I am a true Orange native, 3rd generation, and a mother to a new generation. I feel that it is time to stop the "good ol boys" club downtown, and get back to serving our city. Comments are very welcome, and appreciated. It's our time, it's our city. and it's time we take it back from these charlatans!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Families thrilled by their Marines' return



mccaw-gives-pendleton-hom

Even with the temperature at 49 degrees and falling fast, the bundled up, nearly 2-month-old Madison Haskell continued sleeping in her father's arms, and Marine Sgt. Trevor Haskell couldn't have been happier.


Under cloudy, crisp and chilly skies over this sprawling base late Tuesday night, more than four hours after Madison arrived with her mother, Chelsea, she finally got to be with dad.


Trevor Haskell, 24, was one of about 120 Marines and sailors with the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, who came home from Afghanistan, just in time for the holidays.


And he instantly knew this would be the best Thanksgiving ever. This was the first meeting between him and Madison, who was born while he was deployed for seven months, his second tour of duty.


"Feels great to be dad," Haskell said. "Amazing to be home."


His wife, Chelsea, whom he kissed as soon as he saw her upon arrival, said beforehand that her husband told her not to be surprised if he cries at the reunion. She knew she would.


"I am excited, nervous, I feel like a chicken with its head cut off," said Chelsea Haskell, 25, a graduate of Marina High School in Huntington Beach, who now lives in Vista. "I am regretting putting on mascara and eyeliner."


Trevor Haskell had seen two-minute videos of his little girl. When she was born at the naval hospital on base, he was on speakerphone and got to hear her first cries as she was welcomed into the world.


His parents, who drove in from Sacramento, and his brother, also a Marine sergeant, were among family and friends who continued to stream into a gymnasium aboard Camp Pendleton to wait for their troop. It was a long wait, too.


The Marines were in transit and upon arrival had to check in weapons first and it wasn't until shortly after 10 p.m. that they finally embraced loved ones.


RiaRose Bonafede, 9, and her sister Selena Gilley, 5, of Fallbrook were busy coloring posters that read "Welcome home Uncle John" at a crafts table set up for children inside the gymnasium.


They were waiting, along with their mother, Angela Bonafede, and their aunt Caroline Lara, who is Cpl. John Nolen's girlfriend.


Lara and Nolen have been dating for a year.


Having him home for the holidays is good but just having him back home alone is fantastic, Lara said.


"Just the fact that they're back and that God kept them safe the whole time there," said Lara, 23, of Mundelein, Ill.


Each time she heard Nolen, 23, and fellow Marines were out on a convoy, Lara worried. "We prayed for him every night," she said.


The 1/11 lost four Marines and saw about 30 wounded during the unit's deployment, said Maj. David Everly, who arrived home a couple of weeks ago.


The artillery battalion was attached to 1st Marine Division (Fwd.), 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd.). The Marines of 1/11 provided security for Forward Operating Base Fiddler's Green, conducted logistical convoys and counterinsurgency operations in support of International Security Assistance Forces throughout southern Afghanistan, according to a news release.


This month alone, at least six Pendleton-based Marines have been killed in action in that country, in addition to at least three killed last month.


"This is a mature environment and not one that is going to be won over easily," said Everly. "The Marine Corps is taking the fight to the enemy. We continue to be aggressive."


But Tuesday night was about celebrating and family reunions, just in time for the holidays. All of the approximately 500 Marines and sailors from the 1/11 are expected home before Christmas, Everly said.


"For the Marines, it could be the best gift they could get and for their families," he said. "There's an extreme amount for this unit to be thankful for."


As night went on, Madison continued her slumber with dad beaming at his little angel.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Monday, November 15, 2010

Is my Mutant Ninja Turtle Mike Back?

Is my poor little meat head back from crying on his pepperoni pizza in Italy after losing big in the election?  I hope he can make a fool out of himself at Rotary soon!  Cio Turtle Boy!

the TRUE Pension ABUSERS

http://foothillssentry.com/index.html






Thursday, November 11, 2010

Bilodeaud is a quadruple-dipper

Only 34% of the voters in Orange chose Dumitru for Mayor

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Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche was the top vote-getter in Orange last Tuesday, in the general election.  Her opponent, Councilman Jon Dumitru, was soundly thrashed.  He got only 34% of the vote.  Cavecche got over 22,000 votes while Dumitru barely cleared 12,000.
Cavecche made headlines today today as news emerged that she quietly asked for 5 percent to be cut from her $690 monthly stipend, when city workers lost five percent of their salaries to furloughs, according to the O.C. Register.  The rest of the Council Members had no choice but to follow suit.
In related news, Democratic Council Candidate Robert Johnson, who we caught making anti-immigrant comments on his campaign website, came in sixth out of eight candidates.  Good riddance!  What sort of Democrat condemns immigrants?  The losing kind obviously!
The Council winners were Dennis Bilodeau and Fred Whitaker.  Of the two only Whitaker can be considered to be a conservative.  Bilodeau is a quadruple-dipper who also works for the government as Chief of Staff to Supervisor Shawn Nelson.  Whitaker is a member of the OC GOP Central Committee.
The new Council will have their hands full dealing with a big budget deficit.

City of Orange Honors Our Heroes in Uniform


City of Orange Honors Our Heroes in Uniform

Join the City of Orange in “Honoring All Who Served” for a Veterans Day Tributeon Thursday, November 11 at 2 p.m. The event will be held at Veterans Memorial at Depot Park, located at 100 North Atchison Street, Orange 92866.
This Veterans Day Tribute will commemorate past and current military with patriotic music, inspirational messages and light refreshments.
The Keynote Speaker will be United States Air Force Colonel Raymond A. Kozakfrom March Air Reserve Base. The event is open to the general public and allveterans, current military, friends and family are encouraged to attend.
In the event of rain, festivities will take place at the City Council Chambers located at 300 E. Chapman Ave., Orange 92866. For information on this event and other City of Orange special events, please go to www.cityoforange.org or call the special event hotline at (714) 744-7278.
Veterans Memorial at Depot Park
100 N Atchison St Orange, CA 92866
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