the globally recognized retail chain known for offering affordable and unique products is excited to announce the grand opening of its latest store in Aliso Viejo this store marks a significant milestone in Daiso's U.S "We are thrilled to open our new store in Aliso Viejo," said Jack Williams Chief Retail Operations Officer for Daiso USA "This milestone reflects the continued support of our customers and we're excited to introduce Daiso's budget-friendly offerings to the Aliso Viejo community We invite everyone to Discover Daiso and explore the variety of products we offer." spans 8,503 square feet and features a wide selection of products across multiple categories Customers can find everything from Japanese-inspired home decor and kitchenware to beauty products Daiso's commitment to providing affordable and unique merchandise has made it a go-to destination for shoppers seeking unique items at great prices "Thanks to the enthusiasm of our loyal customers we're excited to expand in Southern Orange County," said John Clarke "We continue to see growing demand in the region and we're proud to be opening more stores in 2025 With 180 stores now operating across the U.S. we're excited to serve new communities and bring the Daiso experience to even more customers." Daiso will offer exclusive promotions at The Commons at Aliso Viejo location the first 100 customers who make a minimum purchase of $30 will receive a special Daiso goodie bag as a thank-you for their support Store hours will be Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m About Daiso: Daiso is a global retail chain founded in Japan known for its wide selection of unique and affordable products across categories such as household goods market in 2005 and has expanded into multiple states is excited to announce the grand opening of its latest .. Retail Household, Consumer & Cosmetics Corporate Expansion Do not sell or share my personal information: Sounds like we all missed one hell of an Aliso Viejo Council meeting April 2 the one where Mad Mike Munzing declared war on the town’s Pride Flag and literally tore up his ordinance on the dais I’d thought *I* was the town’s scribe/troubador since writing “True and Amazing Tales of Aliso Viejo” last June but there were a couple of things even I didn’t know till that meeting: “protecting” Aliso’s Temple Beth El with his AK – oh its first district election was approaching featuring a 5th-district face-off between two 12-year incumbents – easy-going Democrat Ross Chun and this problem we’ve been discussing named Munzing well-funded Munzing beat Ross by 10 points moderate Republican “Tim Z” (nobody including Tim can spell or pronounce his last name) beat Democratic LGBTetc activist Jennifer Engle changing the AV council from 3-2 Dem to 3-2 Republican as only Munzing among AV Republicans is notably destructive and malign So Mike, returned by 5th-district voters to a 4th term, continued his jihad against the Capo Valley’s Boys & Girls Club sails filled with the wind from re-elected Donald Trump’s anti-DEI farts and continued posting offensive memes on the “Let’s Go Aliso Viejo!” Facebook page – the “private” AV MAGA page that just keeps leaking… Joking about the murder of George Floyd and Elon’s Nazi salute was not enough though nor was taking away the Boys & Girls Club from the Boys & Girls It was time for Mike Munzing to do something drastic epic – something that would show beyond a doubt that MAGA ruled in Aliso Viejo something that would truly fill Aliso Creek with liberal tears and maybe even get some national media attention – so Munzing brought forth an (actually badly drafted copy/pasted from Chat-GPT) ordinance to STOP ALISO VIEJO FROM FLYING THE GAY PRIDE FLAG TheTruthOC.com that Pearlman not only reported from this meeting but gave a memorable comment himself which has gotten hundreds of thousands of hits on TikTok thus making himself part of the story and joining the pantheon of Gonzo journalists such as myself and Hunter Thompson: but the Mayor did make her case with leaked screenshots from the ringleaders at “Let’s Go Aliso Viejo!” Like these two: This infuriated page admin Jason Spielfogel (the same character who finds George Floyd’s murder hilarious) and he shook his little fist at all the leaking while apparently being leaked throughout the meeting (Bonus points for this guy who laughs about Derek Chauvin’s murder of George Floyd calling SOMEONE ELSE a “disgusting human being!”) especially after only managing to muster 13 pro-Munzing comments but it really does seem like it’s time for a purge of your page You may need to move your “Let’s Go Aliso” off of Facebook to some more secure platform And even if your membership is much smaller at least you may finally be able to ensure purity And no more MORTIFICATION at regular folks hearing how you talk amongst yourselves the Mayor’s refrain became variations of “If it costs us nothing then FLY THE DAMN FLAG.” I just have to say as constitutionally a devil’s advocate it’s obviously NOT true that the Pride Flag “doesn’t upset anybody.” Oh we have to balance off those bad feelings of a few And it’s high time for some of these folks to join the 21st 20th century When the Mayor made this speech she was pretty sure the ordinance was gonna pass 3-2 But we know from the press that at the end of the meeting Munzing tore up his resolution NOT.) More leaked screenshots from “Let’s Go AV” may help fill in the gap: Turns out – and you’ll only hear about this on the Orange Juice Blog – the unsung hero of the night was Jennifer Engle Democrat and trans woman who came 128 votes shy of being AV’s new district 1 councilmember last November and was barely beaten by Republican “Tim Z.” Here’s how it went down: After Tiffany’s speech Council took a break to consult with the City Attorney Jennifer (who had spent a lot of time organizing speakers for this meeting) felt like talking to her friends the two Democrats on Council – Tiffany and Richard Hurt – but they were busy talking to the attorney Tim did not feel comfortable supporting Munzing’s resolution (but what’s a Republican to do?) “You know I’m not a bigot I did not run that kind of campaign against you.” Jennifer managed to get Tim to support a compromise resolution involving a second flagpole where the Pride Flag AND OTHER flags could be flown This defection destroyed Munzing’s majority and it was in pique that Mike tore up his resolution at 12:30 AM So there you have it – the unsung heroine of the night Fighting for a flag instead of real issues How come no one fights for cities to raise the NOW flag? It’s rightwing culture warriors that keep making it an issue In case you missed it the score across the pond is And you wonder why women have lost their rights? https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/04/18/jk-rowling-anti-trans-controversy/83161361007/ Vern is a hardcore alcoholic with several drunk driving convictions but please let our kids be kids and stop forcing viewpoints on them at a young tender age and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. when Janet Nguyen really pissed off a lot of the Little Saigon community by politicizing Black… The Register article had some good stuff from Mike but I got more from talking to him and his sister… But Danny Hughes said those who spoke of a Culture of Corruption were misinformed or lying Lou was back in Washington voting with Republicans to overturn one of California's Clean Air Act… Doing well Ca needs elected auditors of our powerful assessors Next time… About Arras WordPress Theme 2025 at 3:20 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A San Francisco-based coffee shop is opening its doors in south Orange County CA — A San Francisco-based coffee shop is opening its doors in south Orange County A grand opening celebration at 26509 Aliso Creek Road starts at 6 a.m. residents can stop by Philz Coffee for a specially made cup from 6 a.m Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ValueRock Realty, a national real estate investment and operations company announced the grand opening of The Commons a newly repurposed 21-acre mixed-use project located in Aliso Viejo The Commons was redeveloped by transforming a nearly 200,000 square foot vacant Lowes Improvement Warehouse into a multi-tenant community center that includes tenants spanning from international restaurants to exhilarating recreational activities; including Tesla “The Commons is an innovative redevelopment to meet community needs,” said David Lee “As antiquated big-box retailers continue to reduce space needs our team envisioned and paved the way for a diverse group of globally and regionally recognized brands to come together to create a dynamic new concept that blends exciting shopping experiences and living The vision that we created and the strategy that we executed for The Commons is the formula to reinvigorate retail centers across America.” one of the most innovative mixed-use projects in the country brings nearly 200,000 square feet of retail along with a proposed 343-unit luxury residential project the latter which helps to address the general state housing shortage ValueRock purchased the first parcel in 2015 for $62M and began conceptualizing the reimagined project in 2017 as big-box stores began to close rapidly across the country ValueRock negotiated a difficult lease termination with Lowes which allowed for the site’s redevelopment Instead of replacing Lowes with another big box retailer Lee and ValueRock curated a unique group of tenants that will help revitalize the surrounding area Leases for The Commons were quickly signed in 2022 even as companies faced residual economic hardship from the Covid-19 pandemic Tesla was one of the first tenants to sign a lease which subsequently led to the construction phase of the redevelopment “This project presented a perfect opportunity to revitalize Aliso Viejo’s retail sector and the South Orange County region after turbulent times,” said Robert Bunyan principal of real estate consultants Robert Bunyan and Associates and former executive with the developer of Aliso Viejo and customers who might otherwise shop outside Aliso Viejo.” Construction of the project began in 2023 and finalized in late 2024 ValueRock entirely self-funded the approximate $53 million redevelopment which has a current estimated value of over $115 million Aside from not using external sources to fund The Commons the complex is estimated to bring over $192M in tax revenue over the next 10 years following years of no tax revenue due to the site sitting empty The increase will allow the City of Aliso Viejo to diversify its resources to support the development of more innovative retailers in the future. Through its experience of redeveloping properties nationwide ValueRock has the capability to create projects that provide goodwill for their community and beyond ValueRock completed the purchase of the former Chili’s restaurant located at 26631 Aliso Creek Road in Aliso Viejo ValueRock continued its commitment to the trade area by completing the purchase of the former Macaroni Grill located at 26641 Aliso Creek Road for a price of $5.3 million ValueRock is currently vison planning how to redevelop the estimated 15,000 square-feet to bring further prosperity and high-quality retail space to Aliso Viejo and South Orange County in the coming years 99 Ranch Market and Daiso are scheduled to open by the end of 2024 and additional tenants including Bowlero (a Lucky Strike concept) ValueRock is a leading national real estate investment and operations company with a portfolio across 15 states with 10M+ square feet over 50 properties and 600+ tenants the firm boasts a track record of $30 billion in transactions in investment management Its redevelopment and property portfolio spans a variety of industries including mixed-use MEDIA CONTACTHolly Jenvey347-781-1512Holly@ideahall.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74f663d5-23ae-4b2e-bc57-d7b4134c7ff5 Aliso Viejo's premier hotel and fitness resort serving the Aliso Viejo and Laguna Beach area announces the complete renovation of their 174 rooms As one of the only premium hotels and fitness resorts in the country the destination has proved to be a favorite for business Renaissance ClubSport completed its latest phase of upgrades to their sprawling property which includes a 4-star hotel and 100,000 square-foot fitness resort that was fully updated in 2022 Paying homage to the beauty of the Laguna Beach coast each room and suite have been re-designed with a coastal feel This major upgrade is just one of many ways Renaissance ClubSport has taken the time to consider the preferences of casual and business travelers visiting the Central and South Orange County region 🏨 All 174 room and suite upgrades at Renaissance ClubSport were recently completed making Orange County's only all-in-one hotel + fitness resort a premium destination for travel and local fitness and wellness enthusiasts 🚪Renaissance ClubSport introduces several new larger guest rooms which are more spacious than standard rooms and perfect for families traveling to the area and executive suites have beautiful window views of the Orange County area and local mountains and are spacious 🆓 All hotel guests receive a complimentary membership to the ClubSport fitness club during the duration of their stay 🏀 ClubSport is one of Orange County's most prominent gyms and is equipped with strength training machines court sports including basketball and pickleball 🏋️ Recent ClubSport additions include The Edge Performance training turf and a dedicated Formula3 studio with popular boutique fitness classes 🥙 The property also includes a full-service day spa plus many social events like live music on the patio which is available to hotel guests for a fee provides up to 3 hours of childcare and includes a play area Renaissance ClubSport in Aliso Viejo is owned and operated exclusively by Leisure Sports, Inc., in partnership with Renaissance Hotel Group / Marriott International, Inc. Learn more about Renaissance ClubSport at www.clubsports.com Hotel website Brand OwnerMarriott International, Inc. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors a nationally recognized real estate brokerage and advisory firm specializing in retail property sales announced today that the firm arranged the sale of a two-story 24,986-square-foot retail and medical building within the Aliso Viejo Town Center a 380,000-square-foot community center in Aliso Viejo Hanley Investment Group’s Vice President Sean Cox and Executive Vice President Kevin Fryman represented the seller a senior vice president with Voit Real Estate Services in Irvine “We generated eight qualified offers and selected a private investor who owned multiple restaurant concepts,” noted Cox “Prior to formally marketing the property for sale we advised the seller to extend near-term leases and execute new leases to provide minimal lease rollover for the buyer thereby increasing the value of the asset.” Located at 26711 Aliso Creek Road in Aliso Viejo the 24,986-square-foot building was built in 2004 and sits on a 2.04-acre parcel National and regional tenants in the building include Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo Wild Wings has successfully operated in the center since 2011 The building also houses three dental offices which have been in operation since the property was built Aliso Viejo Town Center is 97% occupied and Aliso Viejo Town Center ranks in the top 2% in foot traffic for shopping centers nationwide CVS Pharmacy ranks nationwide #104 out of 7,096 (98th percentile); Ralphs ranks #3 out of 46 within a 30-mile radius (95th percentile); TJ Maxx ranks nationwide #67 out of 1,123 (94th percentile); and Regal Cinemas ranks nationwide at #47 out of 364 (87th percentile) Nearby retail destination anchor draws include Costco a 362-unit housing development is planned to be completed in 2024 across the street from Aliso Viejo Town Center in a shopping center anchored by Trader Joe’s and 99 Ranch Market A Tesla dealership and a Walgreens-anchored center are also nearby Aliso Viejo Town Center is ideally located off CA-73 (100,000 cars per day) connecting South Coast Metro/Newport Beach to South Orange County and is positioned at Aliso Viejo’s primary thoroughfares of Aliso Creek Road and Pacific Park Drive (60,000 cars per day) affluent community with an average household income of $155,000 and a population of 279,000 within a five-mile radius of the shopping center Nearby affluent cities include Dana Point ($165,000 AHHI) “Orange County’s population of approximately 3.19 million combined with iconic attractions like Disneyland and beautiful beaches drawing as many as 50.16 million annual visitors visitors spent $15.8 billion in the region nearly 44% of the population holds a bachelor’s degree or higher leading to higher spending power and strong demand from retailers and neighborhood restaurants making it an attractive market for investors.” Discussing the current retail investment market “We are witnessing a significant rise in buyer activity across the board This surge is primarily driven by the desire to capture year-end tax benefits and the recent drop in interest rates which are anticipated to continue their downward trend through 2024 and into 2025 investors are actively seeking new opportunities to enter the market and benefit from more favorable financing terms.” © Copyright 2012 - 2023 | citybiz | All Rights Reserved Print Earlier this year Aliso Viejo Mayor Mike Munzing closed out a Feb 7 City Council meeting with a quick roundup of his community activities He briefly mentioned having attended the Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley’s annual Youth of the Year competition held in Rancho Santa Margarita we always love being out there and supporting them.” a Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley executive staffer 26 competition with concerns over its embrace of the concept of diversity “We do need to have a bit of a chat regarding this big DEIB stuff that y’all [were] pushing hard last night,” Munzing texted Watson “It is a deeply political issue and a new emphasis for the club Scott Smith stepped in with a letter to club executive staff clarifying that an unnamed council member’s comments that the city’s agreement with the club “could be in jeopardy” due to its DEIB position statement were unauthorized and incorrect “The city’s relationship with the club would never hinge on the constitutionally protected value statement or mission statement of the club,” Smith wrote who now serves as the club’s chief executive told TimesOC the letter pertained to a conversation Munzing had with her on March 8 that included “threats to cancel the contract if he shifted the council to a more conservative alignment.” The Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley may seem like an unlikely organization to be targeted in the political polarization surrounding DEI programs at corporations In South Orange County it provides a number of services including after-school programs and summer day camps The nonprofit maintains “neighborhood-based” youth facilities in San Juan Capistrano An archived version of the club’s website shows a link to its past position statement that has since been deleted inequity or unkindness,” the statement read It also pledged equal access to club programs The club’s board adopted the position statement in October 2020 Similar DEI stances are found at the Boys & Girls Club of America’s national website. After the city attorney’s letter, Munzing continued to voice his disagreements. He turned down an invitation to the club’s bocce ball championship at Doheny State Beach. “With your radical new DEI stance, I can no longer participate,” Munzing texted Watson. TimesOC reached out to Munzing, who did not immediately respond. In May, Munzing took his anti-DEIB stances to Rancho Santa Margarita when its City Council considered a one-year extension with the club for services at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center. “This new direction … will only hurt the kids and encourage them to be bitter victims,” he said in emails where he identified as an O.C. GOP Central Committee representative for Rancho Santa Margarita. “Do what’s right for the kids.” Councilman Jerry Holloway followed up with Munzing and asked what he meant by that. Munzing pointed to a list of books that he claimed accompanied the club’s DEIB position statement that had been posted on their website. “Every one of these authors are focused on making everything about ‘race,’ which is inappropriate for the young minds that are under their care,” he wrote. “Kids should be allowed to be kids and they are too young to have to deal with curriculum that is based on a political agenda.” The book list included titles such as “White Fragility,” “How the Irish Became White” and “Race Matters.” Cornel West, James Baldwin and Toni Morrison were among the authors. Holloway responded by asking Munzing if he knew how many kids, if any, were being directed to read from the book list. “They are certainly teaching them something,” Munzing claimed. Watson told TimesOC that the reading list on the website was never intended for the youth members. “It was developed as a resource for adults — parents, staff and community members — who wanted to further educate themselves on topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion,” she said. “Our goal was to offer a tool for thoughtful reflection and understanding, not as a directive for our youth.” Munzing’s concerns found favor with Councilman Tony Beall, who referred to DEIB as a “toxic” ideology and railed against the book list. “It’s wrong for our City Council to support spending any more taxpayer dollars to hire an organization to provide after-school care to the children of our community when that organization proudly promotes this type of critical race theory,” Beall said at the May 8 council meeting. But support for ending the agreement with the club failed to find favor elsewhere. Councilman Bradley McGuirr pointed to five schools in the Saddleback Unified School District that would be without an after-school program if the agreement expired without renewal in July. “I don’t agree with the reading list, but to me that’s secondary to the needs of the children and the parents in this community,” McGuirr added. Rancho Santa Margarita City Council voted 3-1 to grant a year extension to the club, with Beall opposing and another council member absent. Watson hasn’t had any conversations with Munzing about the club since but said she is looking forward to strengthening its partnership with Aliso Viejo. “We remain committed to looking toward the future and finding new ways to address the needs of our community,” she said. “Together, we are shaping a brighter future for our youth and our community — this is where our attention and focus lie.” 9:07 a.m. Oct. 3, 2024: Updated with quotes from Nicole Watson and more recent 2024 demographic statistics for the Boys & Girls Club of Capistrano Valley. Gabriel San Román is a feature writer for TimesOC. He previously worked at OC Weekly – as a reporter, podcast producer and columnist – until the newspaper’s closing in late 2019. In 2023, San Román was part of the breaking news reporting team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of the Lunar New Year mass shooting in Monterey Park. He may or may not be the tallest Mexican in O.C. TimesOC Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map When I was a young punk rocker in the early ’80’s and drove a van for Smith Printers of Tustin And then when I returned in the late 90’s from living all over the country what’s up with all these new south OC towns Aliso Viejo (which means “old sycamore”) is the one that’s ensconced NOT inland from the 5 but between the 5 and Laguna Beach – literally surrounded by the various Lagunas as the most recent of our county’s 34 cities AV’s SOKA University has great concerts incorporated during the County’s bankruptcy and run by a Master HOA which oversees the city’s parks and recreation use the County Sheriffs as a police department They occasionally see homeless people by the side of a creek nearby and the Sheriffs just ship ’em up to Santa Ana But little Aliso Viejo is going through a lot of changes This year both DISTRICT ELECTIONS and TERM LIMITS kick in And since 2020 the City Council has a 3-2 Democratic majority not only did the three Dems currently on Council work real hard to get elected back before Democrats enjoyed an electoral advantage but now Democrat voters outnumber Republicans in Aliso Viejo a trend we’re seeing throughout this County It’s come a long way from what we’ll call… Mayor Harrington on FOX “News,” bitching about illegals *A little asterisk to that subtitle: You’d think Dave Harrington and Mike Munzing but I’m told Harrington couldn’t stand Munzing which you’ll learn toward the end of this story these two MAGA tea-partiers were the face of the town a retired 28-year Sheriff who was first elected to AV Council in 2014 Named Mayor (in the town’s rotating system) two years in a row he was unhealthily pre-occupied with the plague of illegal immigration which by all accounts is not actually an issue in the town of Aliso Viejo Maybe just a concern of whatever residents watch too much FOX “News.” energized and inspired by President Trump’s draconian immigration policies and enraged by California’s defiant declaration that we are a “Sanctuary State,” went onto the program of perpetually faux-befuddled white supremacist Tucker Carlson to decry this state of affairs and announce that he was going to lead his town in a fight against the state (This is still all most of the nation knows of Aliso Viejo.) And Sheriff-Mayor Dave’s motion for Aliso Viejo to join HB & Los Alamitos in their quixotic lawsuit against the Sanctuary State passed 4-1 the only no vote being from affable Hawaiian-American Democrat Ross Chun (who was elected in 2012 and is STILL on Council.) The Grand Lawsuit never went anywhere because these cities could show no “standing,” so instead they issued a Grand PROCLAMATION Dave ran for OC Sheriff against Republican Don Barnes and Democrat Duke Nguyen I remember when Dave showed up at Anaheim’s Los Amigos to ask for our support just a few days after leading that anti-immigrant vote one of the most pro-immigrant gatherings in the County Barnes is the corrupt choice of the corrupt Sheriff Sandra Hutchens who was appointed by an equally corrupt establishment to take the place of the doubly (All of these corrupt folks his former bosses.) Well, Dave came in third in the primary behind Barnes and Nguyen, and on Election Day, they seated him across from me at an OC Business Council luncheon (LONG STORY.) “So since Don is so corrupt?” “No,” he confessed sheepishly Duke is too soft on immigration.” At least Dave got re-elected to AV Council that night BUT he came in second behind a whole new AV personality who came in 3% (1000 votes) over the immigration crusader [Artist’s conception; no contemporaneous footage extant.] Actually let’s start the year before when Tiffany made the mistake of releasing a letter denouncing police brutality using Aliso Viejo letterhead Unsurprisingly the Harrington faction raised holy hell and tried to have Tiffany censured (Actually it seems that these people are ALWAYS censuring or trying to censure each other for one good or bad reason or another.) she must have thought “What’s good for the goose…” and flew into action The flyer actually got changed at the last moment; the Young Republicans (who are truth be told a nasty little gang of political pranksters who emulate Roger Stone and Karl Rove) “toured” the Ranch which sounds like a political meeting to me and then met up at Harrington’s house for a course on how to win elections Doyle as it turned out joined them at the Ranch (which he was actually free to do on his own spare time) but did NOT go to Harrington’s (which he also could have if he wanted to.) But Tiffany took a picture of a car she thought wrongly was Doyle’s and questioned some of Harrington’s guests The two Republicans had a fit, and tried to strip Tiffany of her mayorship (which only had a month left anyway); she survived with a 3-2 vote but had to abjectly apologize Everyone remembers this as a regrettable episode though I can kind of sympathize with what she did in the aftermath of that George Floyd thing And every now and then City Manager Doyle who Tiffany felt was already hostile to any proposal of hers This was news a couple months ago, in fact it was going to be my “breaking” story, but then the story grew, flowered, metastasized, as stories sometimes do. In short, on March 20, on a 4-1 vote (Munzing dissenting) the AV Council fired their City Manager David Doyle, who’d been there ten years. But WHY Some councilmembers had felt for years that Doyle was helpful to the projects of Republican Councilmembers and resistant to Democrats and that he used deceptive numbers to conceal a worse fiscal situation than he cared to admit all but Doyle’s old crony Munzing agreed it was time for him to go I can’t know what happens in closed session but his gargantuan COMPENSATION couldn’t have helped – thanks to the Republican old guard Doyle was getting $429K a year (counting health.) While Aliso Viejo has a $1 million deficit That made David Doyle the highest-paid City Manager in the OC That’s more than Vanderpool gets in Anaheim (7 times bigger than AV) or what Ridge got in Santa Ana (6 times bigger) – and THOSE City Managers have to oversee police and parks & rec departments which Doyle did not was to keep Mike Munzing away from the city’s women but you too would bellow “Yabba-dabba-doo” at such a gig The City has its feelers out for David’s replacement Doyle’s former assistant Mitzi Ortiz is doing a fine job holding down the fort as Acting CM close friend and confidante for some reason with Madcap Mayor Mike Munzing ref and umpire for youth football and baseball teams and UNTIL RECENTLY on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley how did it come to pass that immediately upon Duane’s resigning from the Boys & Girls’ Club (BGC) Board jihads were launched on its AV and RSM branches Mayor Carol suddenly insisted that the town could no longer afford the vastly popular club and had to replace it with a Rancho Santa Margarita Museum (because the grand history of RSM nearly rivals that of Aliso Viejo.) In that case Carol had the whole damn lame-ass RSM Council on her side but when the angry crowds showed up to demand the Club stay all except RSM’s crusading alpha-dog Tony Beall who harangued the mob at painful length over their impertinence RSM discovered the Boys & Girls Club to be a “Third Rail” with the public the only soldier to carry Duane’s anti-BGC flag into battle was Mad Mike Munzing who went around telling anyone who’d listen that he and Duane wanted to cut off funding to the BGC because they have a DEI (Diversity Equity & Inclusion) clause in their charter – DEI which is a dread bogeyman to today’s rightwingers “With this clause they’re teaching Aliso Viejo children to be racist!” raved Munzing as though the kids peruse the group’s charter in between papier-mache projects and jump-rope This was not enough – Mike took it on himself to endlessly harass the Club’s executive director Nicole Watson threatening to yank their funding if they didn’t remove the offensive DEI language Not only was this something Mike had no authority to do but it was also a violation of the Club’s first amendment rights – the ACLU was threatening to get involved and the City feared a lawsuit over Mike’s threats and sent an apology letter Nicole lawyered up and was advised not to speak to Mike any more; Mike protested Now the Council is considering or was considering censuring Mike over this Censures are certainly in the air in Aliso Viejo Eventually Cave apparently got cold feet and his wife Carol started telling people “Duane has no problem with DEI.” Mike was all “Well maybe it was just something I overheard wrong!” The Club seems to have weathered the storm Did Beall and Munzing huddle in Duane’s Man-Cave to plan an assault on South County’s minority kids But all of these troubling tales lead to one destination: A celebrity to the Second Amendment extremist crowd Mike likes to brag that he “keeps an ARSENAL” in the trunk of his car I’ve been asked to leave out the details of Mike’s failed requests to be filmed out in front of various places “protecting” them with his AK It’s hard not to laugh at some of this (believe me) but some of it’s not funny Traditionally the members of Council hand out diplomas on stage at Aliso Niguel High’s graduation ceremony but this year they weren’t allowed on stage had to each be interviewed by law enforcement and sit in the audience instead All because LAST YEAR Mike Munzing showed up armed telling school staff that he was “STRAPPED On the topic of graduation but on a lighter note Ross likes to wear his graduation robes (from Pepperdine) to these ceremonies Ross is cross-dressing!” This is your Mayor Mike Munzing just can’t resist ’em and he’s convinced that they feel the same way I promised to tell you why Harrington couldn’t stand Munzing not realizing it was Dave’s daughter due to complaints from female staff cornered and sweet-talked by Mike making inappropriate comments about their bodies that Mike can’t go into City Hall unless supervised by the City Manager and Mayor Mike is unleashed and on the prowl again Just recently he cornered another female employee in her office and chatted her up for over half an hour So now Council is considering ANOTHER censure of Mayor Mike Munzing – IT’S RAINING CENSURES THERE despite being terminally ill and probably about 70 Mike spends many of his days hanging out at the Ranch with the teenaged employees there complaining about how the rest of the Council doesn’t like him and wants to get rid of him It’s hard to imagine he hasn’t tried showing off his car-trunk arsenal to these boys but let’s wait till we hear a report of that happening before we jump to conclusions once you get started telling Munzing stories White grievance and conspiracy theories keep him up at night because they talk about “building global citizens,” and He hates the science department of the high school because the six laboratories are each named after six famous scientists and NONE OF THEM ARE WHITE MEN – REVERSE RACISM On principle he always votes against affordable housing the only NO vote to Aliso Viejo’s admirable efforts to comply with state housing mandates which they do much better than many OC cities including my own Not letting his severe health problems slow him down for a nanosecond Mike plans to run for a fourth term this November This’ll be the fourth time Mike runs against Ross 2016 & 2020 they were both able to win (In 2012 Mike tried to scare businesses out of voting for Ross by labelling him a “Global Warming Alarmist” who would raise taxes but was unable to find a single statement from Ross about Climate Change.) because district elections and because they’re both running in District 5 Term limits also don’t start till this year so it’s conceivable that either Ross or Mike could serve a total of FIVE TERMS or 20 years (if Mike lives that long.) present himself as “THE CONSERVATIVE CHOICE” – a phrase that’s always worked for him But is all the above madness properly labelled “conservative?” The Nimrod Choice But I would reserve the word “conservative” for somebody more respectable District 3 voters pick the fine public servant Richard Hurt and District 5 voters choose sanity with Ross Chun who brought term limits and (along with Richard Hurt) campaign contribution limits to Aliso Viejo really appreciate learning some more about what was going on I heard bits and pieces of what Mike had done with the Boys and Girls Club as well as whatever nefarious shenanigans that Duane is up to Clearly there are ethical problems as well as legal problems such as his residency to hold his job at the Water District The more I talk to engaged residents in local cities the more stunned I am at the absolute corruption and incompetence of the local leadership Shawn I’ve ordered you a dictionary since you don’t know what “great research” means This is just another alcohol-fueled rant by OC’s biggest nobody drunk piano player Vern Nelson It’s basically a TLDR scream for mental health care all by a guy who doesn’t even live in Aliso Viejo Maybe the Bernie Sanders campaign gives him a stipend to right garbage like this high school political hit pieces written better than the stale mud that Vern slings around Mike Munzing called the city out because the Boys & Girls club pushes books supporting child sterilization and mutilation under the guise of “gender affirming care” – basically it’s the Marxist reading list and this is the type of thing the parents of Aliso Viejo WANT Mayor Munzing to call out for us Give us the return address once your “promised” dictionary order shows up because this chickenshit always hides himself There’s no reason to think that it lives in AV either — it gets around a lot generally posing as a local resident — but there’s also no reason to think that reporting on a community requires residency A better hint would be: if Vern attacks someone for corruption and the anonymous trolls who come out to attack him will not only be difficult to trace but they’ll also act as if they have been paid for a hit job and laden with bullshit like this misrepresentation of what the Boys & Girls Club supports I think it really is some rightwinger from AV who heard a few rumors about me (maybe from Tony Beall.) I wouldn’t-a printed it if it were just the usual troll But Troll calls Jeanine “Jeanie,” not “commie.” Didn’t the Democratic majority of 3 elect Mike Munzing to be mayor Now Chun has to run against a guy with “Mayor” as title why didn’t the Democrats nominate anyone Duncan is the only one that nominated Mike NOT Richard So why didn’t Chun nominate Ackley so this way he wouldn’t have to run against a guy with “Mayor” as title Were the eventual lines already clear at the time the choice was made Thank you Vern Nelson for this informational article As an independent voter I have a question about”the city-owned Aliso Viejo Ranch (which has a policy against renting the facility for any political or election related events)” Ross Chun had brought senator Dave Min to the ranch to introduce him to the community and the following year Mike Munzing had assembly woman Dixon at the ranch I wrote everything I know but I don’t live there You folks should look into things like that Mike Carona was released from prison in 2015 went to Troy High school at the same time I was at Troy Doug went straight into the police academy and shortly thereafter was hired by Fullerton PD From time to time I’d see Doug patrolling around Fullerton on his police motorcycle and he’d occasionally pull me over we’d just say hi and talk for a few minutes mostly about the good days in high school We’d also occasionally run into each other He was always respectful and seemed to be a hard worker That probably made him go back to school to get a degree and ended up in upper management for the Gas Co Haven’t seen either of the twins in a good twenty years Maybe someday we’ll run into each other at a Troy H.S Good to see some fair and impartial reporting here What a hit piece on everyone who’s conservative 2024) – The Irvine Police Department (IPD) arrested 46-year-old Rhean Fontanoza IPD responded to the area of Fleming and Chrysler after multiple reports of gunshots being heard Officers arrived on scene and located a UPS driver slumped over in the driver’s seat of his delivery truck Officers pulled him from the vehicle and began life saving measures The driver suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died from his injuries He was identified as Expedito Cuesta De Leon Surveillance footage captured the suspect vehicle pulling alongside the UPS truck then fleeing the scene on Goodyear towards Jeronimo The vehicle was a silver Honda Ridgeline 4-door truck with a black truck bed liner and black rims The driver and solo occupant was described as a white male wearing dark clothing a dark colored baseball cap and a face mask and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department located a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle on Santiago Canyon Road shortly before 4:00 p.m IPD officers responded to the scene and confirmed it was the suspect vehicle The IPD Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) arrived at the scene and Fontanoza was eventually taken into custody for homicide it appears Fontanoza and De Leon were acquaintances Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who has information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Craig Voors at 949-724-7131 or email cvoors@cityofirvine.org 2024 at 1:13 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Independence Day is fast approaching so it's time to find out where you can celebrate in and around Aliso Viejo CA — Independence Day is fast approaching so it's time to find out where you can celebrate in and around Aliso Viejo To help you fit it all in on your 4th of July calendar Patch has put together a guide to what’s going on in Aliso Viejo and the surrounding areas Large crowds are anticipated for the July 4th holiday and the City is requesting the public’s cooperation to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for residents and visitors The community has several parades and activities planned throughout the day The Newport Peninsula Bike Parade and Community Festival starts at 9 a.m at 36th Street Park and travels down Balboa Boulevard to Channel Place Park The Old Glory Boat Parade starts at 1 p.m. in Newport Harbor at the east end of Lido Isle. The annual parade is hosted by the American Legion Yacht Club and American Legion Post 291, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. More information Residents can see fireworks at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort at 9 p.m Newport Beach residents can walk in for free with photo ID The Laguna Niguel Family YMCA hosts its annual 45th Run in the Parks with a 5K and kids race The City of Laguna Niguel will also host a free pool party from 1 p.m There will also be a 5:30 p.m. flyover of the city, and a fireworks show that starts at 9 p.m. over the lake at Laguna Niguel Regional Park. More information Lake Forest community members will celebrate a "Family, Fun, and Freedom" parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Ridge Route and Toledo Way. The parade will follow Toledo Way, turn right on Lake Forest Drive, then turn right onto Serrano Road and end at Ridge Route, organizers said. More information The city's Fourth of July Celebration includes festivities at the Laguna Hills Community Center & Sports Complex carnival rides and activities and food trucks and food and drinks will be available for purchase and the carnival rides are $2 each The City of Mission Viejo will host the July 4th Street Faire and Fireworks Spectacular between Marguerite and Melinda starting at noon. The event features live entertainment, rides, food trucks and games. Admission is free and fireworks start at 9 p.m. More information The SAMLARC Star Spangled Spectacular is a cherished community tradition that celebrates Independence Day in our exceptional community From the morning Bike & Trike Parade to a capella performances of patriotic music this event brings more than 20,000 people to the Lago Santa Margarita and Beach Club The signature feature of the evening is a close-up fireworks display over the Lago Santa Margarita as the community pays tribute to our country’s freedom Stripes 'N Slides event at Avenida Rosa and Avenida Victoria from 10 a.m Attending residents will enjoy entertainment and activities The Condor Squadron association will conduct a flyover at about 6 p.m The City of San Juan Capistrano will host a carnival at Marco Forster Intermediate School starting at 2 p.m The city's Surf City Run 5K kicks off at 7 a.m. on July 4, and residents can register online here The city will also host the traditional Main Street Parade at 9th and Pacific Coast Highway before traveling up Main Street and finishing at Clay Avenue Residents will enjoy live entertainment at Pier Plaza starting at noon and a 9 p.m The Condor Squadron Association will do a flyover at around 5:30 p.m. JULY 4: July 4th Celebration & Fireworks: Grand Park JULY 4: July 4th Firecracker Run, Yankee Doodle Dog Show, Parade, Concert & Fireworks Festive events abound for Independence Day JULY 4: Disney’s 'Celebrate America!' 4th Of July Fireworks Show: Disneyland "An inspirational fireworks show—all to the sound of patriotic music." JULY 4: July 4th Country Fair JULY 4: Knott's Berry Farm July 4th Fest & Fireworks Special family-friendly entertainment during day & fireworks in evening JUNE 30-JULY 4: TNT Safe & Sane Fireworks Stand & Sales: OC Fairgrounds: Fundraiser for Costa Mesa High School baseball team JULY 3: Independence Day Fest & Fireworks 2024: OC Fair JUNE 28: 'Salute To America' Celebration & Fireworks 2024: Cypress College JULY 4: 4th Of July Fireworks & Flyover: Doheny State Beach "Southern California's BEST firework display is right here in beautiful Dana Point!" JULY 4: July 4th Parade, Surf City Run, Parade & Fireworks 2024: Huntington Beach: Celebrate Independence day with a carnival JULY 3: Fourth Of July Celebration 2024: Pretend City Children's Museum, Irvine: "Adventure-filled day of exploration JULY 4: Irvine 4th Of July Red, White & Blue 5K & 1 Mile 2024: Event kicks off with National Anthem singer JULY 4: Pacific Symphony July 4 Spectacular: Music of Chicago & Fireworks Show 2024: Irvin: What's better than the Fab Four & fireworks JULY 4: July 4th Fest, Flyover, Music & Fireworks: La Bonita Park JULY 4: July 4th Fitness Run For Fun, Yankee Doodle Dash & Pancake Breakfast "Start your Fourth of July celebrations on a healthy note!" JULY 4: July 4th Freedom Run, Parade, Concert & Fireworks "Known for one of best fireworks displays in South Orange County." JULY 4: 4th Of July Drone Show 2024: Laguna Beach: The Condor Squadron will fly over at 5:45 p.m JULY 4: Fourth of July Celebration 2024: Event includes carnival rides JULY 4:Annual El Toro Chargers 4th Of July 5K & 1K Kids' Run Benefits El Toro High’s education boosters JULY 4: Fourth of July Parade: "Family JULY 3: July 3rd Fireworks Spectacular: Joint Forces Training Base. Collaboration with Los Alamitos & Seal Beach with family fun zone JULY 4: July 4th Street Faire & Fireworks Spectacular JULY 4: July 4th Bike Parade & Community Festival: Channel Place Park 12th annual "4th of July is for Families" features music JULY 4: July 4th 'Old Glory Boat Parade' 2024: This year's theme: "Stars Stripes and Sails." JULY 4: July 4th Fireworks & Independence Day On Back Bay 2024: Newport Dunes Resort: Watersports live entertainment & "one of Southern California’s largest fireworks shows." JULY 3: 3rd Of July Celebration 2024: Grijalva Park, Orange: Tickets on sale JULY 4: July 4th Star-Spangled Spectacular, Parade & Fireworks 2024: SAMLARC, Rancho Santa Margarita "SAMLARC Members are invited to enjoy Independence Day at the Lake!" JULY 4: 4th Of July Fireworks & Flyover 2024: Head to the pier JULY 1-4: Fourth Of July Family Celebration 2024: Marco Forster Middle School: Fireworks display is on Tuesday JULY 4: Fourth Of July Celebration 2024: Centennial Park JULY 4: 4th Of July Parade 2024: "A great little parade in our beautiful canyon neighborhood." JULY 4: 4th Of July Celebration and Fireworks 2024: Evening includes live music & food trucks JULY 4: 4th Of July Parade 2024. Deck out your bikes JULY 4: 4th Of July Firework Spectacular 2024: Veterans Park Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. “It is an emotional thing,” said Criscuolo. Panettone is emotional for many Italians like Criscuolo, who opened his restaurant serving fresh pasta and other Italian dishes earlier this year at 26611 Aliso Creek Road. The name, Trattoria Trullo, refers to a trullo, a stone house with a conical roof similar to the one Criscuolo still owns back home in the region of Puglia in Italy. In November, the restaurant received a Marchio Q award, a certification that recognizes authentic Italian restaurants, pizzerias and gelato shops globally. Created by the Istituto Nazionale Ricerche Turistiche, the organization awards establishments “developing and promoting the traditions of Italian food products and enhancing the culture of Italian food and wine.” After attending culinary school in Italy, Criscuolo served as chef de partie at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and eventually found his way to Orange County cooking at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast before becoming executive chef of Andrea Ristorante. While he isn’t a baker by trade, he began working on his panettone recipe about five years ago. Then he found himself toying with bread starters, the fermented culture used to bake bread, during the pandemic. While most were trying their hand at baking sourdough, Criscuolo was perfecting his panettone. Chef Marco Criscuolo of Trattoria Trullo brings the Italian tradition of panettone bread for the holidays from his hometown of Puglia to Aliso Viejo in Orange County. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “I was calling my friends that do it, asking how they do, and then I started watching videos on YouTube of a housewife in Italy who makes it and shows how she does it,” said Criscuolo. After many failed attempts and a lot of wasted ingredients, Criscuolo developed a recipe that turned out consistent results he was pleased with. Unlike American grocery store fruitcakes, lampooned for being dry and unappetizing, true panettone is soft and sweet. It is a holiday tradition in Italy found in cookbooks dating back to the 19th century. It is usually baked from scratch with candied fruit or chocolate using recipes passed down for generations. “During Christmastime in Italy, you must have panettone. There is family coming home to visit you, to get coffee and chat. It is a tradition to have a slice of panettone when family, friends and neighbors come to your house,” said Criscuolo. Criscuolo bakes panettone from scratch at his south county restaurant, selling small loaves that serve four for $30 and larger loaves meant to serve six to eight for $65. “If the dough goes above 26 degrees Celsius, the dough is going to separate,” said Criscuolo, as he pointed an infrared thermometer into the mixing bowl as the dough spun. Next the dough is left to rise, which is also a careful process. “The dough is going to tell you when it is ready, you cannot force this, you cannot rush this,” said Criscuolo. “If you keep it at a temperature that is too high, the dough will become acidic, and you will have a sour taste in the panettone.” Chef Marco Criscuolo rolls panettone dough at Trattoria Trullo in Aliso Viejo. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) While the dough rises, he starts the process of adding aromatic honey infused with orange zest, lemon zest and vanilla beans. The candied fruit is also made in house, taking an entire day to complete. Once all the ingredients are combined, the dough is left to proof in a panettone mold. After proofing, the dough goes into the oven to bake. When it comes back out, Criscuolo quickly skewers the loaf and flips it upside down so it cools vertically, ensuring it keeps its trademark height. “If the dough is not cooked properly, they will simply collapse,” he said. “Then you lose three days of work and all the ingredients.” Criscuolo puts the same care into all the dishes he makes at Trattoria Trullo, like his orecchiette alle cime di rapa. The small ear-shaped pasta is made in house, a tedious process the chef believes is worth the effort. “All the little steps matter. We want guests to enjoy the real deal, the real traditions of Italy,” said Criscuolo. As a special holiday treat during the holiday season, panettone is also on the menu for dessert. “It is on the seasonal menu for the whole month of December. Guests can enjoy a homemade slice of panettone with zabaglione marsala gelato that we make in-house and a dollop of mascapone cream.” said Criscuolo. “That is a very traditional way to eat it.” Trattoria Trullo is open Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. To order panettone bread, email jill@trattoriatrullo.com. Please allow 72 hours advance notice. Sarah Mosqueda covers Orange County food, art and culture for TimesOC. She most recently worked as a staff writer in Food for the Los Angeles Times. She also has several years of experience in the restaurant industry, including as a proprietor. Mosqueda earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton. Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Print The three hitchhiking ghosts of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion attraction are always looking for a ride out of the mausoleum Professor Phineas Plump and Gus are part of the Haunted Mansion-themed home haunt at the Stanley family home in Aliso Viejo We have been doing it for many years,” said homeowner and father began the tradition of creating detailed Halloween displays when Wyatt “We’ve been doing this pretty much my whole life,” said Wyatt Madame Leota in her crystal ball at Mike and Dawn Stanley’s Halloween Haunted Mansion in Aliso Viejo (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Wyatt attended the Orange County School of the Arts and advanced his set-design skills and background in animatronics which has made for more elaborate displays each year Last year’s display had a Pirates of the Caribbean theme has the façade of stately columns and oxidized wrought-iron found at the Haunted Mansion attraction spectators will also find familiar haunts like the clairvoyant Madame Leota in her crystal ball the singing busts known as the Phantom Five and the Hatbox Ghost “The fun part is now our neighbors want to be involved,” said Mike Mike and Wyatt choose a theme in January and start sketching and planning the scenes they would like their display to feature they share what they have planned with any neighbors in the cul-de-sac interested in participating “Then we will build it for them on the lawn Buildout starts in September with a target opening day of Oct Neighborhood kids get in on the fun by helping in small ways The Hatbox Ghost is part of Mike and Dawn Stanley’s Halloween Haunted Mansion in Aliso Viejo (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “Everybody has a job,” said wife and mother Dawn suggested the family bring in a charity component with the proceeds benefiting the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group The organization raises funds for materials needed by the 5th Marines or their families in need of assistance at Camp Pendleton and nearby housing areas “My Dad was a 5th Marine out of Dana Point; he is Purple Heart recipient,” said Dawn “We’ve always given to that group anyway so that is why we choose them.” The family has the support of the city and community with a 30-day permit paid for by the Aliso Viejo City Council and the Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement sponsoring this year’s theme “We get to have fun together as a family and truly provide something for the community that is fun and free,” said Mike Dawn and Mike Stanley stand in front of their home designed and decorated for Halloween to the theme of the Haunted Mansion from Disneyland (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The display even received the approval of legendary Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr Gurr is responsible for the design of many attractions at Disneyland including the Doom Buggy cars at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion “For him to come out and look at each scene,” said Mike The home haunt is on display nightly from 6 to 9 at 8 Oak Ridge Circle in Aliso Viejo until Oct 31 — which leads to one of the top five questions the Stanley family gets each year: What do they have planned for Christmas Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. New housing is coming to a shopping center Aliso Viejo, developer AvalonBay Communities announced this week planned for a 4.4-acre site at The Commons at Aliso Viejo Town Center calls for the construction of a new wrap-style apartment complex featuring 362 studio and three-bedroom dwellings surrounding parking for 543 vehicles Per a project website, Avalon Aliso Viejo would set aside 10 percent of the total apartments as affordable housing while also providing approximately 5,700 square feet of retail space TCA Architects and C2 Collaborative are designing the apartment complex which is portrayed in a rendering as a contemporary look described as the first major real estate development seen in Aliso Viejo in nearly a decade is working on a revamp which will add new shops and restaurants to an existing 99 Ranch Market and a Tesla sales center That revamp is on pace for completion in early 2024 AvalonBay is active in several locations across Southern California, notably in the form of proposed developments which would bring new housing and commercial uses to publicly-owned sites in West Los Angeles and Tustin Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn Print A severed leg in the parking lot A burned-out shell where an Aliso Viejo business used to be The grisly aftermath of a 2018 explosion that rocked Orange County was laid out at a sentencing hearing in federal court for Stephen William Beal — convicted last year of planting a homemade package bomb that killed his ex-girlfriend and injured two others. During the Friday hearing in downtown Los Angeles, 64-year-old Beal, dressed in a white prison jumpsuit, said he would “always maintain my innocence in this case.” Soon afterward, Judge Josephine L. Staton handed down a life sentence, plus an additional 30 years, after noting that Beal had not taken responsibility for the crime. “The cold, calculating nature of this crime is chilling,” Staton said to a courtroom of more than two dozen people, including victims, reporters and law enforcement. “The court believes the defendant is likely to remain a danger to the public for the rest of his life.” California Stephen William Beal, convicted of murder by bombing, had expertise in electronics and chemistry and obsessive jealousy over his ex-girlfriend, prosecutors said. Outside the courthouse after the verdict, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said Beal had murdered his ex-girlfriend, Ildiko Krajnyak, “in one of the most depraved and despicable ways possible.” “Justice has been served,” Estrada said. “Mr. Beal will spend the rest of his days in a federal penitentiary.” FBI and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigate an explosion at a day spa in Aliso Viejo in May 2018. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) On May 15, 2018, Krajnyak opened a cardboard box she found at her day spa, Magyar Kozmetika. The resulting blast caused the 48-year-old’s midsection, arms and hands to disintegrate, according to prosecutors. A mother and daughter who were inside the spa when the bomb went off escaped the burning building through a blown-out wall. They were both hospitalized and one of them lost an eye because of shrapnel. At a four-week trial last year, evidence showed Beal became obsessed with Krajnyak after she tried to distance herself from him. At one point, prosecutors said, Beal threatened to kill himself after Krajnyak said she needed space. Ildiko Krajnyak, 48, was killed by a package bomb sent by Stephen William Beal, who was convicted last year. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California) On a trip to Portugal two months before the explosion, Beal examined Krajnyak’s phone and discovered she’d been seeing other men. During the trip, he took pictures of her text messages with one of them. Beal had access to the spa, knowledge of Krajnyak’s habits, and “decades of experience in rocketry,” combining skill in electronics and chemistry that made it possible to build a bomb without blowing himself up, Assistant U.S. Atty. Mark Takla said during the trial. When investigators searched Beal’s home after the explosion, they found more than 130 pounds of explosive precursor chemicals, explosive mixtures and wires of the same type found in the ceiling at the blast site. During the trial, defense attorney Meghan Blanco had described her client as “nothing more than a hobbyist” who tinkered with rockets and pyrotechnics, and said authorities had rushed to judgment. “Is it a very common hobby? No,” she said. “Does it make Mr. Beal a bomber? No.” In July, jurors found Beal guilty of using a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and three other felonies related to the blast. During his sentencing, Beal continued trying to deflect blame, telling the judge, “I just wish the person who actually committed this crime was sitting here, not me.” Beal kept his back turned as victims shared the trauma they had endured after the blast, including fear of opening mail and hearing loud noises. Rebekah Radomski, who was working at a mental health clinic near the salon at the time of the blast, described the “sheer terror of this near-death experience.” “To this day, it remains truly challenging to rationalize how because a man had his feelings hurt by a former lover, he reacted with cowardly violence and zero regard for human life,” Radomski said. “He deserves to never see the light of day again except from a prison yard.” Krajnyak’s cousin, Eva Boni, said Beal had “single-handedly destroyed my family.” Takla, the U.S. attorney, called it “a miracle” that the two women inside the spa had survived. He read a letter from one of them, who described her physical disfigurement, scarring and hearing loss. Less visible, she wrote, is the emotional trauma. “Fear has become my foundation and worry my reality,” she wrote. “I’m a different, lesser version of who I used to be.” Outside the courthouse after the verdict, O.C. Sheriff Don Barnes criticized Beal for continuing to proclaim his innocence. “It was an insult to the criminal justice process that he did that,” Barnes said. “We have the right guy, we had the right guy all along. He got a fair trial, he’s held accountable, he will die in prison one day.” High School Sports Discover the top 5 beaches near Aliso Viejo There's nothing quite like the taste of the Pacific Ocean's salty breeze while you bask in the California sun. If you're based in Aliso Viejo you're in luck because you're in proximity to some of Southern California's most breathtaking beachfronts From stunning views to unique local histories let's dive into the top five beaches near Aliso Viejo A mere 5.7 miles from Aliso Viejo, Aliso Beach Park is the perfect spot for a spontaneous day out This beach is beloved for its easy accessibility and ample parking spaces available at $1 per hour Its natural tidal pools and captivating sunset views are a definite crowd-puller Aliso Beach Park is also home to the legendary "Skimboarding World Championship," making it a must-visit for sports enthusiasts Just about 7 miles from Aliso Viejo lies the Thousand Steps Beach Don't be intimidated by the name; there are only about 200 steps to climb Known for its hidden sea caves and tide pools it's a perfect place for adventurous spirits This beach got its name during the prohibition era when the steps were built to hide illegal alcohol transportation Does your business rank among the best in California Learn more about our selection criteria and vetting process Main Beach is the bustling heart of Laguna Though finding parking may require a bit of patience the area offers metered parking at $2.50 per hour offers basketball and volleyball courts for active visitors Its charming boardwalk was built in the early 1930s and has been a community gathering place ever since Around 9 miles away from Aliso Viejo, Salt Creek Beach offers a sizable parking lot with rates at $1 per hour The beach is known for its excellent surf conditions and vast picnic area its name is derived from a saltworks operation that used to be nearby in the 19th century Doheny State Beach stands out with its sprawling campgrounds and day-use picnic area There's plenty of parking available at $15 per day The beach has been a beloved spot since oil tycoon Edward Doheny donated it to the state in 1931 From the serene beauty of Aliso Beach Park to the historical charm of Doheny State Beach there's a slice of coastal paradise near Aliso Viejo to suit everyone's taste grab your sunhat and prepare for an unforgettable beach day These exceptional beaches are waiting for you to make your own sunny California memories We’ll be your trustee Little Tokyo guide with a day’s worth of fun things to do in Little Tokyo If you're looking for something fun to do there are plenty of fun and free things to do in San Francisco Feel the knowledge flood from its elegant red-tile roofs as you wander the town’s beautiful college campus in search of hidden finds Enjoy the perfect California spring weather at these ideal spots for a spring vacation in California Check your inbox soon for the latest from California.com. Print Local artist Jon Seeman spent his younger days exploring the hills of what is now Aliso Viejo “I hiked all these canyons when it was a ranch,” said Seeman From Top of the World I would take my bike down and explore all these canyons.” a sculptor known for public artwork throughout Southern California and beyond has been a resident of Aliso Viejo since it was incorporated 21 years ago His connection to the area is part of why he felt compelled to donate to the city’s legacy “He has been part of Aliso Viejo and the surrounding area his whole life and wanted to give back to the community and do something at the ranch,” said Aliso Viejo City Manager Dave Doyle The Aliso Viejo Ranch is a historic former property of the Moulton family restored by the city of Aliso Viejo and the site of Seeman’s 43rd public sculpture The abstract steel artwork is the only donated piece in Seeman’s 45-year career “Onward” stands 7 feet tall and 7 feet across and has been installed at the entrance of Aliso Viejo Ranch Seeman worked with the city’s historical consultant to select items found onsite at the ranch to create “Onward.” “Public art and accessible public art is incredibly important for our city to thrive and move forward,” said Aliso Viejo Mayor Ross Chun “Now we have public art created by a longtime resident out of implements and artifacts that have been here far longer than any of us have been here.” speaks to Aliso Viejo Mayor Ross Chun about his new sculpture “Onward,” at Aliso Viejo Ranch on Wednesday (Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer) The sculpture utilizes farming implements like horseshoes and parts of harvesting tools with 12 ranch artifacts incorporated into the design there is a blacksmith’s vise,” Seeman said and there is some wheels from small tractors.” The work also includes an artifact Seeman found in the hills during his own exploration of the area years before but Jon actually found that when he was younger in the hills here,” said Doyle Seeman worked on the piece at his Laguna Beach studio and donated his time and the steel support materials for the piece He said he typically starts with sketches and mechanical drawings “When you start working with it and start seeing it in 3D,” Seeman said “then it evolves into a higher level of art His pieces are known for evoking a sense of movement with a design that appears as though it could be driven away and City Manager Dave Doyle stand beside Seeman’s “Onward” sculpture at Aliso Viejo Ranch on Wednesday (Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer) “I wanted to have something that kids as well as adults could relate to,” said Seeman It kind of makes kids think out of the box Chun said the sculpture is part of Aliso Viejo Ranch’s growing development that includes Moulton Museum The multiuse site sits on the last remaining parcel of the former 22,000-acre Moulton Ranch and includes a sustainable aquaponics farm where produce is harvested regularly and donated to local nonprofit partners “This is just another part of the evaluation of the ranch The ranch is always going to be growing and it is going to be expanding in different ways,” said Chun “The idea that now we have been able to put historic art in here that brings a whole new aspect to this environment and it’s added so much to every visitors experience here.” TrendingCommercialLos AngelesAPacLife lists 243K sf office building in Aliso Viejo for $80MAsking price for revamped facility in Summit Office Campus comes to $330K psf Pacific Life Insurance wants to shed a 243,000-square-foot vacant office building in South Orange County for $80.1 million The 155-year-old Newport Beach-based company has listed the nine-story building at 45 Enterprise, the Orange County Business Journal reported. The building was built in 2008 for Pacific Life in the Summit Office Campus The insurance giant moved its operations during the pandemic to its 350,000-square-foot headquarters next to Fashion Island It plans to sell the Aliso Viejo building “due to the merger of our life and annuity business,” according to a company statement to the Business Journal Newmark holds the listing for the 242,700 square-foot office tower next to the 73 Freeway, with parking for 1,120 cars. Unidentified sources told the Business Journal that PacLife seeks $80.1 million. That comes out to $330 per square foot SIGN UPFirms seeking offices larger than 100,000 square feet in Orange County are few Recent office sales in the market were below $200 per square foot Brokers tell the Business Journal that a buyer could be a life science company hoping to move up from San Diego Pacific Life bought the 5.5-acre site in 2007 for $15 million It commissioned Parker Properties to develop the offices The insurance firm renovated the Class A facility last year with upgrades to the unused executive floors Recent office deals in OC include Finfare’s purchase of a 71,000-square-foot office building at  17900 Von Karman in Irvine for $16.9 million The empty building had been on the market for three years TrendingCommercialLos AngelesAMicroVention Terumo pays $44M for office building in Aliso ViejoMedical device maker pays $181 psf for offices next to its south OC headquarters MicroVention Terumo has bought an office building in Aliso Viejo for $44 million The locally based medical device maker picked up the nine-story, 242,700-square-foot building at 45 Enterprise, in south OC, the Orange County Business Journal reported.  which vacated the property during the pandemic during a shift to remote work The price works out to $181 per square foot Pacific Life bought the building in 2007 for $15 million before office demand fell during the pandemic typically traded for around $300 per square foot unidentified real estate sources told the Business Journal part of the 16-building Summit Office Campus was built in 2008 next to the current headquarters for MicroVention Terumo at 35 Enterprise The firm expects to begin occupying its new building this fall as state law prohibits the removal of such art pieces “It’s beautiful and it isn’t going anywhere,” MicroVention CEO Carsten Schroeder told the Business Journal and explore the top reasons to live in this charming Nestled in the heart of Orange County, Aliso Viejo is a vibrant and welcoming community with a plethora of benefits. From its beautiful parks and outdoor spaces to an array of family-friendly activities, this city is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. In this article, we'll explore the top reasons why you should consider visiting or even living in Aliso Viejo, California One of the highlights of Aliso Viejo is its thriving business community. The city is home to several major corporations such as Pacific Life, Microsemi, and QLogic, providing ample job opportunities for residents the Aliso Viejo Town Center offers a variety of shops and services Aliso Viejo boasts an abundance of green spaces and recreational activities for nature lovers. The Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park offers more than 4,500 acres of pristine open space, perfect for hiking, mountain biking, and bird watching visit the picturesque Aliso Viejo Community Park or enjoy the panoramic views at Grand Park Families in Aliso Viejo have access to excellent educational opportunities thanks to the highly-rated schools in the Capistrano Unified School District From the award-winning Don Juan Avila Elementary School to the highly-regarded Aliso Niguel High School students receive a top-quality education to prepare them for future success Aliso Viejo offers a diverse array of dining options to satisfy any palate Indulge in authentic Indian cuisine at Natraj's Indian Bistro or savor mouthwatering poke bowls at Poki Bowl stop by Bagels & Brew for a tasty breakfast sandwich or enjoy a delicious burger at The Habit Burger Grill There's never a dull moment in Aliso Viejo, thanks to its numerous family-friendly activities. The Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center features a heated pool, splash pad, and swim lessons for all ages. Meanwhile, the Aliso Viejo Library offers a variety of programs and events for children, including storytimes and craft workshops. For a fun-filled day, visit the nearby Laguna Beach Aliso Viejo is committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle for its residents The city offers numerous fitness facilities a luxury fitness resort with state-of-the-art equipment and group exercise classes try a yoga class at Yoga Sapien or unwind with a rejuvenating massage at Elements Massage Aliso Viejo takes pride in fostering a sense of community through various events and festivals throughout the year The annual Summer Concert Series at Grand Park features live music and food trucks while the Aliso Viejo Founder's Day Fair celebrates the city's heritage with historical displays it's no wonder Aliso Viejo is quickly becoming a sought-after destination for both visitors and residents From delectable dining options to health and wellness facilities this Southern California oasis truly has something for everyone Come experience the charm and warmth of Aliso Viejo for yourself Print Aliso Viejo says it does not “dump” its homeless people in neighboring Laguna Beach District Judge David Carter during a settlement hearing between Laguna and a homeless advocacy group In what Laguna Beach called a “proactive” settlement hearing Sept Carter praised the city for its efforts with its homeless population and described it as “the one city historically that created an emergency shelter News The agreement with Orange County Catholic Worker “confirms that the city can continue operating its shelter without additional requirements,” the city says The group says it ensures Laguna will take a “healthcare first” approach before ticketing or arresting a homeless person The settlement with the nonprofit Orange County Catholic Worker avoided prospective litigation against the city on behalf of its homeless population Carter alleged in subsequent statements that the city of Aliso Viejo contributed to Laguna’s homeless count citing a decline in the number of homeless in Aliso Viejo Carter said Aliso Viejo in 2017 had a homeless population of 28 but that in 2018 The Point in Time count — a countywide tally done every two years — identified 15 homeless people in Aliso Viejo in January 2017 “What happened to the other 27 homeless people from Aliso Viejo?” Carter said “Twenty-seven people got transported or found their way miraculously from a neighboring city of Aliso Viejo to Laguna Beach “Check the records of the shelter and they went into the Laguna Beach shelter.” According to a 2017 annual report for the Alternative Sleeping Location shelter on Laguna Canyon Road 28 people served by the ASL in the 2016-17 fiscal year had their last known permanent address in Aliso Viejo which Laguna Beach has owned and funded since 2009 is one of two locations in town operated by the Friendship Shelter; the other is on South Coast Highway “There’s something inherently unfair when a community is generous and has .. taking care of your homeless population .. has 27 people — and I’ll use the word — ‘dumped’ on you,” Carter said Carter declined to elaborate on his comments or where he got his figures The 2019 Point in Time count in January identified 147 homeless people in Laguna 76 of whom were sheltered and 71 who were not The total was an increase from the 2017 count which documented 88 homeless people in the city “You took care of your whole population until recently and this was not your fault,” Carter said during the hearing Laguna Beach officials declined to comment But Aliso Viejo City Manager David Doyle described Carter’s allegation as false and irresponsible “This fact is recognized and acknowledged by the County of Orange Department of Health Services the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and nearly all experts on the issue of homelessness “The use of terms like ‘dumping’ denigrates the rights of individuals experiencing homelessness to be where they choose to be and can be offensive to those individuals.” Aliso Viejo was included in a lawsuit filed in February by Orange County Catholic Worker and the Elder Law and Disability Rights Center against several south Orange County cities petitioned to remove Carter from the lawsuit Anderson dismissed Aliso Viejo from the lawsuit in August “Our most recent homeless Point in Time count conducted by the County of Orange did indeed show a single homeless person in [Aliso Viejo],” Doyle said we were able to recently reconnect this individual with his family and get him off the street That will be the city’s policy and approach with other similar individuals in the future.” Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Lilly Nguyen is a former staff writer for the Daily Pilot, where she covered Newport Beach. Before joining the Pilot, she worked for the Orange County Register as a freelance reporter and general assignment intern. She earned her bachelor’s in journalism at Cal State Long Beach. News officials say 1/6 Flames leap from brush burning in the hills behind Top of the World Elementary School on Saturday afternoon 2/6 An Orange County Fire Authority helicopter makes a drop on a brush fire moving up the hill toward Top of the World Elementary School and Alta Laguna on Saturday afternoon The blaze forced the evacuation of residents from the Top of the World area in Laguna Beach 3/6 A resident watches a brush fire burning below the Top of the World area of Laguna Beach during the 2018 Aliso fire.  (Photo by David Hansen) 4/6 A brush fire burns the hillside behind Top of the World Elementary School on Saturday afternoon The fire was reported shortly after 1 p.m. 5/6 A helicopter is used to help fight a brush fire in the hills behind Top of the World Elementary School on Saturday afternoon 6/6 A brush fire burns in the hills behind Top of the World Elementary School on Saturday afternoon Print A brush fire that scorched 175 acres and temporarily displaced thousands of Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo residents early this month was started accidentally by a boy according to Orange County Fire Authority officials Steve Concialdi said Tuesday that laws protecting the privacy of minors prevented him from releasing information about the child He also did not say how the fire was ignited “Our fire investigators did an excellent job of investigating the cause and through their work they uncovered this information,” Concialdi said The Aliso fire, which was fully contained Friday June 2 below Laguna Beach’s Top of the World neighborhood and behind Soka University in Aliso Viejo All Laguna residents who were evacuated because of the fire which was initially exacerbated by strong winds were permitted to return to their homes the following day 1,500 residents were evacuated from the Top of the World and Old Top of the World neighborhoods The blaze also forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 homes in Aliso Viejo June 2 after authorities determined the fire was no longer a threat to those homes Hundreds of firefighters from cities across Southern California Eleven air tankers and eight helicopters were on the scene over the weekend at the height of the fire Five firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN Print Art has always been a part of Sunny Kim’s life but he’d painted in his childhood through middle school and Kim ventures that being an artist has been in her genes from the start Art took Kim from Seoul National University to New York then to Los Angeles before she arrived in Orange County But it was only about 20 years ago after she watched a video by astronomer Carl Sagan that Kim became fascinated by the cosmos its power and the speed of light and energy said she also sees God in the universe and reflects that belief in her art Seventeen of her paintings are on exhibit at the Newport Beach Public Library through Jan 7 as part of a city program run by the Newport Beach Arts Commission “The theme is always cosmic dreams or starry nights,” Kim said adding she picked the paintings featured in the gallery based on the size and scale of the space given to her The show itself is called “Capture the Emotions of the Cosmos.” Arts commission chair Arlene Greer said the city exhibits artists’ work in the library’s gallery space for two-month periods throughout the year Many of the artists apply at least two years in advance of their actual showings Thousands of people pass through that lobby gallery sometimes per day which is more than some museums on a slower day,” said Greer “It’s a highly sought after space to exhibit artworks and Sunny was chosen and she is coming into the gallery at a very nice time of the year during the holidays when many many people visit in addition to residents Her work will be viewed by thousands of people.” sculptor Miriam Baker and fellow Arts Commission member Ritch LeGrand made up the Art in Public Spaces Committee in 2019 the boldness of her work and the fact that it just stood out and it was just lovely and her presentation of her work in the application typically was representing her images of the universe the heavens and what lies beyond the boundaries of the physical world in the spiritual realm and this is right from her,” said Greer “That expression really carried over into her work and the work that was submitted for the submission.” Kim describes her art as abstract expressionism drawing upon the action-painting style of Jackson Pollock and the color-field painting of Mark Rothko Kim said she had heard almost 4,000 people might see her paintings in a day a number that encouraged her to submit her work “If people can see my painting and feel something and become happy to see my paintings through the colors or the composition or whatever Her ultimate goal is to one day have a solo exhibition at a museum — the Museum of Modern Art in New York “I want people to see my paintings and be happy,” said Kim Kim will be appearing at a reception held by the Newport Beach Arts Foundation Saturday afternoon to speak about her work at the bamboo courtyard of the Newport Beach Main Library on Avocado Avenue A family tradition ...My mom cooked all the time when I was little and our kitchen was the most lived-in room in the house (For family parties) we always helped my mom make dumplings but she was always the one to do the filling and the actual folding she would just quietly go back and redo it I decided I wanted to learn how to actually do it I started teaching myself a couple of years ago I taught myself more dumpling folds and experimented with fillings Adding vegan options …When I was coming up with the menu I wanted to make it accessible to everybody “Let me make a vegan dumpling that I would also like.” So I added ingredients like cauliflower red pepper paste that I add to the dumpling wrappers I also put carrots in the dumpling to balance the spiciness I’ve made 11,289 dumplings since (last) February and I thought everything was going to be super expensive and the delivery service worked out perfectly It’s also helped me stay busy during quarantine so it’s cool to be able to use (those skills) again with the menu and the packaging New menu items in time for Valentine's Day ...(The vegan pink miso dumpling) has a wrapper that is naturally colored with dragon fruit juice Order through Instagram @tansdumplings. 2021 at 10:37 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Firefighters battled flames Thursday night after a bolt of lightning caused a garage fire in a house in Aliso Viejo CA — A house fire in Aliso Viejo was one of several that Orange County Fire Authority officials responded to Thursday night as a result of a lightning storm that swept across south OC and firefighters were able to extinguish the flames before the house saw any severe damage "There were three individuals in the house and they heard the loud thunder and then started to hear crackling," OCFA Fire Capt "They were all able to escape the home uninjured." Barta said that a thorough investigation of the house took place after firefighters battled the flames and lightning was deemed the most probable cause of the fire "It's a pretty rare occurrence," Barta said OCFA said the storm caused multiple smaller fires across Orange County Read more to see epic lightning pictures from the storm Thursday night Lightning In Lake Forest: Photo Of The Week Thunderbolts And Lightning Wake Dana Point: Photo Of The Week 2023 at 1:15 pm PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(AvalonBay Communities Inc CA — A big housing project at The Commons at Aliso Viejo Town Center was announced this week announced plans to build a 362-unit mixed-use community in the community's shopping center will also include a wrap-around parking structure the property owners of the adjacent retail complex to create a "cohesive retail and restaurant experience" for residents of Avalon and members of the community The transformation of the retail center is expected to be completed in early 2024 "As the first major real estate development Aliso Viejo has seen since the mid-2010's Avalon Aliso Viejo will improve the surrounding area with a pedestrian-friendly community experience on an otherwise asphalt lot," the news release said "Avalon Aliso Viejo will create a walkable village-style environment to give residents added convenience to live To learn more about Avalon Aliso Viejo, visit the project's website.