Sunday, September 21, 2014
Nolasco, 83, Killed in Santa Ana Pedestrian Accident
SANTA ANA — Authorities have identified an 83-year-old man who was fatally struck Thursday while crossing an Orange County street. Gregorio Nolasco of Santa Ana was struck by a vehicle about 5:50 a.m. Thursday in the 300 block of S. Main Street, the Orange County Coroner’s office said in a statement. He died shortly after. City News Service reports that the man was not in a crosswalk at the time, according to Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene, according to police.
(September 19, 2014) – Gregorio Nolasco, 83, of Santa Ana died Thursday morning after being hit by a driver while walking in front of 300 Main Street, according to a dispatch by the California Highway Patrol.
The Santa Ana Police Department responded to the pedestrian accident about 5:50 a.m., but Nolasco died at the scene of the crash. The driver of a Cadillac was heading north on Main Street when they hit the pedestrian and dragged the man or threw him roughly 30 feet. Nolasco was allegedly crossing the street outside of a marked crosswalk at the time of the collision.
Police interviewed the driver of the vehicle, but there were no signs of alcohol or drugs being involved. An investigation to determine liability is ongoing.
“My condolences go out to the family of Mr. Nolasco as they cope with their sudden loss,” said Attorney James Johnson.
http://www.californiainjuryaccidentlawyer.com/orange-county/gregorio-nolasco-83-killed-santa-ana-pedestrian-accident/
http://losangeles.gotnewswire.com/news/coroner-ids-man-fatally-struck-on-santa-ana-street
Monday, September 8, 2014
A female pedestrian was struck by a pick-up truck city of La Palma
A female pedestrian was struck by a pick-up truck at the intersection of Moody St. and Crescent Ave. in La Palma at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
The victim was transported to La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, where she died less than an hour later.
No information was released about the victim’s name, age, or city of residence.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Savers Thrift Superstore Huntington Beach, California Gran Opening July-2014
Savers Thrift Superstore opens in support of Epilepsy Foundation
..
Fountain Valley residents came in droves to the opening of the new Savers Thrift Superstore, at 9091 Garfield Ave., yet the most anxious individuals weren’t in line trying to shop at the store. Instead it was the representatives from the Epilepsy Foundation who were excited that the new location will help continue to fund the foundation’s goal to cure epilepsy.
Since 2013, Savers Thrift Superstores around the country have contributed to the Epilepsy Foundation for each clothing, media or housewares donation it receives.
Susan Pietsch-Escueta, executive director for the Epilepsy Foundation of the Greater Los Angeles area, said the organization is thrilled that Savers has opened another store in Southern California, since the funds will go towardlocal services for families with epilepsy.
Pietsch-Escueta said that Orange County is particularly important to the Epilepsy Foundation, since the work done in the area has helped with research for fever seizures in children at UC Irvine and the training of an epilepsy specialist at Hoag Hospital.
Donations also help fund the Orange County seizure hotline in Spanish and English, training in epilepsy and seizure first-aid, and other statewide advocacy programs.
“It’s a way for people to help support the cause, and we are thrilled about the awareness for epilepsy donations,” Pietsch-Escueta said.
Debi Beckstead, manager for the Fountain Valley Savers Thrift Superstore, said donations given to the Epilepsy Foundation are a top priority for her store since the funds affect local research.
Beckstead said the new store is not the first in the community, since it had another location at the corner of Magnolia Street and Garfield Avenue, on the border of Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley.
“This is a big deal because it shows that Savers is committed to the relationship between our organizations,” Beckstead said. “We think our customers and donors are contributing to something they can directly affect as opposed to charities where their money goes into some big bucket. We feel good that it’s going locally.”
Pietsch-Escueta said she hopes that community members will donate and help become advocates for the Epilepsy Foundation, citing that all residents need to do is donate some old clothes to help out.
“I think the reason we’re so excited about Savers is that so often charities have their big events and they’ll have a big ticket price,” Pietsch-Escueta. “Savers allows everyone at some time in the year – as long as they have something to donate – to be involved and support the cause.”
http://www.yelp.com/biz/savers-fountain-valley-2..
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/epilepsy-629626-savers-foundation.html
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Death Accident Orange County California June- July 2014
15 July 2014, 10:32 pm
NEWPORT BEACH (July 14, 2014) – Dwight Dene Palmer was declared dead from injuries suffered from an accident he was involved in while riding a motorcycle on Monday morning. The collision between the red motorcycle and dark colored Tesla sedan reportedly happened minutes after 9:00 a.m. at the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Reef ...
7 July 2014, 2:48 pm
FULLERTON (July 5, 2014) – Teen bicyclist Rafael Correa Jr. died on Saturday when he collided with a car while riding his bicycle off a trail. Correa was coming off a bike trail at Morelia Avenue and Bastanchury Road when he struck an eastbound car on Bastanchury Road around 12:00 p.m. He was rushed to ...
28 June 2014, 2:18 pm
FULLERTON (June 26, 2014) – A fatal motorcycle accident Thursday evening left Burton Ewing Jr. with fatal injuries. Ewing Jr. was riding a motorcycle on Thursday around 7:49 p.m. when he collided with a car. The accident happened at S. Euclid Street and W. Baker Avenue in Fullerton. Ewing Jr. was pronounced dead on the ...
24 June 2014, 3:32 pm
HUNTINGTON BEACH (June 21, 2014) – A Saturday morning accident has left pedestrian Robonna De Nies with fatal injuries in Huntington Beach. The accident was reported to happen at the intersection of Main Street and Florida Street at 11:25 a.m.near the Five Point Circle shopping area. De Nies was struck by a black Toyota Tundra ...
21 June 2014, 3:25 pm
FULLERTON (June 21, 2014) – Robert Lavender III was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident in the early hours of Saturday. According to officials, the accident happened at 1:53 a.m. along Lemon Street and Valencia Drive or Walnut Street in the city of Fullerton. Lavender was struck by another vehicle and pronounced dead at the ...
http://orangecountyaccident.com/
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Orange County Beaches California
Orange County Beaches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvajArLc1KA&list=PLEywN28C5m6qE9zw5FJJZvp7oqo8InKCC&index=28
Saturday, July 19, 2014
High School Tennis Player Morgan Wilson, 17, Dies
A high school tennis player who collapsed on a warm-up run in Anaheim last week has died after eight days in the hospital, her parents announced Wednesday
Morgan Wilson, a 17-year-old student and varsity tennis co-captain at Esperanza High School, died at UC Irvine Medical Center after suffering cardiac arrest on July 8.
She was the subject of a prayer circle organized on the school tennis courts by a former teammate last week. Friends posted about her on Twitter under the hashtag #prayforMorgan.
“Praying that Morgan gets over this hurdle,” one girl tweeted on Tuesday. “Couldn’t think of anyone who deserves a miracle more. #prayformorgan.”
Scott and Debbie Wilson wrote in a statement sent out by a spokesman for UCI Medical Center that their daughter’s body had “decided it was time to go” on Wednesday afternoon. They called her a “strong and passionate girl who loved life” and was a role model for others.
“We want to thank everyone for their prayers. The outpouring of support from strangers and those who knew and loved Morgan is overwhelming,” the Wilsons wrote.
Morgan Wilson had registered to be an organ donor without her family’s knowledge, her parents said.
“Like so many things in her life, this reminds us what a generous and selfless soul she has,” her parents wrote, saying they were working to donate their daughter’s organs. “Our hope is that they will save other people’s lives.”
Wilson was on a warm-up run before a private tennis lesson in Anaheim when she collapsed, the Orange County Register reported.
Rescue crews were able to get Wilson’s heart started again after using a defibrillator, but Wilson did not regain consciousness, the school’s women’s tennis booster club president said last week. She had no known history of heart problems.
Wilson’s parents said they believed their daughter could have been saved had she gotten CPR “in a timely fashion.” Urging others to learn CPR was the best way to honor Morgan, they wrote.
“Parents should make sure that those entrusted with their children’s care know CPR and are prepared to administer it,” Scott and Debbie Wilson wrote. “Ask whether their schools and athletic facilities have automatic defibrillators on site. Please, do not be afraid to ask.”
Morgan Wilson, who has a 4.2 GPA and is one of the school’s varsity tennis captains, collapsed about 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to Judith Tarbell, the school’s women’s tennis booster club president.
Rescue crews were able to get Wilson’s heart started again after using a defibrillator, however, Wilson has not regained consciousness since the incident, Tarbell stated in an email.
“She is fighting for her life,” Tarbell wrote.
Tarbell’s daughter was standing next to Wilson when the teen collapsed.
Wilson was at UC Irvine Medical Center in critical condition, the Orange County Register reported, citing a track coach at Esperanza High.
Wilson, 17, was getting ready for a private tennis lesson with a warmup run when she collapsed at an Anaheim park, the newspaper reported.
Wilson’s fellow students gathered Thursday on the tennis courts of the high school to hold a prayer vigil for her.
Her parents said through Tarbell that they were not ready to speak about their daughter.
Under the hashtag #prayforMorgan, friends and fellow students voiced their support for Wilson on Twitter.
“Don’t understand how something like this could happen to one of the nicest, most hardworking people I know,” one tweet stated. “Love you, Morgan.”
Wilson always has a positive attitude when faced with a challenge on the tennis court, said Alexa Lanning, a recent Esperanza graduate who played with Wilson.
“I think that she can pull through this one too,” Lanning said. “She’s a fighter and she’ll do it.”
Lanning organized the “group prayer” for Wilson on the courts Thursday.
“She’s in the hospital and she really needs our prayers more than anything,” Lanning said.
Esperanza, a high-achieving public school with a strong athletic program, serves students from Yorba Linda, Anaheim, and Placentia, according to the school’s website.
O.C. Tennis Player, 17, ‘Fighting for Life’ After Collapse at Anaheim Park
An Esperanza High School student-athlete died Wednesday, eight days after suffering cardiac arrest while warming up at the Anaheim Tennis Center, her parents said in a statement through UC Irvine Medical Center.
Morgan Wilson, 17, was a varsity tennis and track and field athlete who collapsed July 8; she was transported to UCI.
“This afternoon, Morgan's body decided it was time to go,” Wilson’s parents, Scott and Debbie, said in the statement. “We want to thank everyone for their prayers. The outpouring of support from strangers and those who knew and loved Morgan is overwhelming.
“Morgan was a strong and passionate girl who loved life. She was positive and a role model for others. She pushed everyone to reach their goals. Morgan never compromised her morals to be part of the crowd.”
On Monday, doctors and Wilson’s family decided to run tests on her organs to see if they could be donated. She was later taken off of all life support except for oxygen, which was keeping her organs alive, Aztecs sprint coach Gary Moore said in an email.
Wilson would have been a senior this fall at Esperanza. As a junior, she was the captain of the girls tennis team. On the track and field team, she participated in events such as the 100 meters, the hurdles and the long jump.
As of late last week, family members were unsure why Wilson collapsed.
“There's nothing abnormal,” Wilson's father told KCBS. “Nothing that clued us into this growing up. Nothing.”
On Thursday, Esperanza held a prayer meeting for Wilson: Several hundred people showed up at the school’s tennis courts.
http://ktla.com/2014/07/16/high-school-tennis-player-morgan-wilson-17-dies-after-8-days-after-collapse-on-run/
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/wilson-629113-morgan-esperanza.html
Morgan Wilson is seen at left with a friend in a photo posted on Twitter by @steffymarti.
She was the subject of a prayer circle organized on the school tennis courts by a former teammate last week. Friends posted about her on Twitter under the hashtag #prayforMorgan.
Friends prayed for Morgan Wilson at Esperanza High’s tennis courts on July 10, 2014. (Credit: KTLA)
Scott and Debbie Wilson wrote in a statement sent out by a spokesman for UCI Medical Center that their daughter’s body had “decided it was time to go” on Wednesday afternoon. They called her a “strong and passionate girl who loved life” and was a role model for others.
“We want to thank everyone for their prayers. The outpouring of support from strangers and those who knew and loved Morgan is overwhelming,” the Wilsons wrote.
Morgan Wilson had registered to be an organ donor without her family’s knowledge, her parents said.
“Like so many things in her life, this reminds us what a generous and selfless soul she has,” her parents wrote, saying they were working to donate their daughter’s organs. “Our hope is that they will save other people’s lives.”
Wilson was on a warm-up run before a private tennis lesson in Anaheim when she collapsed, the Orange County Register reported.
Rescue crews were able to get Wilson’s heart started again after using a defibrillator, but Wilson did not regain consciousness, the school’s women’s tennis booster club president said last week. She had no known history of heart problems.
Wilson’s parents said they believed their daughter could have been saved had she gotten CPR “in a timely fashion.” Urging others to learn CPR was the best way to honor Morgan, they wrote.
“Parents should make sure that those entrusted with their children’s care know CPR and are prepared to administer it,” Scott and Debbie Wilson wrote. “Ask whether their schools and athletic facilities have automatic defibrillators on site. Please, do not be afraid to ask.”
Morgan Wilson, who has a 4.2 GPA and is one of the school’s varsity tennis captains, collapsed about 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to Judith Tarbell, the school’s women’s tennis booster club president.
Rescue crews were able to get Wilson’s heart started again after using a defibrillator, however, Wilson has not regained consciousness since the incident, Tarbell stated in an email.
“She is fighting for her life,” Tarbell wrote.
Tarbell’s daughter was standing next to Wilson when the teen collapsed.
Wilson was at UC Irvine Medical Center in critical condition, the Orange County Register reported, citing a track coach at Esperanza High.
Wilson, 17, was getting ready for a private tennis lesson with a warmup run when she collapsed at an Anaheim park, the newspaper reported.
Wilson’s fellow students gathered Thursday on the tennis courts of the high school to hold a prayer vigil for her.
Friends prayed for Morgan Wilson at Esperanza High’s tennis courts on Thursday. (Credit: KTLA)
Under the hashtag #prayforMorgan, friends and fellow students voiced their support for Wilson on Twitter.
“Don’t understand how something like this could happen to one of the nicest, most hardworking people I know,” one tweet stated. “Love you, Morgan.”
Wilson always has a positive attitude when faced with a challenge on the tennis court, said Alexa Lanning, a recent Esperanza graduate who played with Wilson.
Morgan Wilson’s supporters hugged at the prayer vigil for her on July 10, 2014. (Credit: KTLA)
Lanning organized the “group prayer” for Wilson on the courts Thursday.
“She’s in the hospital and she really needs our prayers more than anything,” Lanning said.
Esperanza, a high-achieving public school with a strong athletic program, serves students from Yorba Linda, Anaheim, and Placentia, according to the school’s website.
O.C. Tennis Player, 17, ‘Fighting for Life’ After Collapse at Anaheim Park
 |  |  |
Morgan Wilson was one of the captains of the Esperanza girls tennis team last season as a junior. Wilson died Wednesday, eight days after collapsing at a tennis lesson at Anaheim Tennis Center. She was 17.
Morgan Wilson, 17, was a varsity tennis and track and field athlete who collapsed July 8; she was transported to UCI.
“This afternoon, Morgan's body decided it was time to go,” Wilson’s parents, Scott and Debbie, said in the statement. “We want to thank everyone for their prayers. The outpouring of support from strangers and those who knew and loved Morgan is overwhelming.
“Morgan was a strong and passionate girl who loved life. She was positive and a role model for others. She pushed everyone to reach their goals. Morgan never compromised her morals to be part of the crowd.”
On Monday, doctors and Wilson’s family decided to run tests on her organs to see if they could be donated. She was later taken off of all life support except for oxygen, which was keeping her organs alive, Aztecs sprint coach Gary Moore said in an email.
Wilson would have been a senior this fall at Esperanza. As a junior, she was the captain of the girls tennis team. On the track and field team, she participated in events such as the 100 meters, the hurdles and the long jump.
As of late last week, family members were unsure why Wilson collapsed.
“There's nothing abnormal,” Wilson's father told KCBS. “Nothing that clued us into this growing up. Nothing.”
On Thursday, Esperanza held a prayer meeting for Wilson: Several hundred people showed up at the school’s tennis courts.
http://ktla.com/2014/07/16/high-school-tennis-player-morgan-wilson-17-dies-after-8-days-after-collapse-on-run/
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/wilson-629113-morgan-esperanza.html
Monday, July 14, 2014
JEWLERY STUDIO
http://www.bobjohnsonstudio.com/
http://www.preciousmetalarts.com/pmastudio/index.html
http://fidm.edu/en/Majors/Jewelry+Design
FIDM's Jewelry Design Program is uniquely positioned to link jewelry design to fashion and has the benefit of FIDM's incredible network of fashion industry connections.
The World of Laura Seely Paintings Cats and Birds Artist Orange County California
Originally from Andover, MA.
Atlanta, GA 20 years, San Francisco 2001-2011
Dana Point in Orange County is now home~
Children's books THE BOOK OF SHADOWBOXES, THE MAGICAL MOONBALLS and CATS VANISH SLOWLY... Best Children's Literature of the Year, by The Council Of Author's and Journalists. AGATHA'S FEATHERBED several awards. THE BOY OF STEEL, New York Times Best Seller. "The Hunter" American Illustrators award, best illustration
http://bestfriendsartgallery.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/LAURA-SEELEY-STUDIO/192163102682?sk=info
http://www.cobblehillpuzzles.com/product.php?puzzle=54581-birds-of-the-world
http://johnsonpetproducts.com/lauraseeley.html
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Festival of Arts Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, CALIFORNIA 2014
Festival Tickets
July 6 – August 30, 2014
Tickets can be purchased on-site at the Festival of Arts Ticket Office.Hours of Operations
Open daily 10am – 11:30pm(Early closing July 6 at 6pm and August 23 at 3:30pm)
Festival of Arts Admission Type | Price |
| General Admission (Monday – Friday): | $7 |
| General Admission (Saturday & Sunday): | $10 |
| Students and Seniors (Monday – Friday): | $4 |
| Students and Seniors (Saturday & Sunday): | $6 |
| Children 12 or under, Military, & Laguna Beach Residents: | FREE |
Laguna Beach Passport to the Arts
One price, One Pass, Three Art Festivals All Summer Long!
Purchase on-site at any of the three art festivals or online at www.LagunaBeachPassport.com.
Receive unlimited admission to Art-A-Fair, Festival of Arts, and Sawdust Art Festival.Receive unlimited access to:
- Over 500 artists and their artwork
- Over 300 hands-on art workshops
- More than 200 musical performances
- Dozens of special events and artist demonstrations
- and much more!
Monday, May 26, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Friday, May 23, 2014
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Bicyclist killed in Dana Point crash 38-year-old Haitham Gamal
Bicyclist killed 
The car that hit the bike Tuesday night overturned, officials said. Alcohol might have played a role in the crash.
 |  |  |  |
A community safety officer tapes off the sidewalk at Green Lantern on Wednesday morning as cleanup crews work a scene where a bicyclist, identified as 38-year-old Haitham Gamal of Dana Point, died after being struck by a 2001 Acura along Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point late Tuesday night.
Haitham Gamal, 38, died after being struck by a car along Pacific Coast Highway
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/drunk-driving-victim-dui-convictions-report-article-1.1788004#ixzz31mctjL81
map
Cole said Gamal leaves behind a wife and young children.This wreck happened in Dana Point, on the Pacific Coast Highway. It was near that road’s intersection with Green Lantern. The date was Tuesday, April 29, 2014. It was close to 11:15 at night.
DANA POINT – After three drunken driving convictions, Haitham Gamal appeared ready to change.
The Dana Point resident completed an intensive rehabilitation program and vowed to do what his lawyer said so many DUI offenders won’t: adhere to his court-mandated driver’s license suspension by selling his car and embracing bicycling.
But last week, even though he wasn’t doing the drinking, authorities say alcohol ended the 38-year-old’s life.
A 19-year-old man who authorities say was speeding and had been drinking struck Gamal with his 2001 Acura on Pacific Coast Highway as Gamal rode his bicycle south between Blue Lantern and Green Lantern streets at about 11:15 p.m. on April 29. Gamal, who friends say worked at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“He was doing the right thing, and somebody hit him that had been drinking,” said Walter Cole, a Newport Beach lawyer hired by Gamal.
The crash occurred one day after Gamal pleaded guilty to a January 2013 DUI in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana. Cole was at his side.
The longtime DUI lawyer learned of his client’s death when he read a May 1 news article about the crash, which is still under investigation, said Lt. Jeff Hallock, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The department has not released the suspect’s name.
Hallock said detectives are awaiting blood-test results before they send their investigation to the district attorney’s office for possible criminal charges.
The Acura flipped on its top after hitting Gamal, and the driver and his 18-year-old passenger were treated for head trauma at Mission Hospital. Capt. Steve Concialdi, spokesman for the Orange County Fire Authority, said the injuries were moderate but not life-threatening.
Cole said Gamal leaves behind a wife and young children. He said Gamal differed from other drunken drivers he has represented because he accepted his problem and seemed to genuinely want to change.
“A lot of my clients are in denial. ... He wasn’t,” Cole said. “He was on the road to recovery.”
Hallock described the case as an “unfortunate accident.”
“Obviously, any kind of fatal crash that involves alcohol, I think, just speaks to the dangers of drinking,” Hallock said.
Gamal pleaded guilty to DUI in 2005 and again in 2009. The second conviction earned him probation for three years, but court records show he violated it within a month of starting it. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor public intoxication in 2012, then was arrested for his third and final DUI about a month later.
He was sentenced the day before he died to five years of probation and 45 days in jail, of which he was to serve 20, followed by 45 days of home confinement. Cole said Gamal didn’t have to report to jail for a couple of months.
He also was to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving victims impact panel and complete an 18-month program.
Cole isn’t sure what to make of his client’s death.
“I don’t know, unless it’s just karma,” he said. “But I think a lot of times we’re approaching drunk driving the wrong way.”
Cole said Gamal responded well to treatment and was committed to improving his life. The 180-day program he completed “is a very good program” that focuses on treatment instead of punishment.
He isn’t hopeful that Gamal’s story will encourage others not to drink and drive. There’s just too many people who do, Cole said.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, 10 Orange County cities are among the worst in the state for rates of injuries and fatalities caused by intoxicated drivers. Nearly 10 percent of Orange County collisions in 2012 involved alcohol, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.
“There’s so many of them out there drinking and driving that one little thing like this isn’t going to make a big difference,” Cole said.
Published: April 30, 2014
Accident Video News For Dana Point, Orange County, California: Bicycle Rider Haitham Gamal Killed In Crash On Pacific Coast Highway; 2 Teens Injured And Alcohol Suspected
The bicyclist was identified as 38-year-old Haitham Gamal of Dana Point, said Lt. Jeff Hallock of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A driver and passenger inside the vehicle were also hospitalized when their sedan overturned after hitting the bicyclist, Hallock said.
There were two teenagers in a car when this accident occurred. The vehicle hit a bicycle rider before crashing. The bike rider died, and the two teens were injured.
Haitham Gamal was riding the bicycle. He was 38 years old and lived in Dana Point, Orange County, California. The teens were not identified yet by name. The driver is 19 and from Dana Point. The passenger is 18, but this person’s city of residence was not provided.
This wreck happened in Dana Point, on the Pacific Coast Highway. It was near that road’s intersection with Green Lantern. The date was Tuesday, April 29, 2014. It was close to 11:15 at night.
There aren’t many details on what caused the initial collision. Gamal was headed in the same direction as the teen driver, who was in an Acura. At some point, the Acura hit the bicycle, and the driver then lost control. The Acura overturned. That just sounds a little strange. You rarely hear of a car overturning after hitting a bicycle. One thing that should be investigated is whether the car was actually out of control BEFORE hitting the bicycle. I’m not saying this happened, but it should be investigated.
Gamal’s family would need to show that the teen driver was negligent and caused the accident to recover from the Acura’s liability policy (if it is insured). Proof of alcohol would be helpful evidence, but it would not necessarily prove liability all by itself. A more complete set of facts is necessary to get to the bottom of this.
http://crashnegligence.com/accident-video-news-for-dana-point-orange-county-california-bicycle-rider-haitham-gamal-killed-in-crash-on-pacific-coast-highway-2-teens-injured-and-alcohol-suspected/
Deputies from the department’s major accident reconstruction team were investigating.
................................
DANA POINT, Calif. -- An Orange County man recently released from rehab after three drunken driving convictions died when authorities say a 19-year-old man who had been drinking struck him, a newspaper reported.
Haitham Gamal, 38, was bicycling in Dana Point when a 2001 Acura hit him on April 29, the Orange County Register reported Friday (http://bit.ly/1hEBt9S ).
Gamal was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred a day after Gamal pleaded guilty to a January 2013 DUI in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana.
His lawyer, Walter Cole, says Gamal was on the "road to recovery" after a history of DUI arrests. He had recently completed an intensive rehabilitation program.
"He was doing the right thing, and somebody hit him that had been drinking," Cole told the newspaper.
Authorities have not released the name of the driver.
Detectives are awaiting blood-test results before they send their investigation to prosecutors for possible criminal charges, said Lt. Jeff Hallock, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
The Acura flipped on its top after hitting Gamal, and the driver and his 18-year-old passenger were treated for moderate injuries at a hospital.
Cole said Gamal leaves behind a wife and young children.
He was sentenced the day before he died to five years of probation and 45 days in jail. He was going to serve 20 days in jail and then 45 days of home confinement. Cole said Gamal didn't have to report to jail for a couple of months.
Gamal pleaded guilty to DUI in 2005 and in 2009 — the latter conviction getting him three years of probation. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor public intoxication in 2012 and then was arrested on his third DUI about a month later.
map
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=green+lantern+dana+point&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x80dcf05c06b782a7:0x1591d2aba9f15f98,Street+of+the+Green+Lantern,+Dana+Point,+CA+92629&gl=us&ei=F6h0U7CbL4iEogSM6YDgDg&ved=0CCgQ8gEwAA
Don Ruiz
I knew Haitham. He was very friendly, outgoing, and fun to talk with. He was originally from Egypt and worked at the St. Regis. He was riding his bike home from work. Yes, there is a bike lane there. From what I've heard the kids were driving too fast and didn't make the curve and took Haitham out. This was a senseless accident with dire consequences and Haitham will certainly be missed. So very sad...
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
An Orange County man recently released from rehab after three drunken driving convictions died when authorities say a 19-year-old man who had been drinking struck him, a newspaper reported.
Haitham Gamal, 38, was bicycling in Dana Point when a 2001 Acura hit him on April 29, the Orange County Register reported Friday.
Gamal was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred a day after Gamal pleaded guilty to a January 2013 DUI in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana.
His lawyer, Walter Cole, says Gamal was on the "road to recovery" after a history of DUI arrests. He had recently completed an intensive rehabilitation program.
"He was doing the right thing, and somebody hit him that had been drinking," Cole told the newspaper.
Authorities have not released the name of the driver.
Detectives are awaiting blood-test results before they send their investigation to prosecutors for possible criminal charges, said Lt. Jeff Hallock, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
The Acura flipped on its top after hitting Gamal, and the driver and his 18-year-old passenger were treated for moderate injuries at a hospital.
Cole said Gamal leaves behind a wife and young children.
He was sentenced the day before he died to five years of probation and 45 days in jail. He was going to serve 20 days in jail and then 45 days of home confinement. Cole said Gamal didn't have to report to jail for a couple of months.
Gamal pleaded guilty to DUI in 2005 and in 2009 — the latter conviction getting him three years of probation. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor public intoxication in 2012 and then was arrested on his third DUI about a month
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/drunk-driving-victim-dui-convictions-report-article-1.1788004#ixzz32dvPO8Mh
DANA POINT – After three drunken driving convictions, Haitham Gamal appeared ready to change.
The Dana Point resident completed an intensive rehabilitation program and vowed to do what his lawyer said so many DUI offenders won’t: adhere to his court-mandated driver’s license suspension by selling his car and embracing bicycling.
But last week, even though he wasn’t doing the drinking, authorities say alcohol ended the 38-year-old’s life.
A 19-year-old man who authorities say was speeding and had been drinking struck Gamal with his 2001 Acura on Pacific Coast Highway as Gamal rode his bicycle south between Blue Lantern and Green Lantern streets at about 11:15 p.m. on April 29. Gamal, who friends say worked at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“He was doing the right thing, and somebody hit him that had been drinking,” said Walter Cole, a Newport Beach lawyer hired by Gamal.
The crash occurred one day after Gamal pleaded guilty to a January 2013 DUI in Orange County Superior Court in Santa Ana. Cole was at his side.
The longtime DUI lawyer learned of his client’s death when he read a May 1 news article about the crash, which is still under investigation, said Lt. Jeff Hallock, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The department has not released the suspect’s name.
Hallock said detectives are awaiting blood-test results before they send their investigation to the district attorney’s office for possible criminal charges.
The Acura flipped on its top after hitting Gamal, and the driver and his 18-year-old passenger were treated for head trauma at Mission Hospital. Capt. Steve Concialdi, spokesman for the Orange County Fire Authority, said the injuries were moderate but not life-threatening.
Cole said Gamal leaves behind a wife and young children. He said Gamal differed from other drunken drivers he has represented because he accepted his problem and seemed to genuinely want to change.
“A lot of my clients are in denial. ... He wasn’t,” Cole said. “He was on the road to recovery.”
Hallock described the case as an “unfortunate accident.”
“Obviously, any kind of fatal crash that involves alcohol, I think, just speaks to the dangers of drinking,” Hallock said.
Gamal pleaded guilty to DUI in 2005 and again in 2009. The second conviction earned him probation for three years, but court records show he violated it within a month of starting it. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor public intoxication in 2012, then was arrested for his third and final DUI about a month later.
He was sentenced the day before he died to five years of probation and 45 days in jail, of which he was to serve 20, followed by 45 days of home confinement. Cole said Gamal didn’t have to report to jail for a couple of months.
He also was to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving victims impact panel and complete an 18-month program.
Cole isn’t sure what to make of his client’s death.
“I don’t know, unless it’s just karma,” he said. “But I think a lot of times we’re approaching drunk driving the wrong way.”
Cole said Gamal responded well to treatment and was committed to improving his life. The 180-day program he completed “is a very good program” that focuses on treatment instead of punishment.
He isn’t hopeful that Gamal’s story will encourage others not to drink and drive. There’s just too many people who do, Cole said.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, 10 Orange County cities are among the worst in the state for rates of injuries and fatalities caused by intoxicated drivers. Nearly 10 percent of Orange County collisions in 2012 involved alcohol, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.
“There’s so many of them out there drinking and driving that one little thing like this isn’t going to make a big difference,” Cole said.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gamal-613474-cole-dui.html
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Magdi Girgis Hired Hit Men To Murder Wife To Avoid Costly Divorce Video
A Southern California man previously convicted of spousal abuse has been arrested and charged with hiring hit men to murder his wife so he could avoid a costly divorce.
Magdi Girgis, a 60-year-old respiratory therapist from Westminster, was arrested Friday and charged with three felonies in connection to the Sept. 2004 death of 55-year-old Ariest Girgis, according to the Orange County District Attorney.
Girgis testified in a domestic violence hearing against her husband days before she was killed. On the day of the murder, two intruders allegedly entered Girgis' home, slit her throat and fatally stabbed her. She was home alone with her 17-year-old son Ryan, whom the intruders bound, gagged and forced into a closet. After several minutes, Ryan heard a car drive away from the house, broke free of his ties and called the police, according to the DA.
The couple’s sons, Ryan and Richard, said they were relieved that the case was finally solved, but were reeling from their father's guilt. “I share good memories with (my father) in early childhood. (But) all along, I knew he had something to do with it,” Ryan said to CBS.
"(Our mom) was a sweet woman who didn’t deserve any of this at all," Richard said. “We’re happy the case did get solved, but it’s sad because our dad had something to do with it."
Her husband is accused of planning the murder because he wanted to avoid the cost of a divorce and to avoid a felony domestic violence conviction that would revoke his medical license. "He wanted to keep all his money to himself," said Sonia Balleste, a senior deputy district attorney prosecuting the case, said to the Orange County Register.
Magdi Girgis was considered a person of interest since the beginning of the investigation but it wasn't until Friday, more than eight years after his wife's death, that he was taken into custody, the Register reports. In the interim, he was sentenced in 2005 to a year in jail and five years of probation for a domestic violence charge.
A $50,000 reward is being offered by the California Governor’s office, plus an additional $5,000 pledged by The Carol Sund/Carrington Foundation, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of additional suspects
The Orange County Crime Stoppers program (OC Crime Stoppers) helps resolve, reduce and prevent crime by enabling citizens to safely report criminal activity to law enforcement through anonymous crime tips. OC Crime Stoppers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works in partnership with the community, the media and law enforcement to facilitate the sharing of valuable tips that will hopefully reverse cold cases and all unresolved crimes to help create a safer community.
Campus Crime Stoppers Program
Public Service Announcements
http://occrimestoppers.org/
Orange County Meetings 2014
Saturday, March 22, 2014
7:00 PM
Celebrate the Spring Equinox!Shamrock Bar & Grill
2633 W Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA(map)
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=2633+W+Coast+Hwy,+Newport+Beach,+CA,+92663,+us
http://www.meetup.com/Backyard-Skeptics/events/170825892/
33.619701-117.923619
https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=2633+W+Coast+Hwy,+Newport+Beach,+CA,+92663,+us
http://www.meetup.com/Backyard-Skeptics/events/170825892/
Monday, January 27, 2014
Arrest made in attack on woman outside Santa Ana club Santa Ana Police Department
A young writer who graduated last year from Chapman University was being kept on life support Monday, two days after she was beaten unconscious on the sidewalk outside a crowded Santa Ana nightspot.
Kim (Annie) Pham, 23, was being kept alive “because her wishes had always been to help others by being an organ donor,” her family said in a short statement. “We are still fighting for Kim. Stay strong.”
Police arrested one woman in connection with the weekend assault, and were searching for two other women and two men who they believe kicked and punched Pham in the head and body. They declined to identify the suspect, except to say she was in her 20s, from Santa Ana and arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
Pham had been standing in line with friends early Saturday outside of The Crosby, a restaurant and bar that has become an anchor of Santa Ana's growing downtown night scene. Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department said some kind of argument broke out in the line – he didn't know over what – and it escalated until Pham was beaten unconscious.
Pham graduated from Chapman University last year with a degree in psychology, according to her aunt, Nga Doan. In an online profile, Pham said she worked in her spare time to raise awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer.
She was also a writer, with an essay – titled “Men Don't Talk About Their Feelings” – published in a 2011 anthology, “Pho for Life: A Melting Pot of Thoughts.”
The story was about her family and “the warmth of love,” she said in an interview for the book's release.
“When you start to really recognize everybody around you and that the world is bigger than you, you start to see that there's a lot of room for love in your life,” she said. “Just letting your walls down helps you see that.”
It was a somber gathering Monday evening in downtown Santa Ana as more than 100 of Pham's family and friends lit candles and placed flowers at a memorial.
There was no protesting, no outward display of anger – just a silent, tearful crowd who showed up to honor Pham, who was described as a “lovable person.”
Most of the people who gathered for the vigil declined to comment.
The Crosby was closed.
Police were reviewing surveillance videos from businesses in the area that captured the assault on Pham, as well as several cellphone videos, Bertagna said. Witnesses have also volunteered to come in and talk to detectives, he said.
One video clip posted online appears to show people wrestling and kicking a figure on the ground as a small crowd watches and one person crouches to get a cellphone video. A security guard wades into the melee, apparently in an attempt to intervene.
A man who posted that video, but asked not to be named, said Pham was a friend. He said she seemed fine when he saw her outside of The Crosby about 30 minutes before the attack. He was inside the club when the assault happened shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Saturday
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Santa Ana nightclub beating woman's death Annie Kim Pham SANTA ANA
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Tuesday morning, Armando Sorria, 47, left, and Autumn Martinez, 32, tidy up the sidewalk memorial for beating victim Kim (Annie) Pham, 23, rearranging the hundreds of flowers and candles left. Pham is being kept on life support, her family said, because it was her wish to be an organ donor. Sorria frequents the area and said his sadness was redirected into helping with the memorial.
Martinez, who studies criminal justice at nearby Everest College, said of Pham, "She's just as young as me. It's really sad. I just want to show my respect and I'm saying a prayer for her."
The victim was waiting in line to get into a popular nightspot that attracts people who crave old-school hip-hop and $15 hamburgers, where the floor is cleared late at night so customers can dance.Far from a seedy dive bar, The Crosby, at Fourth Street and Broadway, is an anchor of the city's growing downtown night scene – what one local business owner and resident calls “a place for people to love and hang out.”
Now, The Crosby, operating since 2008 in an area not known recently for a high crime rate, is linked to the savage beating of a young woman whose assault early Saturday morning – in front of dozens of people lined up outside the venue – is being pieced together by Santa Ana police.
Kim “Annie” Pham, 23, of Westminster was declared dead Tuesday at 12:36 p.m., according to the Santa Ana Police Department. She had been on life support, in the hope that her organs could be donated, according to a family statement.
A woman believed to be in her 20s has been arrested in connection with the incident. Her name has not been released by police, who are searching for two other women and two men who they believe kicked and punched the 5-foot-1, 115-pound Pham in the head and body.
Police also hope to find more cellphone video and surveillance footage from area businesses.
A video of the incident posted online shows people wrestling and kicking a figure on the ground as a small crowd looks on. One person crouches nearby to get cellphone video, and a security guard wades into the melee, apparently trying to intervene. Police are hoping other video will show events, such as an argument, that might have led to the incident, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
Bertagna said detectives are hoping people who were with the female suspect will tell their side of the story. Fourteen Santa Ana police officers responded to the scene before they called in detectives to investigate.
VIVACIOUS, SMART
People who knew Pham, a 2008 graduate of Marina High School in Huntington Beach who studied psychology at Chapman University, describe a vivacious woman who loved to write and who dabbled in modeling and acting.
On her Facebook page, Pham described herself as “analytical,” “truthful” and “big-hearted.”
She talks about her love of her family and friends and how she doesn't try to impress anyone but herself and her “main squeeze – my pops.”
Carol Brodbeck, a psychology professor at Chapman, where Pham also worked for student-run Panthervision TV, described her as well-liked.
“She wrote with passion and wisdom beyond her years,” Brodbeck said. “Annie ... will be missed dearly by the Chapman community.”
Ed Dana, who has been teaching psychology at Chapman for more than 20 years, said he taught Pham in four classes and considers her a friend.
Now, The Crosby, operating since 2008 in an area not known recently for a high crime rate, is linked to the savage beating of a young woman whose assault early Saturday morning – in front of dozens of people lined up outside the venue – is being pieced together by Santa Ana police.
Kim “Annie” Pham, 23, of Westminster was declared dead Tuesday at 12:36 p.m., according to the Santa Ana Police Department. She had been on life support, in the hope that her organs could be donated, according to a family statement.
A woman believed to be in her 20s has been arrested in connection with the incident. Her name has not been released by police, who are searching for two other women and two men who they believe kicked and punched the 5-foot-1, 115-pound Pham in the head and body.
Police also hope to find more cellphone video and surveillance footage from area businesses.
A video of the incident posted online shows people wrestling and kicking a figure on the ground as a small crowd looks on. One person crouches nearby to get cellphone video, and a security guard wades into the melee, apparently trying to intervene. Police are hoping other video will show events, such as an argument, that might have led to the incident, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.
Bertagna said detectives are hoping people who were with the female suspect will tell their side of the story. Fourteen Santa Ana police officers responded to the scene before they called in detectives to investigate.
VIVACIOUS, SMART
People who knew Pham, a 2008 graduate of Marina High School in Huntington Beach who studied psychology at Chapman University, describe a vivacious woman who loved to write and who dabbled in modeling and acting.
On her Facebook page, Pham described herself as “analytical,” “truthful” and “big-hearted.”
She talks about her love of her family and friends and how she doesn't try to impress anyone but herself and her “main squeeze – my pops.”
Carol Brodbeck, a psychology professor at Chapman, where Pham also worked for student-run Panthervision TV, described her as well-liked.
“She wrote with passion and wisdom beyond her years,” Brodbeck said. “Annie ... will be missed dearly by the Chapman community.”
Ed Dana, who has been teaching psychology at Chapman for more than 20 years, said he taught Pham in four classes and considers her a friend.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel Costa Mesa, CA 92626 US
Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel - Meetings
As a leader among hotels in Orange County for meetings and conventions, our Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel hosts events from intimate corporate retreats for 10 to large business conventions of up to 250 people.
Our meeting rooms bring events to life. You can expect flexible spaces, state-of-the-art facilities, and audio-visual support featuring wired and wireless connections, perfect for a meeting in Costa Mesa. We offer 6,800 square feet of event space, with our smallest event room accommodating up to 15 people in a permanent boardroom setting. Our largest event room is 3,456 square feet and can accommodate up to 250 people for a banquet, and for a more serene meeting or dining reception, break the barrier of four walls and extend your meeting outdoors along the beautiful lakeside.
Guests can depend on the expertise of our on-site professional staff and fully equipped meeting rooms. Event professionals, including catering services, will work endlessly to ensure that your event runs flawlessly from start to finish. Our Orange County hotel also combines brilliant catering services with exquisite cuisine, great recreation, and a variety of entertainment options. We believe sustainable agricultural practices are environmentally responsible options for providing people abundant and wholesome food and we use only the freshest, finest, and healthiest produce from our repertoire of local Orange County farmers and producers.
Our Event Professionals are eager to help you plan a truly unforgettable event and are available to assist you with every last detail, from custom menus to audio-visual equipment to centerpieces. Please call us today at 714-442-8607 to arrange a tour and see for yourself how the style and flexibility of our space can best serve your needs. We look forward to hosting your next meeting, conference or special event at our Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel.
Contact Us: 714-442-8607
Small Groups
For group requests with less than 25 rooms or 50 people use the links below to start your planning at wyndhamsmallmeetings.com. If you prefer, call us at 1-888-WYNDHAM (1-888-996-3426) or email groups@wyndhamworldwide.com.
Search for Group RatesLarge Groups
For group requests with more than 25 rooms or 50 people, use the links below to start your planning at wyndham.starcite.com. If you prefer, call us at 1-888-WYNDHAM (1-888-996-3426) or email groups@wyndhamworldwide.com.
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The bicyclist was identified as 38-year-old Haitham Gamal of Dana Point, said Lt. Jeff Hallock of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A driver and passenger inside the vehicle were also hospitalized when their sedan overturned after hitting the bicyclist, Hallock said.
The crash was reported at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday near the Green Lantern intersection, he said.
The 2001 Acura and bicyclist both were headed south on Pacific Coast Highway.
After the collision, the Acura’s driver lost control of the vehicle and it overturned, Hallock said.
The driver was identified only as a 19-year-old man from Dana Point. He and an 18-year-old passenger were taken to a hospital to be treated for head trauma.
Alcohol is believed to have been a factor, Hallock said. The crash is under investigation, he said, and no citations or arrests have been made.