The urban forest is a cherished resource that provides cleaner air, cooler temperatures, enhances public health and creates vibrant lively neighborhoods. As the climate becomes warmer and drier, saving our existing tree canopy and planting new trees is wise. Click here for tips for tree care during the drought. Click here for additional information.
Council Member Sandra Genis and members of the city staff attended the opening of the 35th Annual USVA Tet Festival this past weekend at the OC Fair and Event Center.
Costa Mesa was once again home the world’s largest Tet Festival, attracting over 60,000 guests to the three-day event.
Featuring culturally enriching attractions, live entertainment, festive games and rides, a variety of ethnic foods, and a spectacular firecrackers show, the festival celebrated the Lunar New Year and the “Year of the Monkey.”
UVSA is a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan, community-based organization founded in 1982 to bring together Vietnamese American youth including students from different colleges and high schools throughout Southern California.
The festival serves as a vehicle to help develop student volunteers in the community to become well-rounded leaders with a strong sense of cultural awareness and civic responsibility to improve their communities.
Over the past 15 years, UVSA’s members have awarded over $1.25 million of festival proceeds as community grants to non-profit organizations across Southern California.
In 2014, the city captured a Measure M2 grant to improve three bus stops located at Harbor Boulevard/Victoria Street, Harbor Boulevard/Wilson Street, and Wilson Street/Harbor Boulevard.
Unique Performance Construction, Inc. has been awarded a contract in the amount of $79,820 to complete the work.
The work to be performed consists of the installation of new bus shelters, bus benches and associated amenities.
Also included is the removal of the existing sidewalk and installation of a new decorative sidewalk.
Coordination with Edison and AT&T has taken place regarding adjustments to their facilities and work is now scheduled to begin.
Construction is anticipated to take approximately one month.
Today is the last day to register for the Costa Mesa Senior Center’s Sweetheart Dance on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016.
The event will go from 4-6 p.m. and will feature live music by entertainers Jim and Christina Starr.
Entry cost is $10 per person and includes a delicious dinner. Reservations will be accepted through today or until the event is full. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
The event will take place at the City of Costa Mesa Senior Center located at 695 W. 19th Street.
Reservations must be made in person and are required for entry.
Event is open to ages 50 and over. Please call (714) 327-7550 for additional information.
The Costa Mesa Police Department has two new sergeants today as veteran officers Bang Le and Jimmy Brown were sworn in Thursday outside Chief Rob Sharpnack’s office.
“We couldn’t be prouder of these two individuals,” Chief Sharpnack told the crowd, which included Mayor Steve Mensinger, several top ranking officers and police staff and family members who had gathered in support.
Le is a Garden Grove native who joined the department in 2000 and was the first in his family to pursue a career in law enforcement, Sharpnack said.
Brown was born and raised in Orange and also started his law enforcement career in the year 2000, first joining the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He became a Costa Mesa officer in 2005.
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Le thanked the chief and his fellow officers for entrusting him and Brown with these leadership roles.
“It’s something we take seriously and we promise we won’t let you down,” Le said. “It’s a privilege and honor to carry on the great traditions of this department.”
Brown also welcomed the challenge.
“I look forward to leading the next generation and moving forward with the department,” he said.
During the badge pinning, both men had their children do the honors, with Brown having his daughter pin his badge and Le had both his son and daughter take part in the ceremony.
Sharpnack pointed out how important the families are to these officers and others in the department and he thanked them for their support. And he reiterated that these promotions are symbolic of where the Costa Mesa Police Department is headed in the future.
“Our department is on the rise,” he said. “And we are going to seek excellence in all we do.”
The city of Costa Mesa and the Costa Mesa Military Affairs Team are currently seeking donations of medium and large size plastic eggs, individually wrapped pieces of candy and small toys for the children of the City’s adopted 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment.
The collected candy and small toys will be used to stuff the plastic eggs for the children at the Marine unit’s annual Easter Egg Hunt held at Camp Pendleton.
Since the 1/5 Marines are deployed and will not be able to celebrate Easter with their families, the Easter Egg Hunt will help provide a festive event for the children.
Donations of age-appropriate small toys will be greatly appreciated. Suggestions for toy donations include yoyos, toy soldiers, ball and jacks, stickers, erasers and bling rings which will fit inside of plastic eggs.
The age groups this year are:
2 years and under
3 to 5 years
6 years and over
Donations can be dropped off at City Hall in the foot locker located in the lobby until Friday, March 18, 2016.
For further information, please contact Dan Baker in the CEO’s Office at (714) 754-5156.
Due to unsafe wind conditions and falling trees, the Bark Park is closed until further notice.
City staff is working as quickly as possible to clean up the fallen trees and branches.
Please call (714) 754-5300 for additional information.
The CMTV staff have created this new video to let members of the public know how the City of Costa Mesa is preparing for El Nino 2016.
From the City’s Public Services and Fire Departments to the Costa Mesa Sanitary District and Mesa Water District, residents and businesses in Costa Mesa can be assured that their local public services are as prepared as possible for El Nino 2016.
Five players from the OCC Men’s Soccer Team who earned a spot on the 2015 All-Orange Empire Conference Team were honored at City Council meeting on Tuesday Jan. 19.
Ryan Brown, Ty O’Connor and Costa Mesa High School graduate Peter Marquez were named to the first team, while Estancia High School grad Marco Pineda and Taylor Kane earned second-team honors.
This is not only a great individual accomplishment for each of these student athletes, but also a great honor for Orange Coast Athletics.