Nearly 500 people gathered in Mission Viejo  to pay tribute to our fallen comrades and those who have served and continue to serve this great country.

The City of Mission Viejo’s Memorial Day ceremony at the Civic Center attracted veterans, active military personnel and young and old – all in a show of solidarity and to pay their respects.

Sgt. Major Anthony Sammartino led the service of remembrance and brought people to tears when he spoke about the type of person who chooses to serve his and her country.

The American Heroes Tribute banners served as the backdrop for the moving ceremony. The banners are a lasting tribute to the members of the Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice. Some parents, like the mother of Lance Corporal David Santee, came to honor their children whose faces are etched across the 3-foot by 9-foot banners.

The entire event was captured live by the City’s award-winning MVTV and is available here. It will air nightly at 8:30 p.m. beginning tonight for the next two weeks.  To see the MVTV schedule, visithttp://cityofmissionviejo.org/mvtv/schedule.

The City of Mission Viejo was recognized as Large Business of the Year and PKSA Karate as Small Business of the Year by the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce.

The awards were presented during the chamber’s annual breakfast event on June 2.

The City was selected as Large Business of the Year for 2016 for its efforts in bringing business leaders together to establish the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce five years ago.  The award shows appreciation for the City’s support of chamber events, programs and services. It also recognizes the City’s dedication, resources, guidance and expertise in supporting the local business community. PKSA Karate was honored for demonstrating a passion and commitment to the chamber and for stepping up to lead the extremely popular Daybreakers program.

During the event, the chamber also awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Mission Viejo High School senior Carter Hartmann for his outstanding essay on entrepreneurship.  Carter plans to attend Harvard University in the fall and play football.

Several outgoing board members (Jim Flynn, Mike Getto, Karin Krawiec, and Scot Shier) were also recognized for their volunteer service and Michael Ashly and Valorie Green were installed as members of the 2016-17 Board of Directors.

For more information about the chamber, visit http://www.missionviejochamber.com.

A landscape project at the Felipe Tennis Center has paved the way for Boy Scout Andrew Davis to obtain the prestigious rank of Eagle.

Andrew of Troop #7730 spent a recent Saturday planting nearly 1,000 drought-tolerant plants on the slope area of the City’s tennis center.

Like a master conductor, Andrew led 15 volunteers in the project that will gain him the highest ranking in the scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America.

For information about conducting similar projects, call 949-470-3085.

Burger Boss is expanding from the Inland Empire to open its first Orange County location in Mission Viejo on Saturday, June 25. The new fast-casual eatery is in the Portola Plaza at 27690 Santa Margarita Parkway.

Burger Boss is a family-owned and operated restaurant known for its made-to-order burgers, fries and shakes. The menu also includes chicken sandwiches, turkey and black-bean burgers, hot dogs, grilled-cheese sandwiches and sweet potato fries. The beef is grass-fed and ingredients are locally sourced. For more information, visithttp://www.burgerbossonline.com.

Other business news in the community includes the opening of Finish Line Dynamics on June 9. The Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. to celebrate the new business located in High Park at 23456 Madero, Suite 185. The business offers a medically supervised program of personal, physical and emotional health to help people reach their goals. For more information, call 949-716-9464.

Also this month is the June 25 opening of PlayLive Nation in the Portola Plaza at 27682 Santa Margarita Parkway, across the street from the Trabuco Hills High School. PlayLive Nation is the largest franchise in the country that offers pay-to-play gaming. The business also offers birthday parties, private tournaments and corporate events. For more information, visit http://www.playlivenation.com.

Business workshops are available in Mission Viejo through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE, Employment Development Department (EDD), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), OC Small Business Development Center (OC SBDC) and the California Board of Equalization (BOE). For more workshops, visithttp://missionviejomeansbusiness.com or call Economic Development Manager Karen Wylie at 949-470-8409. Upcoming free or low-cost business workshops include:

• “Secrets to Buying a Franchise” (SCORE) Wednesday, June 15 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Saddleback Room at Mission Viejo City Hall, 200 Civic Center.  Cost is $35 with online registration and $45 at the door. Register at http://www.score114.orgor call 714-550-7369.
• “Small Business Jump Start” (OC SBDC) Thursday, July 7 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Norman P. Murray Community & Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way. Cost is $10 and reservations are recommended. Register at http://www.OCSBDC.com or call 714-564-5200.
• “Video Marketing Success Secrets:  How to Market on YouTube” (SCORE) Wednesday, July 13 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Saddleback Room at Mission Viejo City Hall, 200 Civic Center.  Cost is $35 with online registration and $45 at the door. Reservations are recommended. Register at http://www.score114.org or call 714-550-7369.
• “The Art & Science of Creating a Successful Business Plan” (OC SBDC) Thursday, July 21 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 pm at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center. Fee is $25 and reservations are recommended.  Register at http://www.OCSBDC.com or call 714-564-5200.
• “How to Manager Payroll So You Withhold the Correct Amount from Employees” (SCORE/IRS) Wednesday, July 27 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Saddleback Room at Mission Viejo City Hall, 200 Civic Center. Register for this free workshop athttp://www.score114.org or call 714-550-7369.

If you want your birthday party to make a splash, then book your pool party today at the Sierra Recreation Center or Montanoso Recreation Center.

Two-hour deluxe party packages start at only $100 and include guest fees, staff to facilitate activities, decorations and use of the water slide or splash pad.

The City facilities offer great amenities to make your child’s birthday or summer pool party special and memorable. Click here for detailed information or call 949-859-4348.

The Sierra Recreation Center is located at 26887 Recodo and Montanoso is at 25800 Montanoso Drive.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, June 12 to enjoy a free screening of “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” at Mission Viejo City Hall.

The film event begins at 2 p.m. and is sponsored by the City’s Community of Character Committee. The movie coincides with June’s character trait of “Citizenship.”

Based on Lewis R Foster’s unpublished story, “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” was controversial when released but was also successful at the box office and made James Stewart a major movie star.  The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning for Best Original Story.

The plot follows Jefferson Smith, a young idealistic senator goes to Washington filled with ideas on how he can make the United States a better place to live, especially for young people.  Despite being discouraged by the realties of Washington politics, he perseveres and fights for the ideals that he found in the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. The film is a must-see, especially since this is an election year.

The film will be shown on a theater-size screen with theater-style seating and surround-sound at 200 Civic Center, just across from the Mission Viejo Library.  Folks who attend will receive a free pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

For more information about this free event, call 949-470-3062.

The spirit of the Olympic movement will roll into Mission Viejo on June 25 when the City hosts a special event in celebration of Olympic Day.

The afternoon celebration is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Florence Joyner Olympiad Park, 22760 Olympiad Road.

The family event will cater to all ages with recreational activities, arts and crafts and fitness. Photo opportunities with Olympians and their medals will be available along with food from gourmet food trucks.

The City’s Olympic Day celebration activity is one of more than 700 events taking place nationwide between June 14-30.  The events, designed to engage youth and promote the ideals of the Olympic movement, feature athlete appearances, family-friendly activities and interactive learning experiences.

Around the world, more than 160 countries take part in the annual celebration. Olympic Day, created in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games, focuses on the Olympic values and ideals such as fair play, perseverance, respect and sportsmanship. In the U.S., Olympic Day events range from small gatherings to large citywide events.

For more information, call 949-470-3061 or visit http://www.cityofmissionviejo.org/recreation.

Free active shooter training June 20 for local businesses

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is offering a free training opportunity for Mission Viejo businesses through its Business Watch program.

Business Watch is a free crime-prevention program that enlists the active participation of local businesses in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce commercial crime in the community. Membership is not required to attend this important training.

The two-hour training begins at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, June 20 in the Council Chamber at Mission Viejo City Hall, 200 Civic Center. A light breakfast will be served in the lobby at 8 a.m. The free training dubbed, “The Active Shooter Response and Impact of Workplace Violence,” is available to all storefront businesses in the City on a first-come, first-served basis.

The June 20 training will focus on:

* Understanding law enforcement’s response to an active shooter/mass-casualty incident.
* Developing protocols to increase survivability and decrease the number of victims.
* Empowering employees with knowledge for responding to an active shooter incident.
* Understanding the psychological and physical impact of an active shooter incident.
* Having knowledge of the resources available to help lessen the lasting effects of trauma.

To RSVP, contact Crime Prevention Specialist Khatra Molina at crimeprevention@cityofmissionviejo.org. Please provide your business name and number of people attending the presentation.

Kelly Tokarski

Public Information Specialist

City of Mission Viejo