Frank McDowell, CEO of Star Real Estate, was crowned Mr. Fountain Valley at the inaugural irreverent fundraiser on Friday at the Recreation Center.   The event was sold out with 400 attending the dinner, raffle and pageant.  
 
Five contestants competed for the 1-year title in an effort to raise funds for five Fountain Valley charities.    David Truong, owner of Mimi's Jewelry, was the second runner up.  Dr. Marc Ecker, superintendent of the Fountain Valley School District, was the first runner up.   McDowell was crowned by 1977 Miss Fountain Valley, Keeli Scott Lisack.
 
The evening included an opening dance number (think "YMCA"), evening wear, swimsuit competition and a talent competition.   Read more »

The Fountain Valley Historical Society's May luncheon on Sunday will feature Lydia Garcia and Connie Alcala sharing their memories of the Colonia Juarez neighborhood. The luncheon starts at noon at Heritage Park, 17641 Los Alamos St. Cost is $10 and reservations are required by calling Leslie Montz at 714-378-1952. Those attending should bring their own table service. Read more »

Fountain Valley Living Magazine continues its series of profiles of Fountain Valley members of the military who are being recognized on the new city "Hometown Heroes" banners that can be seen on street posts along Brookhurst Street and Slater Avenue.

Doug Waters

Marine Lance. Cpl. Doug Waters, a 2008 graduate of Fountain Valley High School, joined the United States Marine Corps in 2010.

He returned April 10 from a deployment to Afghanistan with the 3^rd Combat Engineers Battalion and is now back at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center  in Twentynine Palms doing his post-deployment work. He's also working on the USMC requirements in hopes of advancing to the rank of corporal.

Doug went to Cox Elementary School and Masuda Middle School. He has one sister, Sela, who is a senior at Fountain Valley High. He is engaged to Kelsey Randall, a 2011 graduate of FVHS. They intend to get married on Aug. 25.

He attended boot camp at MCRD San Diego, followed by Marine Combat Training (MCT) at Camp Pendleton. After MCT, he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. for training before going to his permanent duty station at Twentynine Palms.

The deployment with the 3rd Combat Engineers Battalion was his first. Read more »

Home foreclosures have become all too common in today's economy, and the city of Fountain Valley is no exception. According to city officials, there are just over 240 homes in foreclosure as of May 17, 2012. Of those known foreclosures, 159 are currently registered with the city under a fairly new ordinance requiring that all abandoned homes in foreclosure be registered with the city.

The ordinance, adopted in September of last year, gives the city authority to help keep the abandoned property safe.  This includes weed abatement, trespassing, and safety around abandoned pools. The city makes sure that no trespassing signs are posted on the property, gates to back yards with pools are locked, and that vector control is involved if abandoned pools start breeding mosquitoes or other bugs.

According to city officials, they averaged 20 homes per month that are added to the  list, and an equal number that are removed from the list due to sales or other activities with the property.

Anyone that has a home in foreclosure that has been abandoned is required to register that home with the city. That can be done at City Hall or by calling (714) 593-4494. Read more »

The Fountain Valley Fire Department will hold a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at City Hall to allow residents to comment on the city's Hazard Mitigation Plan. The city is required to have a Federal Emergency Management Agency-approved plan to be eligible for certain disaster assistance and funding.  A draft of the 378-page document can be viewed online at www.fountainvalley.org/residents/emergency/documents/FountainValley.LHMP.Draft.April2012. More information: Call Deputy Fire Marshal Adria Paesani at 714-593-4430. Read more »

Thursday, 5/17

 Fountain Valley Mayor's Breakfast  8 - 9 a.m.:  
Saltzer Room of the Fountain Valley Hospital

17110 Euclid Street, Fountain Valley  
Featuring Andy Perea, FV Planning Director

speaking on "Code Enforcement".

Kiwanis Meeting 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m
Fountain Bowl 

Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley

Italian Club 1 - 2 p.m.
Fountain Valley Community Center

17967 Bushard Street, Fountain Valley
Call 714-593-4446 for more info.

 Point of View Group 1 - 2 p.m. 
Fountain Valley Community Center

17967 Bushard Street, Fountain Valley
Call 714-593-4446 for more info.

Yoga Class (free)1 - 2 p.m.
Palm Island Active Adult Living

11300 Warner Avenue, Fountain Valley
Class in the multi-purpose room. 

 Call 714-546-5404 for info.

 Line Dancing (free) 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Palm Island Active Adult Living

11300 Warner Avenue, Fountain Valley
Call 714-546-5404 for info.

 Friday, 5/18

 Fountain Valley Senior Club 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Fountain Valley Community Center

17967 Bushard Street, Fountain Valley
Call 714-593-4446 for more info.

Aqua Fitness Class 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.:
Palm Island 55+ Active Community

11300 Warner Avenue, Fountain Valley

Free class in the pool. 

Call 714-546-5404 for info.

Mr. Fountain Valley Pageant 5:45 - 10 p.m. 

Fountain Valley sports Park & Recreation Center

16400 Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley

$50 at the door, pending ticket availability.

Cosmic Bowling at Fountain Bowl 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
17110 Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley

Saturday, 5/19

Zumba Gold   11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Palm Island 55+ Active Community  

11300 Warner Avenue, Fountain Valley

Call 714-546-5404 for info.

 Majesta M's A-Z Jewelry Supply & Rock Shoppe 1-Year Anniversary &

1 - 2 p.m.:  Ribbon Cutting

18904 Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley

 (Brookhurst & Garfield)

Cosmic Bowling at Fountain Bowl 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.
17110 Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley

Sunday, 5/20

 Children's Author, Chris Fonseca "Meet Bear" Book Preview 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.:  & Signing 

Izzy's Bagels and Coffee Shop

7060 Magnolia Street, Suite 101, Fountain Valley (Warner & Magnolia)

Dancing For Fun (free)2 - 3:30 p.m.

Palm Island 55+ Active Community

 11300 Warner Avenue, Fountain Valley

Free class in the pool.  Call 714-546-5404 for info. Read more »

The Fountain Valley Rotary Club has honored 14 outstanding teachers from the Fountain Valley School District and from Fountain Valley, Los Amigos and Valley Vista high schools.

Club President Donna Frank noted the importance of this event, explaining that it is an opportunity to recognize some of the best of the teaching profession.

The event, held at the Fountain Valley School District office, was made possible by donations from SchoolsFirst FCU, the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Kellogg Products, Fountain Valley Rotary, Rainbow Environmental Services and Sam's Club Fountain Valley.

Mayor John Collins, members of the City Council and Fountain Valley Rotary joined principals, district staff and family members in attendance to honor these teachers representing the "best of the best" of their profession.

Teacher of the Year nominees are:

Venus Moeller, Courreges Elementary School

Christine Carrasco, Cox Elementary School

Jannette Johnson, Fulton Middle School              

Stephanie Rigdon, Gisler Elementary School

Kim Nguyen, Masuda Middle School      

Abir Kim, Moiola School               

Kimberly Phillips, Newland Elementary School

Jeanie Moussa-Zahab, Oka Elementary School  

Amelie Terich, Plavan Elementary School

John Wood, Talbert Middle School

Patti Pitaccio, Tamura Elementary School

Janet Marquez, Fountain Valley High School

Brandon Futagaki, Valley Vista High School:

Julie Gillispie-Krueger, Los Amigos High School Read more »

Tournament welcomes new co-sponsor this year

The annual JMG Security Systems Golf Tournament is set to tee off this Wednesday, with a record number of golfers and a new co-sponsor for the tournament. For the first time Pacific Premier Bank will join with JMG in putting on the tournament that raises funds each year for the Boys and Girls Club of Huntington Valley. Last year the event raised nearly $60,000 to support the programs of the Boys and Girls Club.

The tournament will take place on two courses at Mile Square Park, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.  Organizers expect a record 288 players this year, and hope to raise a record amount of revenue for the club.

The day starts with 10:30 a.m. sign in, a putting contest, lunch starting at 11 a.m. and a long drive contest at noon. Read more »

The City Council Tuesday is expected to approve an agreement with the cities of La Habra, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Anaheim and Santa Ana for the traffic signal synchronization project along Euclid Street between La Habra and Fountain Valley.  The cost to the city is $30,060, which is paid for by Measure M funds. Traffic signal synchronization is designed to reduce vehicle stops, reduce emissions, improve driver gas consumption and improve overall traffic flow, city staff said. Read more »

Fountain Valley Police on Thursday arrested a 44-year-old Tustin woman on suspicion of kidnapping and other charges after she allegedly took a 3-year-old child from a Fountain Valley residence.

Police responded to the 17300 block of San Luis regarding a child abduction. Georgina Garcia allegedly went to the child's great grandmother's house and took the 3-year-old as a result of a custody dispute.

Police say as Garcia drove away, she struck the great grandmother with her car. Read more »