Special Kids Sock Hop Hosted by the Elks Lodge #2444 Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley

Elk event chairman Ray Mallen gives a little love to guests Marge Carlson, and Rick Bacon.

Elk of the Year Laura Lumley dances with special guest Michael Douglas.

Lodge President Pat Martino takes guest Nicole Butler for a spin around the dance floor.

The Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 held its annual summer “Sock Hop” on July 17th. Over 200 mentally handicapped and downs syndrome Special Kids, danced and ate and partied like any other 7- 10 year olds, despite the fact some were in their 50’s and some were in wheel chairs. They rocked and rolled like never before. The ever popular band the “High Hopes” (mentally challenged themselves) were the afternoon’s entertainment. The dance floor was filled all day. Thirty-two volunteers from the Lodge came out to help with the cooking, serving and chaperoning led by event chairman, Lodge Officer, Ray Mallen. There were too many helpers to name individually but without them this marvelous event would not have occurred. Elks Care….Elks Share.

The “Special Kids Sock Hop” is one of two held each year for the kids. The Special Kids also see Santa Claus at a Special Kids Christmas party in December. Other events the Elks sponsor are a Cancer Kids Carnival which annually hosts 100 - 120 kids with cancer or surviving cancer. Regular trips to the Long Beach Veterans Hospital are also well supported by the Elks volunteers, and Norm Murray Senior Center dinner dances take place twice a year. The Lodge donates to the Saddleback Valley’s first responders as well, with a trained Police Dog donated to the Mission Viejo Police Department a couple of years ago. The dog (officer) is in service today serving the residents of Mission Viejo. It was the third such donation of a police dog to Orange County police services.

The Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks have been serving the Saddleback Valley for 40 years and award Scholarships annually to local college bound students. Dictionaries are given to every 3rd grader in the Saddleback Valley annually, all funded by Elks Charities. Lodge 2444 recently appeared, 142 members strong, in the Lake Forest Independence Parade proudly displaying their new Elk Statue which was acquired through private donations of the membership and will be soon dedicated and placed at the entrance of the Lodge located at Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is a national organization dedicated to its principles Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity. They have been doing such works for well over 100 years. Contributing largely to these works of charity is the Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elk’s Charity Bingo which is held every Wed. night at the Lodge. The proceeds fund many charitable causes and events. For information about the Elks Charities, Elks Bingo or membership in the Order, contact the Elks at (949) 830-ELKS (3557)

Link: http://www.lls.org

Greg Trayer

Hardie’s Champions for the Cure, a 2010 Light The Night® Walk team for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Orange County/Inland Empire Chapter (LLS), has drawn 25 members and raised $3,278 to date for cancer research. The team is composed of employees of James Hardie Building Products in Mission Viejo, and is walking in honor of fellow employee and Aliso Viejo resident Greg Trayer, who is a blood cancer survivor. Light The Night will be held on Sunday, September 19, 4 p.m. at Angel Stadium. A second Walk for Inland Empire residents will be held Saturday, October 16, at California Baptist University in Riverside.

Participants seek pledges for the Walk that will support critical programs for cancer patients and research towards a cure.

“We’ve had a lot of enthusiasm among our employees for the cause, and we’re hoping to reach our fundraising goal of $10,000,” remarked Andrea Macpherson, a Mission Viejo resident and James Hardie employee who is serving as walk team captain.

To support Hardie’s Champions for the Cure, visit http://pages.lightthenight.org/ocie/OrangeCo10/Hardie.

Light The Night is LLS’s annual evening fundraising walk held each fall in communities throughout the United States and Canada to raise money for blood cancer research and patient services. Teams of co-workers, families and friends walk together in twilight holding illuminated balloons – white for patients and survivors, red for supporters, and a single gold balloon that represents a loved one lost to cancer. The Walk, which honors and commemorates lives touched by blood cancer, is a community celebration, with music and family activities.

Every walker is encouraged to fundraise. Walkers who raise $100 or more earn the distinction of being a “Champion For Cures” and receive their illuminated balloon, official t-shirt and refreshments at the Walk.
For additional information about the Light The Night Walk, including a message from celebrity spokesperson Tina Fey, please visit www.lightthenight.org/ocie or contact Grace Hinojoza at the Orange County/Inland Empire Chapter at Grace.Hinojoza@lls.org or 714.481.5608.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested nearly $700 million for research specifically targeting blood cancers. The Orange County/Inland Empire office is located at 765 The City Drive, Suite 260, Orange, CA 92868. Phone: (714) 481.5600. Website: www.lls.org.

The Dairy Queen of Aliso Viejo is participating in American Dairy Queens Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, August 5, where they will be donating the proceeds of all their Blizzards sold that day to the Children's Miracle Network benefiting the Childrens Hospitals in the area. Please get the word out to all your friends and neighbors. Let's help them make the largest donation ever made by any store in our area!!!

MADD Ups the Ante with Celebrity-Studded Poker Tournament "Hold 'Em, Fold
'Em, Save 'Em" Poker Tournament designed to help victims and save lives.

Newport Beach, CA, - Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Orange County is holding its first-ever "Hold 'Em, Fold 'Em, Save 'Em" Poker
Tournament on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at the Tustin Community Center in
Tustin, California. The tournament is designed to raise money to help MADD
support victims of drunk driving, as well as to prevent drunk driving and
underage drinking in Orange County.

Special guests Kelli Gates of the Mark and Brian Morning Show on 95.5 KLOS
Los Angeles and Vince Van Patten, host and commentator for the nationally
televised World Poker Tour and one of Hollywood Poker's leading stars, will
be on-hand at the tournament. Registration begins at 4:00 PM, with
tournament play running from 5:00 - 10:00 PM. Players must be 21 or older
to participate.
"We're thrilled to have Kelli and Vince participate in our first-ever poker
tournament," said Mary Beth Griffin, Executive Director of MADD Orange
County. "With their support, they bring awareness to MADD and its
initiatives of helping drunk driving victims, and preventing drunk driving
and underage drinking here in our community. This is gearing up to be an
exciting, fun-filled event for a very worthy cause."

The cost for the event is $100 for entry, $25 for gallery seats and $50 for
re-buys until 8:00 PM, limited to the first 100 players. The pot will be
based on the event. Sponsorship opportunities ranging from $100 to $7,500
are also available, in addition to $200 program advertisements and $500
victim/survivor sponsorships.
To RSVP for MADD's "Hold 'Em, Fold 'Em, Save 'Em" Poker Tournament, contact
Tiffany Townson at (714) 838-6199 ext. 15. To learn more about the
tournament's sponsorship, advertising and donation opportunities, contact
Desiree Garcia at (714) 838-6199 ext. 11.

The Tustin Community Center is located at 300 Centennial Way, Tustin, CA
92780.

About MADD
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a non-profit organization founded in
1980 by Candace Lightner in Sacramento, California after her daughter was
killed by a drunk driver. The driver who struck and killed her daughter had
two previous convictions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and was out on
bail for a drunk driving hit-and-run only two days prior. Today, MADD has
over 600 local chapters across the United States and is the largest crime
victims' assistance program in the world with more than three million
members and supporters.

Since MADD's inception drunk driving related deaths
have declined by 43 percent. MADD's commitment is to eliminate drunk driving
through public awareness, victim assistance, youth programs, and public
policy. MADD's mission statement "to stop drunk driving, support victims of
this violent crime and prevent underage drinking," is indicative of their
new additional focus on reaching out to the nations' youth.

South Orange County Chamber News for July 22, 2010


New Tax Targeting Small Businesses on November ballot?
Learn more at next Legislative Alliance meeting THIS Friday!

Small businesses throughout California and right here in South Orange County are struggling to recover from the Great Recession. Jobs are scarce.

So why would anyone penalize those who are creating the jobs necessary for recovery through the imposition of new taxes on those very jobs!? That’s exactly what opponents say would happen if Proposition 24 passes November 2nd.

Learn more about this important ballot measure at the next meeting of the Legislative Alliance of Southern Orange County (LASOC) this Friday morning at 7:30 a.m.

Oscar Urteaga, Southern California Field Director for the No on 24 – Stop the Jobs Tax – campaign will explain the implications of Proposition 24 and what local businesses can do about it.

This important meeting takes place this coming Friday, July 23rd from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Saddleback College – 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, Student Services Center, Room 212. Ample and free parking is available adjacent to the Student Service Center in Lot 5.

States all across the country have been updating their tax laws to attract and grow businesses and jobs during these difficult economic times. This proposition would likely send California down the wrong track at the worst time. Join us as we learn about Proposition 24 and what we as a business community can do about it.

There is no cost to attend. Walk-ins are welcome but RSVPs are requested. Please call Karen at (949) 635-1634 to do so or if you have questions.

Interested in Golfing with Orange County Business Leaders?

The Orange County Business Council hosts its annual Executive Invitational Golf Tournament at Monarch Beach Golf Links Thursday, July 29th. Tournament proceeds benefit OCBC's Latino Educational Attainment Initiative.

For more information, please visit http://www.ocbc.org/events.cfm#GOLF.

New Cox Solutions Store Opening July 31st in Lake Forest

Congratulations to Chairman’s Circle Member Cox Communications for the upcoming opening of the Cox Solutions store in Lake Forest!

A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place Saturday, July 31st at 11:30 a.m. at The Orchards Shopping Center on El Toro Road in Lake Forest.

Upcoming South Orange County Chamber Events

Mark your August calendars for the following South OC Chamber Events:
Technology Breakfast & General Membership Meeting
Thursday, August 5th - 8 to 9:30 a.m.
Microsoft Store – The Shops at Mission Viejo
555 The Shops at Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, CA

Network OC
Joint Mixer with more than 30 Business Organizations
Thursday, August 19th - 5 to 8 p.m.
Atrium Hotel, Orange County Airport
18700 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine, CA

End of Summer Mixer
Tuesday, August 24th – 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Elephant Bar, Laguna Hills Mall
24155 Laguna Hills Mall, Laguna Hills, CA

Legislative Alliance of Southern Orange County August Meeting
Friday, August 27th – 7:30 to 9 a.m.
Saddleback College, Student Services Center, Room 212
28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, CA

The 2010 American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Aliso Viejo will take place this weekend, July 17th and 18th at Grand Park in Aliso Viejo. Come join in the fun and help raise awareness and money for the fight against cancer!

The Relay For Life is ACS’s signature event and nationally it brings together over 3.5 million people each year for three specific purposes: To celebrate the lives of those who have cancer, to remember loved ones lost to the disease, and to fight back against a disease that takes many lives every year. It offers everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. The event kicks off Saturday morning at 9 am and goes until Sunday morning at 10 am. Come by and enjoy bands and entertainment, food, fun, and a spirit of community. Participation and donations can be handled at the event at any time. All are welcome to attend!

For further information on the Aliso Viejo Relay For Life please visit http://www.facebook.com/l/5c138_6-ZrTww95b28ILGex6XMQ;www.relayforlife.org/alisoviejoca

South Orange County Chamber News for July 15, 2010


Sunset Networking Mixer
with Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Goodell takes place TONIGHT!

Who better than an Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer to offer life lessons, motivational best practices and strategies for success that apply brilliantly to business?

Mission Viejo's own gold medalist Brian Goodell will offer Chamber members and friends insights and techniques that helped him reach the top during this evening’s networking program at the Mission Viejo Nadadores,

This poolside event will also offer great opportunities to network with your friends, colleagues and fellow Chamber members in a relaxed, informal setting.

Again, the networking mixer takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost to attend is $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Mission Viejo Nadadores is located at 27474 Casta Del Sol, Mission Viejo, CA 92692.

For more information or to RSVP, please call 949.635.1643.


Upcoming Governmental Affairs Opportunities

Interested in learning about important issues at local, state and federal levels of government impacting businesses and, more importantly, what you can do about them?

Then don't miss the South Orange County Chamber's Governmental Affairs Committee meetings every 3rd Wednesday of each month. This month's meeting takes place Wednesday, July 14 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Laguna Woods Village Community Clubhouse, 24351 El Toro Road in Laguna Woods.

South Orange County Chamber members are also invited to take part in The Legislative Alliance of Southern Orange County (LASOC), a business coalition that includes the South OC Regional Chamber, the Building Industry Association, the OC Association of Realtors, the Orange County Business Council and other business organizations. The Legislative Alliance meets every 4th Friday of the month at 7:30 a.m. The next meeting takes place Friday, July 23 at Saddleback College, in the Student Services Center, Room 212.

Upcoming meetings will feature representatives from campaigns for or against selected statewide propositions who will explain how each respective proposition may impact business, along with updates from local, state and federal elected officials and their representatives.

So mark your calendar for every 4th Friday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at Saddleback College for the Legislative Alliance of Southern Orange County.


Interested in Golfing with Orange County Business Leaders?

The Orange County Business Council hosts its annual Executive Invitational Golf Tournament at Monarch Beach Golf Links Thursday, July 29. Tournament proceeds benefit OCBC's Latino Educational Attainment Initiative.

For more information, please visit http://www.ocbc.org/events.cfm#GOLF.

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2010 CSS LUAU
FUNDRAISER!

OUR CSS FRIENDS DESERVE IT!

CSS LUAU
Friday, July 23
7pm - 10pm @ Studio
$15 per ticket

Live Music
performed by the local music sensation
"Faith Alive"
An all kids band!

Team CSS United is putting on their very first fundraiser! Plese come and support as well has have a complete & utter blast! Faith Alive played at the end of our Talent Show and the kids absolutely loved them. This is their encore performance! These band members have donated their time for this fundraiser and we are so greatly appreciative!

TICKET INCLUDES:
Entertainment from Live Band!
Dinner & Beverages!
GAMES GAMES GAME

HOOLA HOOP CONTEST!
PRIZES PRIZES PRIZES
Goody Bag To Go!

PLEASE RSVP BY EMAILING THE STUDIO

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS
INVITE YOUR RELATIVES
ALL ARE WELCOME!


CSS ADULT & KID COMEDY SHOW CONTEST!

BE THE LAST COMIC STANDING!

We want to invite all of you out there who have always wanted to try comedy but never had the time or maybe the nerve! Each comic will get 3 minutes of stage time.

SIGN UP at the front desk!
SHOW WILL BE IN AUGUST!

CSS IS STILL WORKING OUT THE DETAILS! STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMAITON COMING NEXT WEEK!

ENTRY FEE $25.00
SHOW TICKETS $15

FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY!

The Center Stage Studio | 27101 Aliso Creek Road | Suite 116 | Aliso Viejo | CA | 92656

South Orange County Chamber
Exciting opportunities to maximize you membership
and network with fellow Chamber members

July is full of opportunities to mingle with fellow Chamber members and learn about issues that may impact your business.

Sunset Networking Mixer with Olympic Gold Medalist Brian Goodell
Who better than an Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer to offer life lessons that apply brilliantly to business? From motivational best practices to strategies for excellence, Mission Viejo's own gold medalist Brian Goodell will offer Chamber members and friends insights and techniques that helped him reach the top.

This poolside event, hosted by the Mission Viejo Nadadores, will also offer great opportunities to network with your friends, colleagues and fellow Chamber members in a relaxed, informal setting.

So join us! The networking mixer takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 15. Cost to attend is $10 for members, $20 for non-members. Mission Viejo Nadadores is located at 27474 Casta Del Sol, Mission Viejo, CA 92692.

For more information or to RSVP, please visit the SOC Chamber Web site's event page.

Stay on top of Issues Impacting Business!

The Legislative Alliance of Southern Orange County - a business coalition that includes the South OC Regional Chamber, the Building Industry Association, the OC Association of Realtors, the Orange County Business Council and other business organizations - meets again Friday, July 23 at Saddleback College, in the Student Services Center, Room 212.

Members of the Alliance, which just concluded its successful defeat of anti-business Measure D in Mission Viejo, are committed to continued partnership in order to more effectively address shared issues of concern, particularly at the local level.

Upcoming meetings will feature representatives from campaigns for or against selected statewide propositions who will explain how each respective proposition may impact business. Meetings will also feature updates from local, state and federal elected officials and their representatives.

So mark your calendar for every 4th Friday of the month at 7:30 a.m. starting July 23 at Saddleback College for the Legislative Alliance of Southern Orange County. All South OC Chamber members are welcome to attend.

And if you're interested in diving more deeply into the issues impacting business and learning what you can do to advocate for or against certain measures and legislation, don't miss the South Orange County Chamber's monthly Governmental Affairs Committee meetings every 3rd Wednesday of each month.

This month's meeting takes place Wednesday, July 21 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Laguna Woods Village Community Clubhouse, 24351 El Toro Road in Laguna Woods.



Can't Get Enough Golf?

After the South OC Chamber's successful golf tournament at Marbella Country Club, many members have been asking how they can get in some more golf for a good cause while networking with business leaders. Well, you're in luck!

The Orange County Business Council hosts its annual Executive Invitational Golf Tournament at Monarch Beach Golf Links Thursday, July 29. Tournament proceeds benefit OCBC's Latino Educational Attainment Initiative.

For more information, please visit http://www.ocbc.org/events.cfm#GOLF

Link: http://www.lls.org

Chris Kreuz and Patricia West, both of Aliso Viejo

Matt Moloci and Jackie Obie, both of Aliso Viejo

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Orange County/Inland Empire Chapter’s 2nd annual “Cocktails for a Cure” fundraiser drew 100 participants and raised $25,000 for blood cancer research. The event was held at Ketel One in Aliso Viejo on June 26. For additional information on upcoming Leukemia & Lymphoma Society events, as well as for information and resources for those battling blood cancers, please visit www.lls.org.

Lodge Exalted Ruler Pat Martino with Elks Statue

Unloading Elks Statue

With the help of over one-hundred Boy Scouts, Little Leaguers, military veterans and Lodge members, Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 (“Elks Lodge”) debuted its recently acquired bronze statue of an Elk on a float entered in the Lake Forest July 3rd parade.

The float was decorated with the American flag and other symbols of America. From the float, convertible cars and supporters walking the parade route, the entourage handed out American Flag key fobs, candy and fans. Patriotic music emanated from the float while parade participants waved American flags. The Elk statue will be installed by the entrance to the Elks Lodge. The bronze finished aluminum Elk’s statue is approximately ten feet in height, six feet in length and two feet in width.

Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Pat Martino said, “We are especially grateful that some of the groups receiving financial support from the Elks Lodge will participate in an event celebrating the Elk statue’s debut, the American flag and our country’s independence.” The national Elks organization, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (“BPOE”), led the effort to create national recognition of the American Flag. As a result, in August 1949, President Harry S. Truman, also a member of the Elks, proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day. June 14 was chosen because on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress proposed that the United States have a national flag instead of the British Union Jack.

The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge #2444 is one of ten lodges in the Orange Coast District of the BPOE whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 142 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”

Link: http://www.cureduchenne.org

On June 19th, Heidi and Sean Marshall of Aliso Viejo, joined in the 2010 Climb to Cure Duchenne: Pick Your Peak. The climb was a fundraiser for Orange County based non-profit Cure Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Across the country, dozens of teams reached the summit of many of the U.S.'s most well-known peaks like Mt. Shasta and Mt. Baldy in California, the Manitou Incline in the Colorado Rockies, and even the Wachovia Financial Tower in Miami, Florida to raise awareness and a total of over $250,000 for research.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the leading genetic killer of children and affects primarily boys. More than 1 in every 3500 boys worldwide has DMD and as of this point is 100% fatal. There is promise for a cure with many top researchers working actively to find it. Cure Duchenne's mission is to find a cure in time to save this generation of boys.

Heidi and Sean led a team up Mt. Shasta in Northern California, the summit being 14,162 feet. The team started their ascent on Friday June 18th and hiked half way up the mountain to set up base camp at 10,000 feet. Around 2 am the following morning, the team started in the dark to make the summit.
With sunny skies but below freezing temperatures, the team made the summit and remembered the thousands of children they were climbing for.

"We have two healthy girls and thinking of them helped us climb to the top.
I'm grateful for the chance to work with these parents and help find a cure for their children," said Sean Marshall who works full time with Cure Duchenne as their Marketing Director.

Heidi Marshall continued, "The researchers can't do it alone. The parents can't do it alone. It's up to all of us who've been blessed with so much to help those in need. This climb has provided the perfect opportunity to do so."

Due to the success of the event, Cure Duchenne is already planning the 2011 Climb to Cure Duchenne. For more information contact Cure Duchenne at 949-872-2552 or visit www.cureduchenne.org.

City of Aliso Viejo
12 Journey
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
949-425-2500

7th Annual 'Community Cup' nets $66,400 for youth after-school programs

The Aliso Viejo branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley will benefit from $66,400 in proceeds from the 7th Annual Aliso Viejo Community Cup held June 4 at the Aliso Viejo Country Club.

Net proceeds from the community golf tournament, hosted by the Aliso Viejo Community Foundation, will benefit the Aliso Viejo Boys & Girls Club's after-school programs and its efforts to launch a Keystone Leadership Teen Program. The program focuses on leadership, education, career development, economic/political awareness and social recreation elements that are crucial to pointing teens into a positive direction.

In addition to supporting the community, 124 golfers this year competed for coveted titles and the grand "Perpetual Trophy." Each year the trophy is awarded to the team with the lowest score. The Travers Realty team consisting of Michael Beattie, Steve Judge, Brendan Judge and Brian Harnetiaux took that first-place honor.

At the City Council's July 7 meeting, Robert Bunyan, president of the Aliso Viejo Community Foundation, will present the City with the $66,400 check.

The council meets at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 12 Journey. For more information, visit the City's website at www.cityofalisoviejo.com.

Kelly Tokarski
KT Community Relations

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Seeking Participants for Team In Training Events, Athletic Competitions Which Raise Money to Fight Cancer, Informational Event in Aliso Viejo

ALISO VIEJO, CALIF., June 28, 2010 – The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Orange County/Inland Empire Chapter (LLS) is recruiting Team In Training® (TNT) participants for events including Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco, Los Angeles Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and Day at the Beach Triathlon in Hermosa Beach. Information meetings are being held throughout Orange County; there will be an informational meeting at the Aliso Viejo Library, 1 Journey, Aliso Viejo on MONDAY, July 12, 6:30 p.m.

“Team In Training helps participants take on an athletic challenge they might never imagine accomplishing on their own while giving them the opportunity to help other people,” said Piper Medcalf, LLS Executive Director.
TNT, the world’s first, biggest and best sports training program, provides four to five months of certified coaching, a supportive group of teammates and clinics on nutrition, gear and injury prevention, to help you complete a marathon, half marathon, triathlon, century ride or hike adventure. TNT has prepared more than 420,000 participants, from novices to accomplished endurance racers, since its inception in 1988. In that time, TNT participants have raised more than $1 billion to support LLS’s blood cancer research and patient services initiatives.

For additional TNT information, call the Orange County/Inland Empire Office at 714-481-5600; or visit: www.teamintraining.org/ocie.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested nearly $700 million for research specifically targeting blood cancers. The Orange County/Inland Empire chapter office is located at 2020 East 1st Street, Suite 120, Santa Ana, CA 92705. Phone: (714) 881-0610. Website: www.lls.org.

Submitted By;
Jim Graves

Link: http://www.bigbrooc.org

Little Brother Hector, age 9, of Santa Ana with Big Brother David Simkin of Aliso Viejo

Little Sister Wendy, age 16, of Costa Mesa with Big Sister Shannon Fauke of Aliso Viejo

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County held its annual picnic at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley on June 12. The day featured food and games. Big Brothers Big Sisters matches adult mentors with children in need. Additional “Bigs,” as well as “Littles,” are always needed. New donors are welcome as well. Visit www.bigbrooc.org or call (714) 544-7773.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA—June 21, a Huntington Beach, CA-based tourism marketing agency, is reaching out to Gulf Coast travel and tourism businesses affected by the devastating oil spill in the Gulf. With summer here, Gulf Coast businesses face millions of dollars in lost tourism, which is a $5.7 billion a year industry in the Gulf. Hotels, restaurants, attractions, fishing and diving shops, rental properties and other tourism related businesses face a monumental struggle to keep their businesses alive during this challenging time.

JUVE Creative, Inc. aims to band together these Gulf Coast tourism businesses in an effort to aid in the recovery process and get the word out that many of these businesses still have much to offer and have not been as adversely affected by the conditions in the Gulf as reports suggest.

• President Obama recently had a seafood lunch at a seaside restaurant in Gulfport, Miss., emphasizing the idea that restaurants along the Gulf Coast have maintained high standards for quality food.
• Many areas along the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama coastlines and in the Florida Panhandle have reported stretches of clean and clear waters along their beaches as the massive clean-up operations strive to make a positive impact in the area.
• Thousands of volunteers continue to donate time and money to help with clean-up and to rescue wild life suffering from the conditions.

“We on the West Coast realize the importance of a clean coastline to not only our tourism and travel industry, but to our lifestyle as well,” said Christina Haakenson, Founder of JUVE Creative. “If it could happen in the Gulf, it could happen here, it could happen anywhere. We want to do our part to help.”

JUVE has created campaign websites (FloridaThrives.com and GulfCoastThrives.com) which provide Gulf Coast businesses the opportunity to partner together in one place to promote themselves in recovery and let travelers know of the many attractions that have made the Gulf Coast one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Just as importantly, businesses that sign up will help the overall cause because JUVE will donate 10% of the membership proceeds to the actual clean-up and recovery efforts.

About JUVE Creative, Inc.:
Headquartered in Huntington Beach, California, JUVE Creative, Inc. is a full-service marketing communications, branding and public relations agency with a concentration on travel and tourism. Helping over night destinations, attractions, museums, festivals, hotspots and hotels launch, rejuvenate and drive their brands to travelers. For more information, check-in at www.juvecreative.com or call (714) 841-9600.

Patricia Margosian Terrell
Director of Communications

ATTENTION HANKEY FAMILIES
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS STILL AVAILABLE!

We want to thank everyone once again for participating in this year’s Hawkfest and Silent Auction. The day was a rousing success!

If you missed out on some of the auction items up for grabs last Saturday, here’s your chance to score some even better deals! We have approximately 25 auction items that are still available for purchase at reduced “BUY IT NOW” prices! This items are being offered at a fraction of their retail value and will be sold on a first-come, first served basis through June 22.

Available auction items and their final BUY IT NOW PRICES are listed below.


1 pass (good for 2 kids) to Kid's Create at Beach Fire Bar & Grill in Ladera Ranch – BUY IT NOW FOR $10


$25 Gift Certificate to The Renaissance Dana Point (min purchase $35) – BUY IT NOW FOR $10


$25 Gift Card to Roma D'Italia Restaurant– BUY IT NOW FOR $15


$25 Gift Certificate to Signature Grille Restaurant (min purchase $35)– BUY IT NOW FOR $10


$25 Gift Certificate to The Gourmet Detective Dinner Theater in Newport Beach (min purchase of 2 tickets required) – BUY IT NOW FOR $10


1 month membership to Kim's ATA Black Belt Academy in Ladera Ranch (10 available) – BUY IT NOW FOR $15


Scentsy basket by Karen Hougland– BUY IT NOW FOR $15


4 Weeks of Tumbling lessons at Olympica Gymnastics Academy (age 11-17) – BUY IT NOW FOR $20


Hand made baby blanket by Easter.Sundae – BUY IT NOW FOR $20


1/8 oz Pure Purfume of your choice from The Fragrance Shop – BUY IT NOW FOR $15


Microsoft PC Tune up– BUY IT NOW FOR $20

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To purchase one or more of these items, just send an email with your name, phone number and the name of the item(s) you wish to purchase to hankeypta@me.com. A member of the silent auction team will contact you to let you know if you have won and to arrange payment & pickup.

Additional information on available auction items can be found on the Hankey website. Restrictions and conditions apply to some auction items. If you have questions or want more information on the items available, please send an email to the address above as well and the silent auction team will get back to you.

Thank you for your support!

The Carl Hankey PTA

USDA to buy dark meat chicken products
By Rita Jane Gabbett on 6/16/2010

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Tuesday announced USDA will purchase up to $14 million of dark meat chicken products for federal food nutrition assistance programs, including food banks.

"The purchase … will help poultry producers who are experiencing an increase in dark meat cold storage inventories and a decreasing wholesale price," Vilsack said in a news release.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service buys food products each year to support the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Emergency Food Assistance Program. USDA also makes emergency food purchases for distribution to victims of natural disasters.

National Chicken Council President George Watts called the purchase "a timely action that will relieve the industry of excess product while providing high-quality food to needy people here at home."

He noted the U.S. chicken industry under normal circumstances sells about 1.5 billion pounds of chicken legs to Russia annually. Since Jan. 1, however, Russia's ban on chicken products from plants that use chlorinated water has shut U.S. processors out of that market.

More information on purchase details is available here.

View from Across the Pond
By: John Strak

We are all responsible now
(The views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly those of the author.)
Events in the Gulf are hitting the headlines: big oil, big news, big mess. Let's hope that the technology can handle nature's worst. I am optimistic. But let's hope most of all that we can all learn from this event. In particular we have to learn something about ourselves. I realized this when I was in Brazil last week listening to people in the meat supply chain trying to avoid another mess.

Oil is about energy and energy is about our modern lifestyles and economies. We have relied on fossil fuels and in the case of oil, have pushed the boundaries of oil exploration to the outer limits (or should I say the deeper limits). Long gone are the days when a simple "nodding donkey" rig was all that was needed to bring oil up from below ground in those rich and easy to harvest oil fields in Texas. Nowadays deep sea drilling needs technology that can work from the frozen wastes of the Artic to the hurricane lashed waters of the Gulf – at incredible depths.

And what is the connection with Brazil? Read on.

The reason I was in Brazil was to play a small part in the Round Table for Responsible Soy Association's 5th International Conference and General Assembly. This Association was formed five years ago with the aim of creating a platform that could design and deliver sustainable soya production in the key soya producing and exporting countries. It now has 140 members in 20 countries and the recent Brazil meeting agreed a set of rules that will be used to benchmark "responsible soy". In this way the people who buy soya from RTRS-certified farms will be sure that they are not destroying the world's resources.

And how does this connect with big oil? Well, oil is about energy and so is soya. Livestock producers buy soya as a key ingredient in meat production which, of course, is used as energy for human beings. It's also true that soya can be used to produce biodiesel – a competitor for oil used for motor transport. And Brazil has been ahead of the game in using its climate and soils to produce biofuels for many years. The EU has just introduced new regulations about these biofuels – the Renewable Energy Directive – that ensure that fuels produced from crops have to pass stringent tests on sustainability so that we don't make the problem worse by encouraging production of non-sustainable fuels from crops.

The key issue for the new RTRS standard is, can it help stop the destruction of forests and loss of biodiversity in South America – which, if the scientist are correct – are a major factor in regulating the world's climate? That's the mess that the soya producers and the meat supply chain surely want to avoid. It may not be as immediate as the mess in the Gulf right now but it is just as important.

What do we learn about ourselves from this?

My view is that we must learn to look in the mirror. The mess in the Gulf has come about because we, as consumers, have demanded more and more cheap energy and the technologists and oil companies have responded by pushing their fossil fuel supply chains harder and harder. And then something broke. The meat supply chain is no different, if consumers ask for more and more then, eventually, and even with the best intentions, something will break. The mess in the Gulf has led to calls for more regulation of the oil industry. The meat supply chain, through activities like the RTRS in Brazil, will have to regulate too. But it's not just about regulation. We are all responsible now.

Consumers have to think hard about the consequences of asking for more and more.
June 16, 2010

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Burger chain’s new menu includes pastas plus American classics
By Ann Bagel Storck on 6/16/2010

Casual-dining burger chain Red Robin announced its new menu, which includes pastas as well as classic burgers, is now available at the majority of its locations.

The new menu features:
Pastas such as Grilled Chicken Pesto Pasta and Grilled Chicken Alla Caprese
The All-American Patty Melt, topped with sautéed onions, Thousand Island dressing and cheese on marbled rye for $8.79
The Pub Burger with ale-braised onions and mushrooms, peppercorn-ranch, cheddar and Swiss cheese and tomatoes on an onion bun for $9.49
New marketing campaign

Red Robin also announced the debut of new TV and online ads created by Minneapolis-based Periscope that are designed to capitalize on the catch phrase "Red Robin … YUMMM" as well as build awareness for the chain's quality, variety and value. Specifically, the ads aim to generate interest in a couple items available through July 25: the Big Melt Bacon Burger and the Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich.

Greenwood Village, Colo.-based Red Robin has more than 430 restaurants across the United States and Canada.

Link: http://www.rimnordic.com

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and to honor their friend and hero, Mark Reynolds, Bev and Kerry Brown, owners of Rim Nordic Ski Area in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, will hold another exciting So. Cal. Mountain Stage Race on June 26 and 27. Proceeds will benefit the Mark J. Reynolds Fund which purchases bicycles for children whose families don’t have the money to purchase them. Appropriately enough, the organization’s slogan is “Helping Kids one bike at a time.” This event has been held for the past six years.

Before his tragic death, Reynolds loved nothing more than to climb on his mountain bike and take off for the solitude and quiet of nature or for races where he could pit his mountain biking skills against others who loved the sport the same way he did. Tragically his life ended on January 8, 2004 while he was on a ride on a trail at Whiting Ranch in Orange County. Mark was fatally attacked by a mountain lion and his shocking death and loss was felt by hundreds of his mountain biking friends and his family.

Because he used to love driving to the mountains and participating in mountain bike races at Rim Nordic, the Brown’s have been holding a special fundraising race during June ever since his death. For information on his remarkable life log onto www.markreynoldsfund.org.

Saturday events will include a Hill Climb, Dirt Crit and Super D events and they are each challenging in their own way. Sunday’s events include cross-country racing which will be held in the same classes and categories as the upcoming X-C series events which take place July 11 and 25 and Aug. 15 and 29.
Saturday’s registration will be held from 7 to 8:30 a.m. followed by the arduous Hill Climb at 9 a.m. The “Super D” starts at 10:30.The Super D will start at the top of the Hill Climb. The Dirt “Crit” begins at noon. Sunday will be dedicated to the cross-country event that include tandems, men and women’s categories.

The entry fee for the So Cal Mtn. Stage Race will be $70 if participants register on or before June 19. “Late-comers” will pay $80 on race day or if they register after June 19. The price for “juniors” is $50 and a free T-shirt will be given to the first 100 entries. Mark’s family donates special medals to each rider who participates.

For information on this special fundraising event call Rim Nordic at (909) 867-2600 or log onto their website at www.rimnordic.com. Rim Nordic is located on Highway 18 directly across from Snow Valley Mt Resort, just five miles past the community of Running Springs. Interested participants can register online at active.com or fax entry from the website.

Giant Orange Festival Makes Debut at
Orange County Great Park

Irvine, Calif. – The inaugural Giant Orange Festival “Livin’ the OC” will be held on Saturday, July 17 at Orange County Great Park in Irvine from noon to 10:00 p.m.

Produced by Event Complete, the organizers of Taste of Ladera Ranch, the Giant Orange Festival will feature a variety of Orange County restaurants, children’s activities and musical entertainment by The English Beat and others.

A portion of proceeds will benefit charitable organizations including the Alzheimer’s Association of Orange County, Illumination Foundation, Laura’s House and Savannah Organic Ranch to name a few.

Advanced tickets may be purchased online for $10.00 at www.giantorangefestival.com and a limited number of VIP tickets and suites that include access to party pit at main stage, private VIP pavilion with bars, seating and bathrooms and drink tickets are available.

Orange County Great Park is located just off Sand Canyon Road and the 5 freeway in Irvine. For tickets or further information call 949.218.0866 or visit www.giantorangefestival.com.