Orange County Blog

California Wine Festival
The Quintessential Wine Experience
April 22 -24, 2010  Dana Point, California

Wine, food, music, sea and sun. These elements create a unique wine tasting experience at every California Wine Festival. A sunny seaside setting with hundreds of California's best red and white wines from 58 wineries along with 5 brewing companies for discriminating beer drinkers make Dana Point the place to be April 22 – 24th.  The dozens of top chefs and specialty food purveyors will be complemented perfected by the live music performed by the band Upstream.  Upstream is known for their energetic eclectic style of Reggae and Soca.   Experience one of California’s most popular wine festivals. http://www.californiawinefestival.com

Creating an incredible dinner is an event that for most us just doesn’t quite happen. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t recognize the importance of cooking beyond that basic need to fill our empty stomachs. We know it can be so much more.  At the dinner table, real conversations can take place and we can get to know each other better.  We can connect or even reconnect with people important to us.  Cooking can be such a creative outlet.   Antoine’s Café in San Clemente helps us to discover our inner chef.  Take a look at a sample menu and get all the information to create your own epicurean delight at www.WelcomeToOC.com

Before settling down for football, family, and feasting, start your day with an invigorating run. Dana Point offers the opportunity to tour its beautiful beach, majestic cliffs and coves on Thanksgiving Day with its annual Turkey Trot - a 5K, 10K, and/or Kids’ Race. Enjoy pounding surf, rugged cliffs, and cool ocean breezes as you sail through the Dana Point Marina, Doheny State Park and pass the Historic Tallship Pilgrim moored in Dana Point Harbor. Hosted by the Dana Point Chamber of Congress, the Dana Point Turkey Trot is considered one of America’s most scenic coastal runs, and draws as many as 10,000 participants.  From beginners to elite runners, this event is for everyone!

This year on Thanksgiving Day, you can run so others can eat by Partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank. When you register to run the race, please join the Pledge Drive and ask 10 people to donate $20 each or just make a donation. The 2008 Turkey Trot raised over $40,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank and this year the need is greater than ever. Second Harvest is working to eliminate hunger in Orange County. They provide over 1 million pounds of food each month for over 220,000 people in need. The Food Bank currently serves more than 397 member charitable organizations that reach the hungry, including church pantries, shelters, senior centers, rehabilitation centers, homes for abused children and many other emergency assistance organizations. Your donation can make a difference!

For information on registering for this fabulous, not-to-missed event, go to: http://bit.ly/1KKaQG and click on Dana Point Chamber of Commerce.

You can wind down the summer and support south Orange County’s community radio station at the third annual KSBR Morning Breeze Schmooze. It’s coming Sunday evening, September 6 at 6 p.m. at the Dana Marina Center courtyard in Dana Point Harbor.

You’ll dine under the stars while being serenaded by world-renowned violinist Scarlet Rivera (www.scarletrivera.com); pianist and composer Kori Linae Carothers (www.koritunes.com); New Age Reporter Piano Album of the Year nominee Denise Young (www.deniseyoung.com); songwriter and multi-instrumentalist John Luttrell (myspace.com/johnluttrellmusic); and NAR Album of the Year winner Jeff Oster and friends (www.jeffoster.com). 
Featured will be sumptuous appetizers from What a Dish Bistro (www.whatadish.biz), a buffet dinner from Mahé (www.eatatmahe.com) and Two Guys Grilling (www.twoguysgrilling.com), and desert from It’s All About the Cake (www.itsallaboutthecake.com).

Throughout the concert, you will be able to bid on several original pieces of surf art as well as a customized Morning Breeze surf board created by Paul Carter during a silent auction.Tickets for this distinctive event, including the concert, dinner, and beverages begin at just $55, and fewer than 180 tickets are being sold.  For an extra special experience, you are invited to purchase a Cruiser Pass for $100.  With a Cruiser Pass, you will be treated to a special pre-concert sunset cruise aboard the Ocean Institute’s sailing ship, Spirit of Dana Point (beginning at 4:30), plus you will be seated at the tables closest to the stage.  You may purchase tickets by logging on to www.KSBR.org.  For more information, you may call KSBR’s Membership Services office at (949) 582-4501.

The Morning Breeze is the most popular specialty show on KSBR (88.5 FM), featuring an eclectic blend of electronic and acoustic World and New Age Music Saturdays 5 – 9 A.M. and Sunday 5 A.M. - noon. It is easy to forget that the Morning Breeze programming is commercial free because the flow of the music elevates you beyond those concerns. However, the way KSBR is able to provide this great music without interruption is by receiving the support of its listeners.  This will be an exciting way to treat yourself to a special experience while supporting the station that brings you the unique music of the Morning Breeze every Saturday and Sunday morning. KSBR (88.5 FM) is a commercial-free contemporary jazz and community information station serving Orange County and is broadcasted from Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.KSBR’s primary format is contemporary jazz and offers weekend specialty shows featuring other musical styles such as Techno, Reggae, Folk, Latin Jazz, and Blues.

KSBR began broadcasting in 1975 when the FCC granted an educational license to the Saddleback Community College District. In 1979, KSBR was granted a power increase to cover all of south Orange County and began broadcasting jazz as part of its programming.  KSBR is operated by Saddleback College Communication Arts students and is funded through membership drives, local fundraising events, and sponsorships.

28000 Marguerite Parkway Mission Viejo CA 92692  www.KSBR.org
SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Thomas A. Fuentes, William O. Jay, David B. Lang, Marcia Milchiker, Nancy M. Padberg, Donald P. Wagner, John S. Williams Dr. Raghu P. Mathur, Chancellor  SADDLEBACK COLLEGE: Tod A. Burnett Ed.D., President

Ah, summer. How we love the relaxing days of summer.  It’s the time of the year that children daydream about all school year and parents strive to find ways to keep their children busy.  Although theme parks and movie theatres are exciting and entertaining, they can be a drain on the bank account.  Besides they are not the only way to entertain on those warm, lazy days of summer. 

Most communities offer an alternative – concerts in the park.  San Clemente takes us to the coastal sand for their concerts while Dana Point brings us the bluffs with gorgeous ocean views.  Rancho Santa Margarita calls us to picnic in the park and San Juan Capistrano entertains us just a block from the Mission.  Best of all, this time with family and friends is free.  Bring a blanket or chairs and a willingness to enjoy music which may vary from the 60’s, disco, country, or good ol’ rock and roll.  Besides the fun at summer concerts, most communities also offer great family activities on Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day.  How wonderful to enjoy activities right in your own backyard!

For an easy way to review all the cities in your area and what activities they offer, visit http://www.orangecountyresourceguide.com/city-information.html

It’s time to slide into summer and dance the night away.

It’s time to put down the brightly colored grocery store ads and head to your local farmers’ market for a delightful day of shopping in the refreshing outdoors.  There you will find a plethora of fresh picked, vine and tree-ripened fruits and vegetables, grown by local farmers. Most is harvested within a day of its arrival at the market, a claim that grocery stores are unable to make.  And an increasing amount of the produce is organically grown which means that the farmers don’t use fertilizers or pesticides, a benefit for the health conscious consumer.   As you stroll through the aisles, most vendors will offer you sample of their wares. Nothing beats actually tasting that juicy nectarine or trying a pluot for the first time.  You may notice that while the taste is unparalleled, the produce may not look picture perfect. Since the produce is vine and tree-ripened, it is available only from the grower and cannot be shipped to the wholesale stores. It is coming directly from the fields.  The taste is the true test and you won’t be disappointed. 

Happily, the shopping doesn’t stop with the fabulous produce.  Most farmers’ markets also offer a variety of other items to make your meal a complete experience.  Bring home some vivid colored fresh flowers to brighten up your dinner table.  Start out with an appetizer of hummus and pita bread.  Sample from the many flavors such as tomato basil, avocado cilantro, or roasted pepper.  Or perhaps a selection of nuts including: pistachio, peanut, and cashews would whet your appetite.   Don’t have a main course yet?  Take a look at the fresh pasta available at many of the farmers’ markets.  No, you’re still not done with the shopping yet.  Dessert still needs to be selected.  A selection of pastries including cakes, cookies, and specialty items are often available.

As you plan your trip to the farmers’ market, keep in mind that they are held outdoors.  You will have a more comfortable and fruitful visit if you are dressed for the weather and have chosen your comfortable walking shoes.  Take a stroll through the entire market before settling down to make your purchases.  Different farmers have different prices so comparison shopping is a must.  But if you are purchasing produce, please don’t try to bargain for a better price.  The farmers have worked hard to bring you their crops fresh from the fields and do not appreciate bartering. Bringing your own bags and perhaps a small hand held cart is a helpful hint to avoid taking trips back and forth to the car.  Small bills are helpful as well as it is not always possible to make change for larger bills.   Overall, keep in mind that a trip to the farmers’ market is an opportunity to take a break from the everyday hustle and bustle, save money, support our local economy, and learn about your community in your own backyard.   For a listing of farmers’ markets and the days of the week that they will be in your area, click the Farmers Markets Link under Quick Links.

When the big one hits, will you be ready?  Over 5 million people participated in The Great Southern California Shakeout (www.ShakeOut.org) on November 13, 2008, a drill to test our readiness to deal with the aftermath of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake.  A recent forecast found that sometime in the next three decades there is a 67 percent chance that the Greater Los Angeles area will experience a tremor of at least 6.7 – the same magnitude as the 1994 Northridge quake that killed 57 people.  A U.S. Geological Survey projection says a magnitude 7.8 quake along the San Andreas fault could cause 300 deaths in Orange County and bring down an unspecified 240,000-square-foot mixed-use building.  These sobering figures should move us to action.

What can you do to be prepared for a earthquake whether big or small?  Start by making a home earthquake plan.  Find a safe place in your home where nothing can fall on you away from windows or glass.  Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On at least twice a year by dropping under a heavy piece of furniture like a table or desk, holding on and protecting your eyes by pressing your face against your arm.  If no furniture is available, sit with your back against an interior wall away from bookcases, etc.  Identify and eliminate hazards in your home by bolting bookcases, china cabinets, and other pieces of tall furniture to wall studs.  Put sturdy latches on cupboards.  Lastly, secure televisions, books, and computers and other falling hazards.  Prepare a disaster supplies kit for both your home and car.  Some of the items to include would be canned food and a can opener, at least 3 gallons of water per person, protective clothing, bedding, battery powered radios and flashlights, extra batteries, written directions for turning off gas, electricity, and water.  A first aid kid and any necessary medications should be included in the kit as well.   Once this plan is in place, be sure that all family members, babysitters, and caregivers are aware of it.

Just as you can be prepared before an earthquake, there are tasks you can do once the shaking starts.  If you are in bed, stay there and protect your head with your pillow.  If elsewhere in your home, Drop, Cover, and Hold On, being sure to protect your head and face.  If outdoors, try to get to a clear area away from tall buildings, trees, and electrical lines and then drop to the ground.  If you are in your car, slow down and if possible, drive to a clear area away from buildings, etc. Stay in your car until the shaking stops. Through it all, try to stay calm.

Once the shaking stops, take an assessment of any injuries you may have sustained and then assess others for injuries.  Take a walk through your home, look for and extinguish any small fires. During your home inspection if you deem it unsafe, get out immediately. If you smell gas, turn it off.  But remember, only a professional can turn it back on!  Listen to the radio for information and use your telephone only to report emergencies.  Don’t be caught off guard by aftershocks as they are sure to occur.  Once again, Stop, Drop, and Hold On.

For a list of Orange County companies to help you "quake-proof" your home and family, go to the Search box on the Home Page of this Orange County Resource Guide and in the keyword box, type "Earthquake."

WSI is an association of independent welcoming services.  Each year an intensive workshop and training conference is hosted in the "hometown" of a different WSI member.  The October '08 conference was held in beautiful Pismo Beach, CA—a lovely place to visit as most of the members will attest.  Welcome Services from all over the country attend each year, sometimes coming from as far away as the UK. www.WelcomeServicesInternational.com

The managing partners of Welcome Express-- Orange County's premier welcome service since 1986 attended the 3-day event, where many ideas about welcoming new residents were shared.

Founded in the early fifties and originally named City Hostess International, the organization is a coalition of welcome services – whose sole purpose is to connect newcomers with their new surroundings.  And what a valuable purpose they serve!

Moving is an unsettling time.  Newcomers have a huge "to-do" list ranging from all the technicalities involved with changing utilities, school enrollments, & DMV records to replacing all the professional and personal services they have left behind.  It is a bit unsettling to find yourself in the position of needing to locate new doctors, dentists, veterinarians, babysitters, pet groomers, auto mechanics hair stylists—and the list goes on.  And somewhere along the way, you'd like to fix up and decorate the house you bought – turning it into your "Home Sweet Home."  Where to start?

What a wonderful surprise to receive a valuable and timely Welcome Package full of civic & community information –exactly what you need.  And the wonderful newcomer gifts – many valuable items to pick up from local merchants, including a friendly invitation extended by local business owners who want you to stop in for your own personal welcome.  They extend the hand of old-fashioned friendship in the hopes that you will choose their business as one of your local favorites to return to time and again.

While retaining the personal feel of the old-fashioned welcoming committee, the owners of modern day welcome services are now able to offer numerous ONLINE resources to the busy 21st century family—as they rapidly learn to navigate their new surroundings in Orange County. 

OCRG (Orange County Resource Guide) provides website links and phone numbers to just about everything a local would need.  From jobs, weather, traffic, dining & shopping guides to information on over 160,000 local businesses – even where to buy the cheapest gas!  It helps both newcomer and long-time residents alike save time and gas before they venture out.  In this modern era, consumers love the Local Search options on the Orange County Resource Guide.  It helps them become informed shoppers who "know before they go!"