While Politicians Yap, Strickland Performs: The current issue of People celebrates Orange County’s Alena Strickland, 49, for taking in 112 foster children. Yes, 112. Even more impressive? According to the article, each child has had special needs such as autism, blindness and deafness. She doesn’t do it alone. Strickland has her retired restaurateur husband Philip Pedone by her side. What motives her? "I was faced with a need, I can [help], so what's my excuse not to?" she told the magazine.
It's Day Six and the Santiago fire is still only 30 percent contained. Fourteen homes were destroyed, and 750 more are threatened in Silverado Canyon. The Register reports that a liquid was used to ignite the blaze along Santiago Canyon Road at two separate points. Sheriff Carona says his department had received 250 tips thus far, but no suspects have been named. A $250,000 reward has been put out for information leading to the arrest of the responsible parties.
Blame Game: Former British Prime
To catch an arsonist: "We will hunt down the people responsible for (the Santiago Fire). We will not fail," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said over the weekend. "If I were one of those people who started the fire, I would not sleep soundly." Strong words, but how much weight do they carry? Four years ago, a man was witnessed starting the fire that killed four people and burned more than 200 homes in San Bernardino. Was he ever caught? Nope.
Still on fire: Though containment is now at 65 percent, t
The Orange County Fire Authority reports that the Santiago blaze is now 75 percent contained. Though firefighters are hoping to kill the beast by Friday (before the nasty Santa Ana winds whip it up over the weekend), the OCFA website lists Sunday as D-Day for full containment. Approximately 28,445 acres have been burned thus far.
The fire had some 2,000 firefighters on the job at its peak, but an estimated 1,800 are out there now, Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion told the Weekly over the phone
"Cruel" to the Caronas: Yesterday, federal prosecutors produced a list of two dozen friends and associates they believe the Caronas should stay away from - including former Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl, Mrs. Carona's best friend, two friends from Florida and their tax accountant. Not an odd request since our dear sheriff is being accused of witness tampering, but the couple's lawyers called it "unnecessary and almost cruel."
Little Saigon - NYC style? After studying Little Saigon in October, exp
UPDATE (5/12/09, 8:00 p.m.): Fellow Weekling Albert Chin has informed me that Kogi won't be able to make it to two of the OC stops this week (Fullerton and Anaheim). But they will make it to their good ol' Santa Fe Springs spot tonight and tomorrow (keep on their Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates).As far as I know, they're still on for Santa Ana on Saturday. According our sources at the Santiago Art Walk, they've got their permit issues squared away.Here's the tweet about the cancellati
