Galloway even vote on this if she recently received an IE from the developer?
B) Will Galloway try to give away the farm again for this project?
C) Why do we continue to deal with private developers like SADI who demand higher profit margins, when non-profits like Mercy Housing do a fabulous job and agree to the standard 15% profit margin?

I for one intend to be there to ask, and will certainly report back here. Anyone care to tag along?

On a personal note, my beloved Mother In Law, Marianna Ward, has been diagnosed with advanced stage 3 cancer which has metastasized, and prayers are welcome and appreciated. I will be dramatically scaling back a lot of my volunteer work, and frankly much of my work-work for a while. If you are here looking for info on Marianna, I have begun a new blog at http://wardnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/ However, if I gave up watching City Council to watch my Mother In Law she would have my head, so I will somehow find the time for community activism. But I could use some help with extra eyes and ears during the challenges my family is dealing with, so if I can count on the community to give me a head's up for upcoming events, or dirty deals, it would help me immensely. Thanks.

New Hours and a Special Offer for Farmer's Market!

This just in from the DAA:

New Farmer's Market Hours noon to 8 pm Thursdays! Center Street Promenade!

Come down to the Downtown Anaheim Association office during Farmers' with proof of Anaheim residence to get your $1 off (with any $5purchase) coupon!!Pick up some of my farm-fresh favorites:Yummy berries (blue, rasp & black), fresh dill roasted red pepper sourdough bread, red potatoes, vine ripened tomatoes, french crepes,organic avocados & Korean BBQ Chicken.Also, if you haven't been down in the last week or 2, there are somereally cool new non-agricultural vendors... Here's some of my favs...Knit beanies, mineral make-up, Peruvian art/handbags, cool trendyclothes, tie dye clothes, hand blown glass, hand-made jewelry, cuddlyblankets and amazing scented bath/skin products.We have a crazy unicyclist Noon-5pm, then an awesome blues/classic rock solo artist is performing from 5pm-7:30pm.

Economic Conference Wednesday Nov 12

The Anaheim Chamber of Commerce is hosting an Economic Conference with a look at where Anaheim is going in the future, and how we will get there. The Conference starts at 9 am Wednesday, at the Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel. See the Chamber's website for details at anaheimchamber.org. Plan to stay for the Awards Luncheon as the Chamber recognizes Anaheim's businesses and their contributions to our community.

The Fight's Not Over so Let's Stay Busy Until We Know!

Interesting. The Anaheim battle is not quite over. While it is likely that the incumbents will retain their seats, it turns out there are just under 240,000 absentee ballots still at the Registrar's office, and only about 19,000 of them have been hand counted yet. That does not include the paper provisional ballots that had higher than usual numbers as folks (like me) decided to opt for paper rather than wait in line for a machine. You can follow the progress of the counting at http://www.ocvote.com/live/totalstocount.asp Nobody knows how many of those uncounted ballots are from Anaheim, so the race is still anyone's guess. But one can still hope for a total upset, right?

In the meantime, we can all focus on making Anaheim a better place to live outside of the government by participating in community events:

Our own Downtown Farmer's Market now enjoys expanded hours and you can do your shopping for local produce, handcrafts, etc from noon to 8 pm, so those who work somewhere other than SBC or City Hall can enjoy too!

While you are down on Center Street Promenade, pop across the street to celebrate art in Anaheim. The Anaheim Arts Council is hosting their Art in Public Places Awards, 5:30 pm on November 6, (that would be tonight) in the Anaheim City Council Chambers.

Anaheim Cultural and Heritage Commision is hosting "Celebrando el Arte", with a reception at the Downtown Community Center, on Friday November 7 at 5:30 pm. The DTCC is on Center between Anaheim Blvd and Olive.

Also on Friday night is a Casino Night fundraiser for the Police Activites League, at the Hotel Menage (nice place) Call Georgina Meza at 714-493-4631.

Special thanks to Andrea Manes' column in the Anaheim Bulletin, you don't think I look this stuff up myself, do you?

How Does It All Add Up?

The numbers are crunched, and the election has been called. Sidhu and Galloway retained their seats, my teenage daughter can have major surgery without my knowing why she is hemmoraging, but at least chickens can turn around in their cages. Sigh. While I spend the rest of the day tackling some therapeutic baking (chocolate fixes everything) you might want to see how the city voted. Here are the results by Precinct or Zip Code. http://electionmapping.ocgov.com/OCElectionMapper/Map.aspx

Looking to the Future

HUBRIS: noun, exaggerated pride or self-confidence

While elected officials have a tendency toward hubris, it seems first term Anaheim Councilmembers are especially prone to the condition. When newly surrounded by those who bow, scrape, fetch and carry, while told how amazingly wise and wonderful you are, it is hard not to buy into your own PR. While this is amazingly apparent during this election cycle, we have seen it in previous elections.

Back in 1998, Bob Zemel thought he was the coolest kid on the GOP block. Seeing himself cut from the cloth of B-1 Bob Dornan, he believed himself cool enough to take on the wildly popular Tom Daly. He got creamed. Why didn’t Bobby Z play it safe and run for his virtually assured seat on City Council? Hubris. Where is he now? Heck if I know.

1998 was the year of hubris, as Lou Lopez swam in the arrogance pool, believing himself well known enough to parlay his reputation as an Anaheim cop for a run at County Supervisor. Not a bad move, since Anaheim was entirely in the 4th District back then. But in doing so he abdicated the throne of Anaheim City Council, only to be beaten by Cynthia Coad. Where is Lou now? Possibly having coffee with Bob Zemel.

In 2006, Richard Chavez, the darling of the unions, ran a lazy campaign for re-election. Dear Richard had roughly $40k on hand for the last stretch of the election, money enough if he was running somewhere like Mission Viejo, but nothing near enough for a city the size of Anaheim. Richard could easily have amassed $200k over his term, but didn’t bother. Why? Hubris. Richard’s arrogance led him to believe that his name recognition would allow him to carry Bill Dalati, a man who publicly switched parties on the City Hall steps. Richard tried to prop up the very candidate who drew votes away from him. In the end, manly Richard got beat by a girl, as Lucille Kring proved that name recognition and shoe leather beats union affiliation, by 200 votes.

Following in the heels of now-convicted-felon Richard Chavez, Lorri Galloway should have been building her own war chest. But again, hubris convinced her that having her name in the paper and her photo on the city website was sufficient. Ultimately, she fell prey to the belief that everyone knows her, everyone loves her, and everyone admires that tired red suit.

At the end of the reporting period she had less than $10k on hand, and a whopping $50k in debt. A sure sign of hubris, convinced that her union buddies would walk precincts till their fireman shoes fell off, it has left her open to a challenge. Now she finds herself behind the 8-ball as Gail Eastman and Harry Sidhu threaten to change the face of City Council.

What does all this hubris over all these years have in common? When the chips are down, and these candidates realize that their names are not enough to pull off a win, they become beholden to the Independent Expenditures of others, usually those “friends” who have benefited from your last 4 years in office, or those who wish to become your friend in the next four years. Look to any last minute expenditure and play follow the money.

This election has taught me much, about human nature, and the nature of money, and yes, hubris. It has taught me that things at City Hall are rarely as they seem, and it has taught me that nobody is watching the everyday business of these people who accept mass mailings and TV commercials from their buddies. If we are lucky, we catch the deal and expose it in time for the election, but all too often, it flies under the radar, until come time for the next election, nobody puts two and two together to come up with a developer and a favor.

Thus the rant. While I have my hopes for Tuesday’s election, I have no assurance that the very embodiment of hubris will not be returned to a seat on Anaheim’s City Council. While I am fairly confident that at least one newcomer to the seat will not succumb to the disease that has afflicted so many of the brethren, I am interested in how alliances form and deals play out. Rather than wait for the next election and back track the dirty deals and political favors, from here on out this blog, in addtion to reporting neighborhood picnics and hootnannys, will be committed to keeping up with the comings and goings and who is scratching whose backs. What makes me think I am qualified to cover City Hall as some sort of answer to Anaheim’s need for a political watchdog? Hubris I guess.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Sorry, have not been blogging much lately-OK not much here. If you visit Red County http://www.redcounty.com/orange-county/ you certainly have seen more of me than my family lately. Over there I am Colony Rabble. Oh yeah, and over here too. http://noongallowayanaheim.blogspot.com/ I have been very involved in the Anaheim City Council campaign, primarily on the side of tossing Lorri Galloway's lying, greedy, incumbent butt out of office. On that note, please join me for a party celebrating the two candidates I beleive will take this thing.

Anaheim Chamber of Commerce

Please join us for an
Evening with the Anaheim Chamber's Endorsed Candidates

Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Time: 5:30-6:30pm
Location: Bella Marri's Italian Restaurant, 20 South Anaheim Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92805
Serving: Delicious Appetizers and a no-host bar

This will be an opportunity to meet the candidates and learn easy ways to help them to victory in their campaigns.

We look forward to seeing you at this event.

Please RSVP to 714-758-0222 or call if you have any questions or need additional information.

Remember to Cast Your Vote on November 4th, 2008 in the General Election!

CHAMBER ENDORSES BUSINESS CHAMPIONS COUNCILMAN HARRY SIDHU AND PLANNING COMMISSION GAIL EASTMAN FOR ANAHEIM CITY COUNCIL

Following an extensive vetting process including written questionnaires, personal interviews and a voting procedure, the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has endorsed two
candidates running for positions on the Anaheim City Council. Planning Commissioner Gail Eastman and Councilman Harry Sidhu were endorsed by the Chamber for the two seats up for election in November because of their strong pro-business philosophy.

Eastman has served the last seven years on the City Planning Commission, the past three as the Chair. Sidhu is an incumbent Councilmember, having served on the Council for the past four years. Both have been active in the community of Anaheim in business and volunteer capacities for many years.

“Our Chamber chose these candidates because of their strong past record and stated commitment to continue to support the needs of the business community, promote job growth and encourage the future economic vitality of our city,” stressed Bruce Solari, Chair of the Board of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce. “This dedication includes their records as champions of protecting our Anaheim Resort District, which we all know helps fund vital city services like fire and police.”

The Anaheim Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in Anaheim. In addition to candidates, the Chamber will be weighing in on the issues and propositions that have business implications. For more information you can go to www.anaheimchamber.org.

Mayor Curt Pringle Endorses Gail Eastman for City Council

This just in from Mayor Pringle;

I am pleased today to announce my endorsement of Gail Eastman for Anaheim City Council. As an Anaheim Planning Commission and co-chair of SOAR, Gail Eastman has already proven that she is a great leader for Anaheim. She was a key leader in the fight to protect the Anaheim Resort, proving her commitment to protecting Anaheim’s fiscal security. She has been an outstanding leader on the Planning Commission, proving her commitment to property rights. She cares passionately for Anaheim, its people, and its community. She embodies public service and is just what we need on the City Council.

Her election to the City Council will give her even greater opportunity to keep Anaheim moving forward, to make neighborhoods a priority, to protect public safety, to provide freedom and opportunity for our residents and businesses, and to bring jobs and prosperity to our city.

Joining with my previous endorsement of Councilman Harry Sidhu for re-election, I am proud to recommend to Anaheim voters that by electing these two candidates to the two Council seats on the ballot this November, we can keep making the kinds of positive changes and progress that will continue to make Anaheim a great city where people can make their dreams come true.

Curt Pringle

Candidate's Forum October 22 Canyon High School

The Final Anaheim City Council Forum is Wednesday Oct. 22nd. Bring your questions. Canyon High School PTSA and East Anaheim. org are sponsoring an Anaheim City Council Candidates Forum. The Forum will take place on Wednesday,October 22, 2008, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Canyon High School in the Cafeteria/Multipurpose Room at 220 South Imperial Highway in Anaheim Hills (southeast corner of Imperial Hwy. and Santa Ana Canyon Road). All ten of the City Council Candidates have been invited to attend. The previous forum sponsored by West Anaheim Neighborhood Development group on Oct. 8th was very well attended and the Candidates shared their differing perspectives thoughtfully and respectfully. For more event and candidate information click on HYPERLINK"http://www.eastanaheim.org

Under African Skies

Some friends and I were treated to VIP tickets at the Muzeo Gala Saturday night (huge thanks to the Kabel family) and a fabulous time was had by all! The event was held in that giant, traffic stopping (literally) tent in the middle of Anaheim Blvd, and only design genius Michael Mora could figure out how to turn a landscape median into an enourmous floral arrangement! Wow! Having been on the Museum Board back when we were doing meatballs (Dean Reynolds' meat pellets) and veggie trays in the basement kitchen of the Carnegie, I have to say the City has begun a whole new chapter in supporting the arts!

Food service was glacially slow, but the meal was worth waiting for, and waiting for, and waiting for. Thankfully we had incredible entertainment while waiting, including Timothy Carney (the former US Ambassador to Sudan) a very good jazz band that I cannot recall the name of, and MC Ed Arnold. The highlight of the night was a concert by Ladysmith Black Mambazo (hubby's fave, we are now subjected to Paul Simon's cd over and over and over) Honestly, I have not seen so much money in one place in Anaheim before, much of it new, and much of it from the hills, and all of it for a good cause. I gave up counting, but the live auction raised what I estimate at $60-$70K for Muzeo! I would encourage everyone to go see the new Muzeo exhibit Under African Skies, running from October 4 to January. Ladysmith Black Mumbazo also did a 70 minute concert today, to rave reviews from husband and neighbors.
www.muzeo.org

Sheri Vander Dussen at the City of Anaheim's Planning Department has been inviting the locals to attend a meeting on September 29 to review a new housing project for 622 S. Velare. The existing complex, built in 1961 and sold in February 2007 for $4,500,000. will be demolished, and a new complex built in its place. Because the new complex is slated as affordable housing, the density bonuses allow the developer to nearly double to number of units on the property. Local reports tell of a three story building, with a setback variance granted (State Law allows it) so the building will essentially dwarf the single story residences in the area. I have not seen the plans to confirm that report, but I would encourage anyone interested to attend the meeting scheduled for September 29, 2008, at the Magnolia Baptist Church at 720 South Magnolia Avenue. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. City staff and the developer will be available to present the plans for the project and respond to any questions or concerns related to the proposed affordable housing project or any other neighborhood issues.

Colony Potluck

The Anaheim Colony Histroic District is hosting our monthly potluck dinner on Thursday September 25, 7 pm to whenever we throw you out. This month's celebration will be at the famed and feared Ward family Money Pit. The place has been under rehab for the 4 years we have been here, and is not remotely finished. I am talking bring your record of tetanus shots not finished. but the old girl is 100 years old this year, and she deserves a party. So grab your hard hat, a covered dish to share, and your favorite beverage. And bring cash, my kid is selling candy for Future Business Leaders of America.

Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Aye mateys! It be me favorite day of all days today! International Talk Like A Pirate Day! Get yer parrot outta the footlocker and practice yer RRRRs. We know ye have that hint o scoundrel in ye, let it run free today! For extra fun, practice yer piraticalness in the course of yer day. Make that trip to Whole Foods a bit more interestin', ye not be shoppin fer organics today, ye be layin in supplies fer the galley, vittles fer the trip to Tortuga. Don't ferget the rum, me mateys!

Ye olde image o the day is Anaheim Landing, (now Seal Beach) where our vineyardist forefathers landed their swag. To me knowledge thar be no pirate activity thar, but it be water so we’ll use it. Fer help in gettin' yer pirate on, see the websites:
http://www.wikihow.com/Talk-Like-a-Pirate
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

City Council Precinct Walk for Gail Eastman

Just a reminder that this Saturday, beginning at 9 am, volunteers are needed for a Precinct Walk for Gail Eastman. The vent kicks off at Gail's headquarters, Cypress and Anaheim Blvd in downtown, just north of the City Hall where we want to send her! Wear your most comfortable walking shoes, and be prepared to put in a few hours covering a precinct, talking to voters about why Gail Eastman should be elected to Anaheim City Council. For details contact Kelly Buffa at kbuffa@pacbell.net

Huell Howser's Anaheim

Did you get here from one of the websites shown on Huell Howser? For more information on the Anaheim Historical Society, see the website at www.anaheimhistoricalsociety.com. This blog is my personal take on my beloved hometown, the views here are mine and mine alone, do not represent those of any non-profit I may be involved with. So please do not get upset with them if you read down to my politics below.

Looking for more Anaheim? Click on the graphic to your left, it is a basic map of historic Anaheim locations that you might use for a tour of the area. It does not cover all three of our historic districts, but it will get you started.

For the ultimate historic Anaheim experience, come to the Anaheim Historical Society’s 2008 Historic Home Tour on October 11 and 12 from 10 am to 4 pm. Tickets are $20 per person, $15 for Anaheim Historical Society members. The ticket center is at Center Street Promenade, where Meghan Shigo hosts her Vintage Marketplace, a street fair of historic preservation vendors, local artists, and non-profit groups. The Home Tour features seven homes including Victorian, bungalows, Mediterranean, and a Pacific Ready Cut kit home! The tour even includes a hard-hat house in process of being restored by two sisters. Get your tickets by downloading the flyer and ticket order form at www.anaheimhistoricalsociety.com

If you want to check out the “downtown Anaheim” area seen on the show, you can look for events like street concerts, Farmer’s Market hours, etc. at www.downtownanaheim.com and check out what is happening at our world-class museum at www.muzeo.com. If you want to do some local history research in the Local History Reading Room, check http://www2.anaheim.net/article.cfm?id=113 Jane Newell and her amazing staff can take good care of you there! If you want to do research on Orange County in general, go visit my friends at the Orange County Archives, http://www.ocarchives.com/ We will be forever grateful to Anaheim resident and former Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly for reopening the Archives after they were in mothballs for so long!

If you fall in love with the area and decide you would like to live here, we have several local Realtors who can hook you up with a great deal on a vintage home. You met local Realtor and potluck maven Meghan Shigo on the show. Check out the vintage homes she has to offer at www.meghanshomes.com. Or visit Barbara Gonzalez at www.barbaragonzalez.net. Barbara does speak Spanish if that is more comfortable for you. Both of these ladies know all there is to know about living in the Colony, and their specialty is vintage homes.

Love the idea of living in the historic district but think that fixing up an old house is not for you? Our new construction is amazing, and right in the heart of the action. For the live-work lofts seen in Huell’s program, check them out at www.harborlofts.com/ there are also some rental units in the downtown area, come visit and tour the models. The rentals have been home to the US Volleyball team, while they train in Anaheim! Another great new for-sale development in the area is Colony Park, at www.livecolonypark.com

Of course there is the Linbrook Bowling Center, which the Anaheim Historical Society recently recognized as Historically Significant as a Googie style landmark. www.LinbrookBowl.com For more info on Googie architecture, see Chris Jepsen’s http://www.spaceagecity.com/ and for more on Orange County history in general, I never start my day without checking out Chris’s blog at http://ochistorical.blogspot.com/

I hope you enjoyed the show, it was a delight to work with Huell Howser, and yes, he really is that nice in person! The entire point of doing the show was to tell the world what a great town Anaheim really is, if you need any more information, I am happy to help at Cynthia_Ward@sbclgobal.net.

Fab Four, Lisa Zaradich, Last Chance for Huell

Last night dear sweet patient husband and I went to the Fab Four concert at Pearson Park. What a great time! Even though they have played Anaheim before, we did not get a chance to go. So very glad we got tickets for the SOLD OUT concert. The band was great, and it was a special treat to enjoy them in an intimate setting like the historic Greek Amphitheatre in our own Pearson Park. An absolute MUST for next year, get your tickets early and avoid being one of the dissapointed fans begging for tickets out front.

The Colony's Lisa Zaradich reports that she has raised about $1000 of the $1200 goal she is aiming for during the 3-Day Walk for the Cure. She has logged about 200 miles during training for the event, we see her in the mornings walking her basset hound. To donate go to http://08.the3day.org/goto/lisazaradich

Lisa is also hosting a "Meet and Greet" coffee for City Council candidate John Karczynski, on Monday, September 29, from 7 to 9 pm. Please RSVP to (lzaradich@gmail.com) to let her know you are coming and get the address.

And last call for Huell Howser! The episide first aired Friday night, and we already have a huge response, lookie-loos are in the neighborhood taking pictures and pointing, which was the whole point of inviting him out here to promote our A-MAY-ZING Anaheim! Just a reminder we will gather at Linbrook Bowl tonight for the 7 pm airing of the episode, bring some cash for cheap food and drink in the Kopa Room lounge, (they do not take plastic) and maybe afterward we will stick around for some Karaoke. Nope, not enough alcohol in the bar to get me up there, but I'll buy you a drink if you'll do it-I get to pick the song.

Gail Eastman for Council

This just in from local community leader Mitch Caldwell:

The effort to first save and then restore the Anaheim Colony HistoricDistrict has been a work in progress for over a quarter century. Theheavy lifting was, and still is, done by Colony residents and businessowners. We have a lot to be proud of:•Stopped the demolition of single family homes.•Downzoned entire neighborhoods to prevent the construction of high-density rental housing next door to our homes.•Worked with developers to bring new construction projects thatcomplement the existing architecture of the Colony. •Assisted in the formation of the Historic Preservation Committeethat, among other things, created a Preservation Plan for the Colonyand brought the Mills Act to Anaheim to encourage restoration effortsof eligible properties by providing property tax relief.There is more, but that is not why I am contacting you. I have goodnews. We have an historic opportunity to elect one of our own to theAnaheim City Council, Gail Eastman. Yes, she is brilliant andknowledgeable. Yes, Gail also understands the problems we face andshe is ready to bring the solutions we need to continue moving theColony and the City forward. The challenge is that she is in for a tough fight. Nine candidatesoppose her. Two are incumbents with big money and influence. If wewant to put one of our own on the Council, someone that gets it, nowis the time. If you care about the Colony and the future of your citythen join us in the fight to get Gail Eastman elected to the AnaheimCity Council. Here is what we can do:•Send money. Whatever you can afford to:The Friends of Gail Eastman330 S. Illinois StreetAnaheim, CA 92805•Walk and knock on doors. We need to fan out across this city andlet every voter know about Gail Eastman. Here's what you do:Be at Gail's campaign headquarters on Saturday, September 20th at 9am. Get instructions and a precinct map and give the Colony and Gailfour hours of your time.Eastman Campaign Headquarters301 N. Anaheim Blvd.Suite CAnaheim, CA 92805With the help of the Anaheim Colony Gail Eastman can become the nextnew member of the Anaheim City Council. See you all on the 20th.Mitch CaldwellP.S.: Questions? Call me at home (714) 774-0346 or my cell at (562)335-2318

Emergency Shelter to Close!

OK, this is not really an Anaheim item, but it caught my attention and broke my heart, so I will post it here in the hope of helping. Today's Register reports that the Women's Transitional Living Center is going to close if they do not get a quick cash infusion! Because of the geniuses running things in Sacto, they are short by $300,000 in funding they had counted on from the State. Without $97,000 immediately, the shelter will close, and these women and children will be on the streets, or end up back with their abusers. More information can be found at www.wtlc.org or money can be sent to WTLC PO Box 6103 Orange CA 92863. They will also hold an emergency fundraiser today at 5 pm, Bourbon Street Restaurant, 110 E. Commonwealth, in Fullerton. They are looking for donations of any size, $5 to thousands, or even a loan to keep the doors open. Read the story at http://www.ocregister.com/articles/wtlc-violence-shelter-2150697-watson-agency

History in Anaheim Colony and Anaheim Hills

October 11 and 12 is going to be a busy weekend for history lovers, both in the flatlands and the hills. In downtown, the Anaheim Historical Society is hosting the 2008 Historic Home Tour. See the website at www.anaheimhistoricalsociety.com for details and advance ticket orders! They are also looking for volunteers, anyone who works a half-day's shift gets a FREE ticket to the event. Contact Volunteer Coordinator Annie Kupfrian at (714) 991-0338 or kupfrian@juno.com. To advertise in the Tour Booklet that is handed out to an estimated 1,000 guests, contact Jennifer Shaffer at Jennifer_Shaffer@hotmail.com.

That same weekend, the Santa Ana Canyon Historical Council invites the community to attend the 17th Annual Pioneer Family Picnic from 11 am to 4 pm, Saturday October 11, Yorba Regional Park. Please RSVP to 714-499-7975 or 714-579-7945.

W.A.N.D. Meeting September 10 7 pm

On Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at 7:00 pm, the West Anaheim Neighborhood Development Council will meet at the Tiger Woods Learning Center. The center is located at One Tiger Woods Way (Gilbert/Crescent)

Get there at 6 pm for a tour of the Tiger Woods Facility. Otherwise the 7 pm meeting includes:

• Graffiti Initiative Update
• Police-Code Enforcement Reports
• High Density Apartments

If you have any questions, please contact Esther Wallace at 1-714-828-5526.

Anaheim City Council Race

I am no political insider, but I do work hard to be informed, and the upcoming November election for Anaheim City Council is likely the most important we have ever had. While I get much of my political news from the Red County blog, they only reviewed Republican candidates, which I think is pretty shortsided considering City Council is a non-partisan office. Now, I have never been called impartial, nor am I shy about sharing my opinions. So this evaluation is just my own take on the upcoming race, and you are free to agree or disagree. I am posting whatever websites I have found, so you can do your own investigation of the candidates. If I do not have a website, it is because I do not know of one, and I am happy to update that info if you send it to me. I also love a good, well reasoned debate, so feel free to post a respectful rebuttal. But be warned, you better have done your homework, we are looking for facts, and flaming is a no-no too. Otherwise, have it, or if you really hate these views, get your own blog.

The candidates for Anaheim City Council 2008, in alphabetical order:

Brian Chuchua: Retired Businessman/CEO, declined to file a candidates’s statement, which in my mind is just plain lazy. How are we supposed to support someone who will not share information about himself?

Gail Eastman: Businesswoman/Planning Commissioner:
See this link for her Candidate Statement http://www.anaheim.net/images/articles/1773/EASTMAN.pdf
I have made no secret of my support for Gail, so I will not pretend to be fair and balanced here. If you have not met her, check her out. www.gail2008.com In my opinon Gail Eastman is the most qualified candidate out there. Her support base tends to be more non-partisan than the others, as an independent she is not playing party politics, which I think do not belong in a Council race. Her support base also tends to be people I want to have a drink with at a fund-raiser, and they tend to be passionate about the things I care about. Gail Eastman has my vote for one seat. I am still waffling on my other vote.

Robert Flores: Another candidate that declined to file a Candidate’s Statement. Bobby runs for everything. He wants to be elected to something, and does not seem to care what it is. Maybe it’s a marketing thing for his real estate business?

Lorri Galloway: Of all the candidates, she is the only one I know with a campaign AGAINST her! Rumors have always surrounded her past ethics, and the way she runs the Eli Home has been in question since the beginning. I did some digging around, some of the past rumors did not actually play out when investigated, on the other hand, I have verified some of them with my own research. Not enough space here to get into the lack of judgement of one candidate, email me directly if you want more info, or check out the opposition’s blog at http://noongallowayanaheim.blogspot.com/

Again, because it’s my blog and I can say what I want, I openly admit that I have a Lorri Galloway magnet on my fridge, as a daily reminder of how hard we need to work to get her off that dais in November. This chick is bad for the City with a hey-nonny, she needs to go.

John Karczynski: Businessman/Non-Profit Chairman, also heavy vested in the Republican party. Here is his candidate statement: http://www.anaheim.net/images/articles/1773/KARCZYNSKI.pdf
I have met with John a number of times, I like him, I like his views, I think he has a great vision for the City. Check him out at www.JoinJohn2008.com

Steve Perez: Ballot designation intentially left blank, he lists no occupation, but here is his ballot statement: http://www.anaheim.net/images/articles/1773/PEREZ.pdf
From my limited knowledge, Steve Perez is a college student, and while I am excited that young people are getting involved, I have some issues here. My biggest is that he has not done his homework, and has spouted off on issues based on fallacies and urban legend. Next up is his insistence that Disney is too involved in Anaheim, and that they are somehow bad for the City. Again, those who know me know better than to bag on the Resort, it does not fly. On the other hand, he did take my advice and switch from a juvenile MySpace page to develop a real website, at www.steveperez08.com. I have offered to meet with him, but he has put me off, so I do not have much to share on him.

Jennifer Rivera:
Ballot Designation intentionally left blank, Declined to File a Candidate’s Statement. A non-player in my book, with the exception of littering the City with annoying and amateurish campaign signs. In the name of fairness, if anyone has info about her I will update this blog with it, but I am not wasting my time chasing her down.

Kostas “Gus Roditis: CEO/Transportation Executive: Candidate Statement http://www.anaheim.net/images/articles/1773/RODITIS.pdf He does not appear to have a website, but lists his cell number as 714-423-7137.

Harry Sidhu: Incumbent Councilmember: Heavily involved in the Republican party, in June he ran for State Senate, losing to Mimi Walters. Here is his Candidate’s Statement http://www.anaheim.net/images/articles/1773/SIDHU.pdf
And website www.JoinHarry.com
I like Harry, he tends to be very conservative, especially when it comes to spending tax dollars, which is always welcome. On the other hand, the buzz I hear is an underlying anger that if he still had a vision for Anaheim he should not have tried to leave for Sacto. Harry can easily finance a campaign, and I hope it is enough to win over those who are miffed with him for treating his Anaheim seat like a fallback position. Me, I could live with 4 more years of Harry.

Faiz Zuberi: Realtor, Declined to file a Candidate Statement. Ran for City Council in 2004, came in dead last.

This will be a tough race. Three viable candidates, Eastman, Karczynski, Sidhu, and two seats. In the end it will likely come down to who Mayor Curt Pringle gets behind, and right now he’s not saying. However, he has resurrected his old PAC, with a fundraiser on September 23 at House of Blues. Jubal at Red County reports on it at http://www.redcounty.com/orange-county/2008/08/if-there-was-ever-any/

So, the whole shooting match is up in the air for now. All I can say is do your homework, and if you have information or a contact for a candidate I missed here, let me know.

Linbrook Bowl parties on!

During Labor Day Weekend, the famed Linbrook Bowl will celebrate their 50 year Anniversary with a parking lot party. The Anaheim Historical Society will recognize the site as a "Googie" style landmark on Saturday, August 30 at 12:30 pm. The Linbrook Bowl is unique in that it is still owned by the same family that built it. In most other cases, bowling alleys in Orange County are on leased land. As those 50 year leases inked in the post-war boom come up for renewal, the owners of the underlying land boot the bowling alley tenants to develop condos. That is how we lose bowling alleys that are otherwise successful. Thankfully, it looks like the Linbrook Bowl folks honor their heritage, and will be around for a while.

Linbrook Bowl was also one of the locations we recently visited with Huell Howser, and we will return to the scene of the crime for a no-host party in the Kopa Room lounge for the airing of California's Gold, Anaheim episode, on Sunday, September 14 at 7 pm.

Paying Respects to a Great Man in Anaheim

This message is long, but worth the read. It was an email, posted to the "Mother Colony" yahoo group, inviting the neighbors to attend the funeral of a great man. I will simply post it as written, and invite all of Anaheim to come pay their respects.

My name is Robert Nelson and I live in the 900 block of Alberta Street. Last week my father of eighty-eight years, Robert B. Nelson, passed away. For the past seven years, I cared for him while he suffered from the terrible disease of Alzheimer’s. The man who would tell his life stories to me as I grew up, needed me to tell him these same stories during these last few years. To me, my Father was a great man. He did have his faults, but the love he showed me and the virtues that he taught me over-shadowed anything that he may have lacked. My Father was a registered Democrat, but was a Republican at heart. He always believed in the “little guy.” He believed that if you want something, you need to work for it. But, if somebody else needed something, he would do whatever he could to help him out.One of the most special things about my Dad was that he was a Pearl Harbor Survivor. His job at Pearl was Radio-Man for the Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Adm. Kimmel. On December 6, 1941, he was working the night shift. He would later tell me the stories of what he saw and heard in those early hours leading up to the attack. His watch had ended around 6 a.m., and as he was heading back to the barracks for some sleep, he stopped for reveille in front of the flag. Then, just like in the movies, the Japanese began their attack. “A day that will live in infamy.” Dad never talked about the horrible tragedies that he saw that day or all during the war. He would only talk about things that seemed important to him. He served on the USS Pennsylvania, USS West Virginia, and the USS Maryland, earning medals for battles in the Asiatic-Pacific area, and the Philippine Liberation. Often, during his service, my Father would volunteer. Most of the time, it was to go ashore and care for the wounded. The Battle for Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands was an exception. The Marines were suffering heavy casualties. The call came out for volunteers to go ashore and fight with the Marines. My Dad, the true patriot that he was, raised his hand and off he went. When the battle was over, and we were victorious, he felt it was best that he go back to being a radio-man. But by then, his ship had left. It took him an entire month, hopping from ship to ship, with only the clothes on his back, to reach his duty ship. Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, he travelled extensively in his youth, attending more than fifteen different schools. Many of them were here in Orange County. He graduated from Santa Ana Junior College, before joining the US Navy in 1940. Following the war, my Dad studied chemistry at UC Berkeley, and later worked as a chemist and researcher for a variety of companies which manufactured everything from paint to vitamins. He retired as a clerk from the Los Angeles County Courts. An ever-curious mind, he was a prolific reader and writer. He loved learning languages and studying the Bible. I don’t think I can remember a time where he wasn’t taking some kind of college course. He developed a variety of inventions to help children read, and predict earthquakes. He even ran for Congress, but lost. He was a member of the American Legion for fifteen years at Post 75 and 72, serving in leadership positions at Post 75 until his health began to fail. He was married, and is survived by his wife Alice, sons, Robert, Bentley, and Charles, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. If you would like to help me pay respects to a man who served diligently during a time of war, so that we could continue our freedom, then please join us on Friday, August 29th, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Boniface Church. Military honors will be rendered at the conclusion of the service. Tom Brokaw calls these people “The Greatest Generation.” I couldn’t agree more.Thank you,Robert Nelson

Disneyland Hotel Tour Update

We now have a confirmed date and time for the Disneyland Hotel tour with Don Ballard. Don will escort us for a FREE tour on Friday, August 29. Meet under the Sorcerer's Hat on the hotel grounds at 6 pm. We are trying to get a head count, so please RSVP to Cynthia_Ward@sbcglobal.net if you plan to join us.

FREE Disneyland Hotel Tour with Don Ballard

Author and Disney historian Don Ballard is offering a FREE walking tour of the Disneyland Hotel while he is in the area. Dates and times are open, depending on when we can get the best crowd. If interested, get a hold of me directly, and I will forward the information to Don. He will be in town from August 26 through the 30th.

Huell Howser Air Date and Historic Landmark Tree

We have an air date for Huell Howser! The episode of California's Gold featuring a tour of historic Anaheim will air on September 12 at 10 pm and September 14 at 7 pm! Stay tuned for announcement of a "viewing party".......

Since the visit by Huell, there has been much discussion of nominating the Morten Bay Fig tree on West Street as a historic landmark. It looks like there may be support for doing that, watch for details as that develops.

Swingin' On the Promenade

Downtown Anaheim Swingin on the Promenade... Saturday, August 23, 6PM-10PMFree Swing Dance Lesson by OC SWING TEAM 6:15-6:45

THEN the Famous Royal Crown Revue will woo and wow you as you dance the night away on a huge dance floor under the stars! ROYAL CROWN REVUE, ­ the reigning kings of all that is sartorially and otherwise splendid in classic American music has pioneered a totally unique sound and style, serving as the blueprint for an entire generation of musicians and music lovers. This band exploded from the underground scene into bona fide cultural phenomenon. Admission/Parking FREE! Food Vendors, Beer/Wine/Cocktails, Classic Car Show + More!Located at Center Street Promenade and Lemon Street in Downtown Anaheim, 92805myspace.com/swinginonthepromenade714 956 3586

Wagner House Gets a Lift

The city-owned Wagner House, now used as the Anaheim Tennis Center, is getting the attention it so richly deserves. The City has contracted with 30th Street Architects to restore the historic structure located in Boysen Park. 30th Street is currently looking for anyone with memories of the home's interior during the Wagner family ownership.

Orange County Book Publishes in September!

Gustavo Arellano's newest book, "Orange County: A Personal History, I've been Taking Notes" will be available in September. He graciously slipped me an advance reader's excerpt, and I have to admit my plans for laundry-and-woodwork went right out the window as I got sucked into reading that left me wanting more. His combination of Orange County history, contemporary Orange County life experience and a smart ass wit only Gustavo can get away with will make this a best seller. Advance orders are available through booksellers. For an autographed copy, Gustavo will have a booth at the Vintage Marketplace of the Anaheim Historical Society's Historic Home Tour on October 11 and 12. Hopefully we can also schedule a speaking engagement for him here in Anaheim soon as well.

Hot Party

Today the folks at the Kingdom released their fifth series of Commemorative stamps, and because Disney never does anything half-way, they threw a party for the occasion. Not sure if my giddiness was due to the unbearable heat or simply my glee at being in close proximity to Marty Sklar, but a good time was had by all. And no, you cannot have my copy and they are not going on E-Bay. Thanks to Carrie for the invite and thanks to Jill for grabbing me a seat!

Huell Howser, Race for the Cure, ANA's Giant Rummage Sale

Yeah, it has been a while since updating the blog. Got busy doing things like escorting Huell Howser on a tour of historic Anaheim, you know, the everyday hobnobbing with the famous. Grin. Absolutely the time of my life, and yes, he really is as nice in person as on tv. I will post as soon as we have an air date. He was originally supposed to do a half segment on Anaheim, but when he got here he saw there so was much rich heritage that he called his producer and insisted we do a full hour's show! We are so blessed to live in a place this wonderful.

In the meantime, people like the Colony's Lisa Zaradich have been doing WAY more important work. After taking the Bar Exam in an earthquake (talk about pressure) she will get her Bar Exam results on the road. Starting November 21, she will be on a three day Walk for the Cure for Breast Cancer. The goal is to walk 60 miles in 3 days, while raising money for the cause. You can donate directly at http://08.the3day.org/goto/lisazaradich

And start stashing some cash for the Anaheim Neighborhood Association's Giant Rummage Sale on Saturday August 16, from 7 am to 1 pm. The sale will be at the elegant estate of Lew Aguillar and Michelle Lieberman at 319 N. Harbor Blvd (across the street from Pearson Park-yeah, the big place with the bell towers) They are seeking donations of salable items, or buyers for those items. If you have something to donate, contact them for drop off arrangments at 714-491-8353. For more info on ANA, see the website at anaheimneighborhoodassociation. com

Looks Like Fun

Anaheim City Council Candidate
John Karczynski
announces
Summer Cooking Class Fundraising Series
This summer, join us on Wednesday evenings in Anaheim Hills as we utilize some of the finest ingredients of the season to make truly unique dishes that are delicious and inspiring.
Jonathan Dye, chef and cooking class instructor at local Williams-Sonoma, Brea will be on hand to conduct the class and offer new ideas and culinary tips. Jonathan will show you how to take advantage of all that summer has to offer in the kitchen, including ideas for the upcoming fall season too.
Classes are intimate and samples of each prepared dish will be served with wine, therefore it is a perfect opportunity to enjoy time with friends or to stoke the culinary fires within you.

An All-American Outdoor Dinner
Wednesday, July 30, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Join us as we prepare four dishes perfect for dining al fresco. This menu celebrates flavors at their peak during the summer months, and is a satisfying way to enjoy an evening with friends or family.
On the Menu:Tomato and Feta Salad, Grilled Steaks on Rosemary Skewers, Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Strawberry Shortcakes

Easy Family Dinner
Wednesday, August 6, 6:30 – 8:30
Enjoying time with your family is precious, and this wholesome menu enables you to make a memorable meal in less time than you might think. Each recipe can be made quickly and with easy to find ingredients.
On the Menu: Chicken Parmesan, Cheese and Herb Breadsticks, Salad with Lemon vinaigrette, Potato Salad with Balsamic Vinegar and Chocolate Pudding.

An Inspired Luncheon Menu
Wednesday, August 13, 6:30 – 8:30
Whether you are hosting friends for a simple lunch or attempting a more formal gathering, selecting a menu that is versatile and enticing is key. This classis menu pairs great flavors and is great for wine tasting as well.
On the Menu: Quiche Lorraine, Roasted Beet Salad, Green Beans with Shallots and Lemon and Minted Fruit Salad

Dinner in Italy
Wednesday, August 27, 6:30 – 8:30
Italian food is praised for its simplicity and bold flavors. You will learn how to prepare dishes that celebrate the essential flavors of their ingredients, including a salad that contains Italy’s prized Burrata cheese.
On the Menu: Florentine Steak, Caprese Salad, Grilled Pizzas and TortaSbrisolona.

Fast, Fresh and Fun
Wednesday, September 3, 6:30 – 8:30
This menu is full of great inspiration for your next outdoor gathering. Grab some friends and head outdoors to enjoy this inspired menu! We will create dishes that are very fresh and with items that are easily found at the market.
On the Menu: Fresh Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Reduction, Orzo Salad with Shrimp, Grilled Halibut with Compound Butter, Grilled Marinated Vegetables and Peaches Poached in Wine.

Family Favorites
Wednesday, September 17, 6:30 – 8:30
Preparing a meal for your family is rewarding, ad these recipes are sure to become favorites in your home. We will be preparing classics with a twist; irresistible delights that will satisfy and warm your home.
On the Menu: Chicken Pot Pie, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Mache with Beets and Goat Cheese and Coconut Cupcakes.

Practically perfect Paninis
Wednesday, September 17, 6:30 – 8:30
Panini sandwiches have long been a staple of Italian bistros, using fresh and delicious ingredients to enliven cured meats and delightful cheeses between layers of crispy bread. Learn now to create and serve these creations to your family and friends.
On the Menu: Ham and Brie Panini, Turkey and Roasted Pepper Panini, Buffalo Chicken Panini, Grilled Vegetable Panini and a Butter and Chocolate Panini.

North and South
Wednesday, October 1, 6:30 – 8:30
Whatever your politics, the appeal of these South of the Border inspired dishes can’t be denied. Here you’ll learn how to make authentic sides to enjoy with tortilla chips and on quesadillas or tacos, as well as imaginative main course and side dishes.
On the Menu: Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Onions on Cornbread, Grilled Corn Salad with Avocado, Tomatoes and Herbs, Pico de Gallo, Guacamole and Mexican Wedding Cookies.

The classes will take place in John’s intimate home kitchen, therefore space is limited.
A $100 Campaign Contribution is suggested to attend one class.
To reserve space for classes, please call (714) 685-0995. Unfortunately, online reservations may not be made at this time. Pre-payment is required to reserve class space.

Paid for By: Committee to Elect John Karczynski FPPC# 1305820

GOP Speaker Visits Anaheim

Today's Register reports Jim Remington, who worked with President Reagan, will be the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Anaheim chapter of the California Repoblican Assembly. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm, at Mamma Cozza's Restuarant (great food) 2170 W. Ball Road, just east of Brookhurst in West Anaheim. The event is open to the public, contact baron@sohmn.com for information.

The Way We Were

Having just celebrated another fabulous 4th on the streets of the Anaheim Colony Historic District, specifically Meghan Shigo's annual blowout on Clementine Street, I thought it might be fun to see how Anaheim did the 4th in years past. Here is a photo from the Anaheim Public Library's Digital collection (sponsored by the Anaheim Historical Society from home tour proceeds). The 1901 photo depicts a horse drawn carriage decorated for the 4th, and traveling down South Olive Street, with the old Hotel Del Campo in the background. Contrast that with Larry Torgeson's "float" on Friday, and we have come a long way....with the same quirky attitude. Did anyone get a photo of Larry's vehicle?

Preservation Victory Dance!

This photo is courtesy of Anaheim's newly minted preservation guy, Mike Sands, who was up all night moving a house. And you think YOU had a rough night! Under all that stucco is a Queen Anne cottage, originally the home of the ranch foreman for the Fiscus family. (See the Caldwells' amazing Mission Manse on Broadway for the "big house") Developers wanted to scrape the house to make way for a new office building, and because the structure is outside Anaheim's three historic district boundaries, it was essentially "off the grid" for preservation purposes. The Anaheim Historical Society spoke up, and with the help of the Preservation office at City Hall West, and some very vocal support from the Anaheim Neighborhood Association and the Historic Preservation Commitee, the house has now been moved to the last empty lot owned by Community Development within the Colony. That means hold your breath, if something else is in danger we have nowhere to move it to! Time to buy more land. At least these days that is getting cheaper-much to the dismay of our home values. Thanks to good teamwork, this house is going to make a great addition to the Steuckle development site, where several other homes are waiting on cribbing to be given new life-hopefully by the always committed Stephanie Hales-Panlillio team.

Party, Party, Party!

4th of July Parties

Realtor Meghan Shigo is again hosting the Colony Clementine Street Party on Friday, July 4th from 5 pm to 8 pm. North Clementine Street will be closed (with permits) from Pearson Park to Alberta Street. The event includes a Bounce House and Art Tables for the kids, a Bike Parade at 7 pm, and a Food Contest for Best Appetizer, Best Main Dish, and Best Dessert. A live band and BBQ grills (bring your own meat) are provided. Bring a dish to share and your favorite beverage, all are welcome. For more info contact Meghan at (714) 273-1381.

In East Anaheim, the Canyon Hills Community Council is hosting their annual 4th of July party at Peralta Canyon Park from 12:30 to 8:45 pm. A parade starts at 6 pm at Canyon High School. and fireworks at 6 pm. Peralta Canyon Park is located at 115 N. Pinney Drive, (Santa Ana Canyon Road just west of Imperial Highway) the 21 acre park was named for Juan Pablo Peralta, an early landowner and ranchero. The Canyon Hills Community Council is a non-political group of citizens, businesses, and other organizations, joined together for the betterment of the community. They are a 501c3 non-profit. For more info check out their website at http://www.chccanaheim.com/

Evening in the Colony a Huge Success!

The Anaheim Neighborhood Association's Evening in the Colony Progressive Dinner sold out, with a guest list of the Who's Who of Orange County's community leader types. Check out photos of the event at their website http://www.anaheimneighborhoodassociation.com/

City Council, Potluck, Taste of Anaheim

It appears the Ciy Council campaign of Gail Eastman is coming out strong, no wonder, she has the backing of the "Who's Who of Anaheim". Her campaign headquarters officially opens this weekend with a Grand Opening Party on Friday June 27th, from 5:30 pm to 9. Donations of $35 per person and $50 per couple support Gail's campaign. Jerry's Dogs will be serving up hot dogs, and a no host beer and wine bar will be offered. Campaign Headquarters are at 301 N. Anaheim Blvd Suite C. RSVP to (714) 768-2925.

The Anaheim Colony Historic District is also hosting the monthly potluck Thursday, June 26th. This month's festivities are at the "Castle House", owned by Helen and Carol Garner. The Garner sisters recently won the Anaheim Historical Society's coveted Margaret Atkins Award for Historic Preservation, for their lifestyle of serial restoration. The ladies are obsessive about every detail of their projects, and a visit to one of their homes is not to be missed. The potluck is at 727 N. Harbor, beginning at 7 pm. Bring a dish to share, and your favorite beverage. NOTE: there is NO PARKING on Harbor Blvd.

Sadly, one must choose between a visit to the Castle House and the Taste of Anaheim, hosted at the Grove tonight. The event features Orange County's finest restaurants sharing their best food, beginning at 5:30 pm.