Thousands In Mission Viejo Will Walk Against Drugs / News From Mission Viejo

About 5,000 people are expected to embrace a drug-free lifestyle during the 27th Annual Walk Against Drugs on Saturday, October 17. The event begins at 8 a.m. with a rally at Mission Viejo High School and ends with a fair at the Village Green.

The longtime event, which highlights National Red Ribbon Week, brings together City leaders, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, schools, businesses, community groups and residents to celebrate living a healthy lifestyle and avoiding drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

Participants will begin at the high school where Curtis Beach, a two-time NCAA champion and seven-time All-American track star, will serve as keynote speaker. A recent Duke University graduate, this decathlete and 2016 Olympic hopeful earned a spot on Team USA three times and took home a Gatorade National Player of the Year award. In his spare time, Curtis volunteer coaches youth track athletes and will inspire the crowd this year with his character and zeal.

After the rally, participants sporting red T-shirts will walk 1.5 miles along eastbound La Paz Road through the Oso Creek Trail to the fair at the Village Green near the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way. The fair will feature activity booths, entertainment, food and fun for all ages. It will also include the 8th Annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo from 9 a.m. to noon, giving folks the opportunity to learn about first-response resources available in Orange County that play a major role in emergency preparedness, response and recovery.

To ensure the safety of participants, westbound La Paz Road between Marguerite Parkway and Chrisanta Drive will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. However, free shuttle buses at Newhart Middle School will transport people to and from the high school between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Marines1 Golf enthusiasts seeking an exciting round of golf with some real-life heroes are invited to take part in the annual “Tee It Up Fore Marines” Benefit Golf Tournament on Friday, October 16.

Hosted by the Mission Viejo Marines and Sailors Adoption Committee and Mission Viejo Community Foundation, Tee It Up Fore Marines includes a fabulous day of golf at the picturesque Marine Memorial Golf Course in Camp Pendleton. The event includes a 4-person scramble, lunch, contests and an awards and dinner reception.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Marines and Sailors Adoption Committee’s ongoing efforts to provide year-round support to Mission Viejo’s adopted military personnel of the Headquarters Battalion of the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton.

Fees to participate in this fun-filled tournament are $200 per golfer; $400 per twosome; $800 per threesome plus a Marine; and $800 per foursome. Folks who would like to play with a Marine or can’t make the tournament and want to sponsor a Marine can do so for $200. The fee covers the Marine’s tournament registration, golf, lunch and dinner.

This annual event gives residents, businesses and organizations an opportunity to give back to the members of our adopted troops.

For more information and to register today, visit http://teeitupforemarines.com.

Teen girl driving Teens and parents in the community are invited to a free Teen Driver Safety Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 10 at Oso Viejo Community Park at 24932 Veterans Way.

The Automobile Club of Southern California is teaming up with Assemblyman Brough, the City of Mission Viejo and California Highway Patrol to host an interactive and fun event to provide parents and teens with tools and resources to become responsible drivers.

Participants will learn about California’s Driver Licensing Laws and licensing requirements; attend a teen driver “vehicle fit” to help ensure new drivers are safe, comfortable in their vehicles; and learn about proper vehicle maintenance under the hood. The event includes free activities, contests, giveaways and a host of representatives from agencies including the DMV, Impact Teen Driver, MADD, Mission Viejo Police Services, OCTA and others. The first 500 guests will receive a free lunch from In-N-Out Burger.

For more information and to register, visit http://www.AAA.com/safetyfair.

Books lady reading Book lovers rejoice! Join fun and engaging Random House representatives Wade Lucas and Steve Atinsky as they discuss the newest Random House book releases on Tuesday, October 27 at 7 p.m. in City Hall’s Saddleback Room at 200 Civic Center.

Wade and Steve will talk about great new books for book clubs, avid readers and holiday gift-giving, while Mission Viejo librarian Sandy Brimer demonstrates how to download eBooks and audiobooks using your Mission Viejo Library card.

The event includes free book giveaways and light refreshments. Mysterious Galaxy bookstore will also be on hand for new book purchases.

To confirm your reservation for this free event, call 949-830-7100, ext. 5105 or email LibReference@cityofmissionviejo.org with your name, email and number in your party.

Save the date for Hometown Halloween on Saturday, October 24. This is a fun-filled community celebration that caters to all ages.

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The colorful event, sponsored by the City and conducted by the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, is from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way.

The event includes pony rides, games, crafts, face painting and a pint-sized pumpkin patch. Visitors will also enjoy a mad scientist show, costume parade, themed characters and so much more.

For more information, contact 949-460-2725 or communityservices.svusd.org.

Ewaste Residents and businesses on Saturday, October 10 will have the opportunity to recycle old computer monitors, televisions, cell phones and more in a free electronic waste recycling drive meant to benefit the environment and environmental classes at Capistrano Valley High School.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school located at 26301 Via Escolar.

Drop off computers; laptops; monitors; keyboards; copiers; fax machines; ink and toner cartridges; MP3 players; cell phones; printers; scanners; hard drives; cables and cords; and other electronics for recycling.

For more information, call 949-364-6100.

‘Senior Scam Stopper’ presentation set for Oct. 16.

Community members on October 16 are invited to an informative presentation designed to protect seniors from scams.

The “Senior Scam Stopper” presentation is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way.

Guests will learn how to protect themselves and family members from predatory scams. The presentation will cover different scams and offer tips so people will not fall victim to fraud.

For more information and to RSVP, contact the office of Senator Patricia Bates at 949-598-5850 or emailsenator.bates@senate.ca.gov.

Veterans Day 3 2014 The City of Mission Viejo is still seeking applications for its annual Male and Female Veterans of the Year, a program the City launched in 2011 as part of an ongoing effort to celebrate local veterans.

Applications (a maximum of two pages) will be accepted at City Hall, 200 Civic Center, Mission Viejo, CA 92691 or by email at recreation@cityofmissionviejo.org through October 19.

The veteran honorees will be recognized during the City’s annual Veterans Day Celebration on Wednesday, November 11. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Plaza next to the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center at 24932 Veterans Way.

Mayor Cathy Schlicht is expected to open the ceremony, which will feature Colonel Paul Nugent, commanding officer of the City’s adopted Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, as keynote speaker.

Along with paying homage to veterans, the City will host a cake-and-coffee reception inside the community center for the public after the ceremony.

Stay tuned to Mission Viejo Life at http://www.missionviejolife. org for more details about the ceremony. For more information about the veterans of the year program, call 949-470-3061.

Nick Quinlan braved the heat and spent several hours last Saturday completing a landscape project that has helped to beautify the Mission Viejo Civic Center – and save water.

Nick of Boy Scout Troop #772 rallied 25 volunteers to install numerous drought-tolerant plants and architectural rock throughout the City Hall parking lot at 200 Civic Center.

The project puts Nick in line to obtain the prestigious rank of Eagle and complements the City of Mission Viejo’s ongoing efforts throughout the community to replace water-thirsty landscapes with drought-tolerant plants.

The City appreciates Nick’s outstanding efforts.

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