Heroes Hall Dedication Tomorrow At Fairgrounds

A WONDERFUL EVENT TOMORROW
While getting so wrapped up in local and national politics I neglected to tell you all about a wonderful event tomorrow, November 11, 2016 - Veteran's Day.

GET THERE EARLY
Tomorrow, at 1 p.m. at the Orange County Fair and Event Center there will be a ceremony to dedicate Heroes Hall Veterans Museum.  See the following announcement for the details.  Get there early - seating will begin at 12:30.

WITH GRATITUDE...
Thanks to all my fellow veterans for their service to our country, to perpetuate a system of government that allows elections like those that occurred on Tuesday to continue.  God Bless You All.

Veterans Day - 2015

A DAY TO PAUSE TO THANK THE VETERANS IN YOUR LIFE
Wednesday, November 11, 2015 is Veterans Day - a day to stop and remember the men and women who have served, and are serving, in the armed forces of this wonderful country.  In case you're a little confused about what this day represents, click HERE for a site that will tell you what this day is all about.

THINKING OF NEPHEW NATE
Today I will pause to think about my many fellow veterans - my war was the Viet Nam conflict - and will pay special attention to our great-nephew, Nathan Harrison.  Nate joined the United States Army following high school to become an infantry soldier and serve in Afghanistan, which is exactly what happened.  Nate was a member of the 25th Infantry Division and served a tour in Afghanistan as a rifleman in an infantry squad.  He carried a "SAW" - a Squad Automatic Weapon - and was the one with the most fire power in the eight-man squad.

Nate mustered out of the Army after his 4-year tour ended and is now home in Northern Nevada where he's working and enrolled in college utilizing the GI Bill and, at last report, plans to use his education to support returning veterans.  We're VERY proud of Nate for his enthusiastic willingness to serve his country and wish him well as he moves on in his life.  Today we remember him fondly.

ORANGE COUNTY FAIR AND EVENT CENTER
There will be a FREE celebration of this day at the Orange County Fair and Event Center.  Here's the information provided about that event:

More than 7,000 expected at Veterans Day community celebration

Event at OC Fairgrounds is part of statewide “Veterans + Labor – Partners in Service” project sponsored by California’s unions

COSTA MESA – Southern California’s labor unions invite veterans, their families and the entire community to the OC Fair & Event Center Nov. 11 for a FREE community celebration to honor our nation’s heroes.

GREAT AUDIO AND VISUALS: Military vehicles and gear; live music from the Swing Cats (10-piece band), the Bob Seger tribute band “Turn the Page” and more; kids making “Thank you” cards for veterans.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: At 2 p.m., the US Postal Service will host its West Coast unveiling ceremony of a special postage stamp commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the Vietnam War – one of America’s longest conflicts. Vietnam veterans will be in attendance.

FOOD: Free hot dogs, chips and water for all plus discounted concessions from OC Market Place and Ovations. Veterans get one (1) free beer.

The celebration is part of the “Veterans + Labor – Partners in Service” project. Union members statewide will participate in volunteer projects and activities culminating with this special FREE Veterans Day community celebration. Kids can enjoy face painting, bounce houses and games. This is our third year of hosting the event. In 2014, we more than doubled our attendance and are expecting a turnout of 7,000 attendees on November 11.

WHO: Union members, local leaders, other coalition partners and the entire community

WHAT: FREE community celebration to honor veterans

WHEN: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 11, 2015

WHERE: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

SERVICES FOR VETERANS: Union members, community groups and veterans organizations will be on site to provide resources to veterans, including information about family-supporting jobs, health insurance benefits, counseling, college and legal assistance, health screenings and free clothing.

FOOD DRIVE: Please bring you non-perishable food donations to the event! Last year, we collected four tons of food for our former military men and women. Last year, four tons of food  were donated.

Other activities include:

VETERANS + LABOR MOTORCYCLE RUN

November 11th, 2015
10:30 am - 1:00 pm

Join veterans and union members in a motorcycle ride from the Orange County Labor Federation, 309 N. Rampart St, Orange, CA 92868 to the Veterans Day community celebration at the O.C. Fair & Event Center! For more information, contact: Gilbert Castillo at gilbertcastillo@teamsterhorseman42.org.

O..M..G..! It's Fair Time Again!

IT'S BACK!

Yep, that's right.. the fantastic Orange County Fair launches again this Friday for a month-long run of family fun at the Orange County Fair and Event Center.  This year it begins July 17th and runs through August 16th!

VISIT THE WEB SITE!
There's so much going on during that month - beginning with free admission for the first hour on Friday - that it's impossible to cover it all here.  Let me suggest you visit the web site, HERE, for ALL the information about events, including the cattle drive, that will be occurring for that fantastic month.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
This year the OC Fair celebrates it's 125th anniversary, so the theme is One Big Party, and they're going to do their best to make it so.  Live entertainment, terrific displays, exciting rides, and the food... ah, the food!

THE HOURS OF OPERATION
I will poach one entry from the web site - the page that lists the hours.  Here you go.

FAIR HOURS

The 2015 OC Fair is open
July 17-August 16 (Wednesday-Sunday)

Wednesday-Friday Saturday-Sunday Monday-Tuesday

Noon-Midnight 10 am-Midnight Closed

On-Site Box Office Information

The OC Fair Box Office at the Pacific Amphitheatre is located at 100 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Hours

1. Wednesday: 10 am - 6 pm
2. Thursday: 10 am - 6 pm
3. Friday: 10 am - 6 pm
4. Saturday and Sunday: 10 am - 4 pm

How To Purchase Admission Tickets

1. OC Fair Box Office at the Pacific Amphitheatre during the hours listed above.
2. Online at Ticketmaster.com
3. From any Ticketmaster outlet location.
4. Charge by phone via Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
5. Any on-site admission booth (Admission booths are available at all public entries and are open the Fair days and hours listed above.)

DON'T FORGET PARKING AT COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL

Oh, yes... Katrina Foley would be all over me if I failed to mention that, in addition to the parking on the Fairgrounds, nearby parking is available at Costa Mesa High School - right across Arlington from the Fairgrounds.  The reasonable parking fees at those lots contribute to youth groups at the high school.
 

SEE YOU THERE!
So, join the million or so happy visitors who will find their way to the OC Fair to celebrate this wonderful milestone.

It's Almost Party Time!

FAIRGROUNDS OPEN HOUSE
The staff of the Orange County Fair and Event Center (Fairgrounds), headed by new CEO Kathy Kramer, held an Open House in the Administration Building on the Fairgrounds Tuesday night to tell the community about their plans for the upcoming 125th Orange County Fair this summer - operating for a month beginning July 17, 2015 - and to introduce the theme of this year's fair - One Big Party!

SORRY...
I apologize for the poor quality of the images this time.  I took my backup camera with a slow lens.  That, coupled with the light glaring across the screen, have made for some shoddy images.

A GOOD CROWD
The crowd of more than five dozen people paid close attention as Kramer spoke of their plans and the relationship the Fairgrounds has with the Costa Mesa Police Department, since noise, rowdiness and neighborhood parking issues are major concerns of nearby residents.  I noticed many community activists in the crowd, but most were residents of College Park and Mesa del Mar - the two residential areas closest to the Fairgrounds.  With the exception of the members of the CMPD present, I saw no elected or appointed city official, nor did I see any member of the city staff.

CMPD INTERACTION

Captain Mark Manley spoke from the CMPD standpoint and introduced Lieutenant Vic Bakkila and Sergeant Bryan Wadkins, who will be the command staff in charge the CMPD interface with the Fair staff.

ENTERTAINMENT

Dan Gaines, who heads up the Entertainment element of the Fair, spoke briefly about that subject.  We learned that they usually have about 80% of returning acts, but this year in the Hanger there will be 40% new acts.

EVENTS

Joan Hamel spoke about the events planned, as listed on this image.  As you can see, they include a new ice skating attraction, Fairenheit 32 and the ever popular Cattle Drive on August 8th.

SECURITY
Nick Buffa, who manages Safety and Security, ( I apologize for having no good photo of Nick, son of former Costa Mesa Mayor Peter Buffa) then spoke about the new Neighborhood Ambassador Program, which is designed to have eyes and ears in the two main communities around the Fairgrounds to help head off problems.  The folks will patrol in 2-person teams in GEM electric cars and be dressed in bright Orange uniform shirts.  They will have dedicated VOIP telephones with which they can report problems as they roam through the neighborhoods.  They will NOT be sworn officers - all police-related matters will be directed to the CMPD.

SOUND CONTROL
Sound guru Gary Hardesty spoke briefly about the efforts that will be made to contain and control the sound from the musical acts this year.  He told us that there will be two self-contained sound monitoring units placed in the community - one in College Park and one in Mesa del Mar - to provide valuable real-time information to help with this year's Fair and into the future.

COMMUNICATIONS
Robin Wachner told us of the communication tools that will be used, as listed on this image.  She also gave us a link, HERE, which will take you to the page shown below for more information.

BEHAVIOR
Then Kramer took questions from the audience and had her team available to answer them.  The concerns expressed covered the gamut - drunkenness, rowdiness, trash and unwelcome parking in the neighborhoods.  To those kinds of questions Manley and Wadkins advised us that the CMPD will be properly staffed to handle those issues.  Resident Jeff Wilcox advised folks concerned about parking to go to the City and request resident-only parking stickers.

AND THE NOISE...
Noise - from the musical groups and the car, motorcycles and truck events that happen during the fair - were concerns of many residents.  I smiled as Hardesty tried to console them with vague assurances that they will try to control the musical groups.  The automotive noise will be addressed.  For example, if the contract requires mufflers on vehicles and they show up without them, the event will be cancelled.

VANGUARD CONCERNS
Residents along Vanguard expressed concern about parking and rowdy folks, indicating they feel neglected because they are a little farther away from the Fairgrounds.  They were encouraged to immediately call the police if there are problems.

CMPD ON THE JOB
Wadkins assured the neighbors that the CMPD would be there to manage the traffic during the Fair, and to route it to alternate parking sites when the Fairgrounds parking filled up.

OTHER STUFF
Other issues, like being able to buy tickets with a smart phone and not have to print it out, entering the Fair from Gate 5, were discussed.  Kramer, who has only been on the job about 4 months, has a nice, easy style and did her best to make the members of the community feel welcome and appreciated.

IT SHOULD BE ANOTHER GREAT FAIR
This meeting was video taped and will be made available somewhere on the OC Fair web site in the near future.  It sounds like we have yet another terrific Fair ahead of us.  For the past decade more than 1,000,000 people attended the Fair - the ninth largest county fair in the country.  Last year over 1.3 million folks attended.  To learn more about the Orange County Fair and Event Center and the Fair click HERE.

OC Fair Neighborhood Ambassador Meeting Tonight

 OOPS!
In all the rush to produce three blog entries today - this will be the fourth - I almost forgot about this one!

NEIGHBORHOOD AMBASSADOR PROGRAM OPEN HOUSE
The Orange County Fair and Event Center will host an Open House this evening in the Administration Building on the Fairgrounds to introduce their Neighborhood Ambassador Program.  The program will be from 6:30 - 7:30 tonight.  Here's the information.  Enter Gate 4 off Arlington Drive.

Veterans Day In Costa Mesa Tomorrow

HONORING THOSE WHO SERVED

Tomorrow the country celebrates Veterans Day - a day to say thank you to those who have served in the armed forces of our country.  If you don't know the difference between this day and Memorial Day, click HERE for some help.  Tomorrow is the day we recognize all veterans - including me.  Thank you for that.

 (Click on image to enlarge)

VETERANS AND LABOR TOGETHER TOMORROW
Tomorrow, beginning 10:00 a.m. at the Orange County Fair and Event Center ( Fairgrounds) there will be an event - a series of events, really - to commemorate this day.  It is free to the public, including free parking.  Several thousand people are expected to attend.  Here's a flier on the event.

(Click on the image to enlarge)

WHAT'S HAPPENING...
The community celebration runs from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and includes live music and entertainment; free hot dogs; Korean War Medal of Honor stamp unveiling; veterans resource fair; job access for veterans; motorcycle ride; historic military vehicles; care packages and holiday cards; activities for kids; and more.

BRING FOOD DONATIONS
Bring your donations to the OC Fair and say "Thanks a ton!" to veterans by helping to raise more than 2,000 pounds of food and supplies for veterans in need.

MOTORCYCLE RIDE
At 10:30 a.m. join union members and veterans in a motorcycle ride from the Orange County Labor Federation in Orange to the Veterans Day celebration at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa.  Riders will arrive at noon for a featured entrance into the Veterans Day event.  Motorcycles will then be on display for the public to view during the event. RSVP to Gilbert Castillo at gilbertcastillo@teamstershorsemen42.org.

KOREAN WAR MEDAL OF HONOR STAMP UNVEILED

At 2 p.m. the U.S. Postal Service Korean War Medal of Honor stamp will be unveiled.  This stamp honors the 145 Korean War Medal of Honor recipients who served among 6.8 million in Korea from 1950 - 1953.  Korean War Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Tibor Ruben, and Army veteran from Garden Grove, will be honored along with nearly 50 other Korean War veterans, including several Buffalo Soldiers.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Here is the schedule of events for tomorrow at the Orange County Fair and Events Center:

10 a.m.   Swing Cats Big Band & Dancers
11 a.m.   Opening Ceremony with special performances
Noon      Arrival of Motorcycle Run participants from Orange County Labor Federation
12:30 p.m.  “Turn The Page”—Bob Seger Tribute Band
2 p.m.    Korean War Medal of Honor Stamp Ceremony
2:45 p.m.   Retiring of the Colors

SEE YOU THERE
Please join me as we recognize the contributions ALL veterans have made to this country.  See you there...

Old Wounds Mark OC Fair & Event Center Open House

FAIRGROUNDS OPEN HOUSE

Tuesday evening the Orange County Fair and Event Center (OCFEC) hosted what was billed as an Open House/Discussion at their administrative offices at the Fairgrounds.  The plan was to invite members of the community to provide input on the strengths, needs and visions for the organization.  No members of the Fair Board were present.

CONSULTANT LED THE DISCUSSION
Consultant Bill Kelly of Kelly Associates Management Group led the discussion, supported by his wife, Christine Kelly, Executive Vice President of the business.  Their firm has been retained by the Fair Board to gather data and report back to them.  In that process, in addition to holding the meeting last night, Kelly has been interviewing every staff member and most of the members of the board.  And, no, he didn't do this with his eyes closed!  That's the best photo I could salvage.

FEW RESIDENTS ATTENDED
The sparse crowd - just over 30 people attended this poorly-advertised meeting - was made up of many regulars at Fair Board meetings, some of whom were veterans of the battles to save the Fairgrounds a few years ago.  That experience has left more than a few of them with still very tender  wounds from the experience and very negative feelings about some former and current board members and senior staff.

INFORMAL DISCUSSION
The very informal couple hours moved briskly as Kelly followed a loose structure to guide the conversation - tossing out thoughts that generated discussions and deftly deflecting audience inquiries into further discussions.

WIDE-RANGING 
Suggestions and comments were wide-ranging.  Some were based on personal experiences and others based on observations.  I cannot begin to cover all the comments made, but some of them included:

• Return the equestrian area to its former footprint
• Retain and enhance the Centennial Farm
• A shorter Mission Statement
• Return to "rural" roots
• Update and follow the Master Plan for the site
• Tone down the LED information sign
• Reduce the noise from the Offroad/Monster Truck events
• Provide more positive support for existing vendors/OC MarketPlace
• Do a better job of restricting parking in surrounding neighborhoods (reduce parking costs)
• Educate the senior staff to be more service-oriented

CHARACTERISTICS FOR NEW CEO
Kelly wrapped up his program by soliciting thoughts on what characteristics were necessary in a new CEO for the OCFEC.  Presently there is an interim CEO, but the board will soon be recruiting a new, permanent person to run the operations.  Kelly was unsure of the process - the CEO is a state employee, so the recruitment process may be significantly encumbered by the bureaucratic requirements.  Among the attributes offered by the audience were:

• Should come from an agricultural background
• Should understand how to operate in a state government environment
• Should be a "people person"
• Should be multi-lingual (Spanish or Vietnamese) to better communicate with segments of the community
• Should be a true leader
• Should have experience managing a diverse organization.
• Should understand Orange County

STILL TIME TO COMMUNICATE...
So, Kelly will now compile the results of this meeting and fold it into his report involving other interviews and observations and present it to the Fair Board in the April/May time frame.  Residents were encouraged to provide more input to Kelly by email if they choose to do so.  His email is:  Bill Kelly - williamk@ka-mg.com.

OLD WOUNDS STILL EVIDENT
It was very clear last night that there are many festering wounds within the community that pays attention to Fairgrounds issues.  These will only heal when a new, trustworthy leader is selected to run the organization who will implement some of the reforms they feel are necessary.  It will be very interesting to watch this unfold.

Orange County Fair And Events Center Open House

FAIR BOARD SEEKS INPUT
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 the Orange County Fair and Event Center will hold an open house to solicit ideas from the public.  See their announcement below.  Click on it to enlarge the image.

Fairview Park Committee Videos Available and Veterans Day

TODAY IS VETERANS DAY

Just a quick reminder, as you pause today - Veterans Day -  to remember those of us who served in the Armed Forces of this country, that most of us did so willingly and with pride.  This a wonderful country with freedoms that way too many of us take for granted and are able to do so because men and women in the Armed Forces are willing to lay their lives on the line to guarantee those freedoms.

FESTIVITIES AT THE FAIRGROUNDS TODAY

And, don't forget the celebration of this holiday at the Orange County Fair and Event Center.  Festivities run from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and includes the introduction of the new United States Postal Service Medal of Honor: World War II stamp at 2:00 p.m.

LOTS OF STUFF FOR ALL
The ceremony caps a free community Veterans Day celebration that includes live music and entertainment, free hot dogs, information on resources and job opportunities for veterans, free wheelchairs, historic military vehicles and armament, children’s activities and an on-site history project to document stories and photos from veterans. The event also includes opportunities for families to give back by sending care packages overseas and making holiday cards for ailing vets.

THE SCHEDULE
The schedule of on stage events includes:
10 a.m.   Swing Cats Big Band & Dancers
11 a.m.   Opening Ceremony with special performances
12:30 p.m.   “Turn The Page”—Bob Seger Tribute Band
 2 p.m.   Stamp Dedication Ceremony
 2:30 p.m.   “Springsteen” – Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band
 3:45 p.m.   Traditional Honoring of Veterans by Community Native Americans & Retreat of the Colors

VIDEO'S AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING
While you're spending time observing this holiday I want to let you know that Barry Friedland, who owns the YouTube channel Costa Mesa Brief, has put up on that channel the video recordings of the recent Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee meeting from Wednesday, November 6th.

SPIRITED DISCUSSIONS

You will recall that this meeting was full of controversy and it ran more than double the anticipated time.  Much of that time dealt with issues discussed by member Anna Vrska, but also included discussions by what I referred to as "dueling archaeologists".  For the 100 or so of us in attendance it was quite an intersting evening.

WATCH THEM AS YOU HAVE TIME
For the rest of you, I hope you can carve out three hours from your busy schedules to view the video clips of that evening.  I confess that, because I spent the weekend away attending yet another out-of-town wedding, I have not done so.  I have skimmed each of the three videos, though, and am impressed with the quality of the production.  The audio is a little sketchy, but you can hear most of the speakers most of the time.

THREE SEGMENTS...

So, you can watch the first 46 minutes HERE, the middle segment HERE and the final segment - where some committee members take exception to Ms. Vrska's observations, HERE.

THANKS, BARRY...
Thanks to Mr. Frieland, who appears to be the official videographer for the current power elite in Costa Mesa,  for making this video record available to us.

Fairgrounds Drama Continues - CEO Resigns!

 WHAT'S NEXT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS?
Will the drama at the Orange County Fair and Event Center ever stop?  This morning The Voice of OC reports that Jerome Hoban, CEO of the Fairgrounds, has resigned to take a similar job with the Alameda County Fair.  Read the Voice of OC entry HERE.

MORE REVELATIONS
I won't attempt to regurgitate what is in that entry, but will observe that this is only the most recent "interesting" event at the Fairgrounds since the new Board has taken control.  Watching this all unfold over the years, one gets the strong impression that there's much, much more to the whole attempt to sell off that asset by the previous board - the one headed by Dave Ellis.

WHAT WILL RACKAKUS DO?
It's going to be very interesting to watch this play out, and to see just what the District Attorney Tony Rackakus will do with the information recently provided to him by the Fair Board-approved committee.  Could the not-to-faint whiff of corruption be mingled with the fragrance of animal waste over there?  We'll see...