Planning is underway for the return of the prestigious UNIQLO Wheelchair Doubles Masters November 2-6 to Mission Viejo’s Marguerite Tennis Pavilion.
The UNIQLO Wheelchair Doubles Masters is the International Tennis Federation’s flagship wheelchair tennis doubles event. First staged in 2000, the season-ending event features the world’s top eight men’s pairs, top six women’s pairs and top four quad pairs. Mission Viejo is the first U.S. city to ever host the event, which takes place in this South County city for the fourth straight year this fall.
The City of Mission Viejo has long supported the sport of wheelchair tennis and for the last decade has hosted the ITF Cruyff Foundation Junior Wheelchair Camp for the Americas in association with the United States Tennis Association.
Japanese retailer UNIQLO became title sponsor of the Doubles Masters in 2014 as part of a three-year sponsorship agreement for the ITF’s major wheelchair tennis properties that also includes title sponsorship of the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for this exhilarating and inspirational event. For more information, visithttp://www.wheelchairdoublesmasters.com.
Planning is underway for the 28th annual Walk Against Drugs on Saturday, October 15. This event unites the City, Sheriff’s Department, schools, businesses and local community and nonprofit groups with students and families to embrace a healthy lifestyle and say “no” to drugs, alcohol and tobacco use.
The walk, which highlights National Red Ribbon Week, begins at 8 a.m. with a 30-minute rally at Mission Viejo High School Stadium, 25025 Chrisanta Drive. U.S. Navy veteran and Purple Heart recipient Redmond Ramos will kick off the day speaking at the rally. Redmond lost his left leg five years ago while serving our country but has never let that slow him down. He holds 19 medals from numerous athletic competitions held for military veterans, including the Warrior Games, Endeavor Games and the Invictus Games. Redmond is also the 2015 Triumph Games inaugural champion. He enjoys giving back through volunteer work with youth and other veterans. The theme of the event – “Drug Free, Warrior Strong” – was inspired by Redmond.
After the rally, the crowd of more than 4,000 sporting red T-shirts will form a red ribbon as they walk down La Paz Road through the Oso Creek Trail to a Community Fair and 9th Annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo on the Village Green at Oso Viejo Park, 24932 Veterans Way. The fair, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon, includes games, activities, food and music along with invaluable information for families and individuals about emergency preparedness.
For more information, call 949-470-8433 or click here.
Saddleback College is offering the public the chance to enjoy the talents of musical theater students in two special performances.
First up is “The Music of Goldrich and Heisler” on Friday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the college’s Fine Arts 101 building. Under the direction of Dr. Scott Farthing, the performance will feature cabaret songs from the songwriters who brought us “Taylor the Latte Boy” and “The Girl from 14g.” The school’s musical theatre students are hosting this fundraiser to benefit the 2017 Summer of Theatre Scholarship Fund.
Then on Sunday, October 9, the Saddleback Choirs will present “With Liberty and Justice for All—Songs of Freedom” at 2:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre. This powerful concert about freedom, justice and democracy includes Randall Thompson’s “Testament of Freedom,” Howard Hanson’s “Song of Democracy” and Scott Farthing’s set “Gospel America.”
Tickets for both performances are $15 general admission; $10 students/seniors (presale). Tickets are available online at http://www.saddleback.edu/arts.
Saddleback College is at 28000 Marguerite Parkway. Free parking is available in Lot 12, which is accessible via the school’s Marguerite Parkway entrance near Theatre Circle.
Viejo Little League’s 10U Division All-Star Team enjoyed a successful season clinching the District 68 Championship and competing in the Sectionals. The season included exciting matchups against a handful of other local teams.
The tournament began on July 2 and culminated on July 11 with Viejo Little League taking first place in the District 68 Tournament. The Viejo 10U team defeated Rancho Mission Viejo 15-1, Trabuco Canyon 4-1, Santa Margarita American 10-1 and Trabuco Canyon again in the Finals 8-7. The team continued onto Sectionals held in Aliso Viejo and played hard to come in third place.
Leading the team was Manager Jaycy Igarashi and Coaches Tom Peper and Matt Geiss. The talented players include Michael Alva, Austin Frye, Ethan Geiss, Owen Geiss, Bradley Hagen, Tanner Higgs, Braeden Howes, Talan Igarashi, Jack Peper, Jacob Rodriguez, Nathan Rodriguez, Jason Sanchez and Jackson Sievers.
On Tuesday, the Mission Viejo City Council recognized the team for its outstanding spirit, sportsmanship and success.
The Orange County Registrar of Voters is seeking poll workers throughout the county for Election Day November 8 and launched a 30-second videostarring some OC rock stars to get the message out.
Thousands of poll workers are sought as inspectors and clerks. Individuals who are registered to vote in California are eligible to volunteer in Orange County.
Click here to see the video, and for more information, visit http://www.ocvote.com.
Ahead of the winter season, the City of Mission Viejo is offering free sandbags to protect properties from possible flooding that could occur with significant rain storms.
Sandbags are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through April of next year on a first-come, first-served basis. Bags are pre-filled and are limited to 10 bags per resident. Residents can pick-up sandbags throughout the City at the following locations:
Alicia Park, 23650 Via Linda
Animal Services Center, 28095 Hillcrest
Mission Viejo Civic Center, 200 Civic Center
Florence Joyner Olympiad Park, 22760 Olympiad Road
Gilleran Park, 24960 Felipe Road
Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way
Youth Athletic Park, 22056 Olympiad Road
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is hosting a series of presentations designed to alert local parents and teens about the latest opioid trends.
The department is teaming up with other organizations including the OC Department of Education to host “A Dose of Reality about Opioids” from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, October 6 at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino Del Avion.
Geared toward parents and middle and high school teens, the discussion will focus on opioid trends on school campuses and in the community as well as the “3Gs – Guide, Guard and Govern.”
A second South County presentation is set for 6:30 p.m. October 26 at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest.
To register, click here. For more information, contact 714-647-1806 or mpixomatis@ocsd.org.
The Shops at Mission Viejo has named Nate Svihlik, former manager of the Del Amo Fashion Center, as the center’s new mall manager.
Svihlik is responsible for local leasing, tenant relations, building operations, security and marketing efforts. He is also the key liaison between various community partners and strategic organizations at The Shops at Mission Viejo. The position was last held by Kurt Webb.
“I am very excited to lead the exceptional team that continues to make The Shops at Mission Viejo the premier shopping destination of south Orange County,” said Svihlik. “We recently welcomed in time for the upcoming holiday season, Islands restaurant, athleisure brand Fabletics as well as specialty sweet shop Lolli and Pops. I look forward to continuing to enhance the mall’s retail and dining roster and the overall experience at The Shops at Mission Viejo.”
Svihlik joined Simon in 2014 as the assistant general manager at Grapevine Mills in Dallas/Fort Worth following his graduation from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. In early 2015, he served as interim general manager of Phoenix’s Arizona Mills before moving to Los Angeles to serve as assistant general manager of the newly redeveloped Del Amo Fashion Center.
Kelly Tokarski
Public Information Specialist
City of Mission Viejo
