Aliso Viejo

ALISO VIEJO — The Falcons 7-8 H flag football team had a league record of 10-0 and a tournament finish of 3-0 to become the NFL Flag Football South Orange County champions Nov. 4. The team includes local third-graders and friends Ryan Rodas, Wyatt Gillespie, Tyler Wetmore, Joey Purcell, Jaden Eun, Christian Twellman, Lachlan Treiser, Blake Morales and Matthew Auriemma. "They had to play in a tournament, which brought out a lot of emotions and unbelievable sportsmanship from such young players," Phil Rodas said.

"The Renaissance of Aliso Viejo" 2011 State of the City is Oct. 26 at the Soka Performing Arts Center. The evening begins with a reception at 6 p.m. in Soka's Founders Hall. A speech and presentation from Mayor Carmen Cave will follow at 7 p.m. The talk will focus on the state of Aliso Viejo and the community's culture and arts scene. Local singers, dancers and musicians will perform. A documentary film will be shown in honor of the city's 10th anniversary. Also, the city's Citizen, Senior and Youth of the Year will be announced.

The Aliso Viejo Family Resource Center and Mission Viejo Animal Services Center are teaming up to host a low-cost pet and vet clinic Jan. 7 at the Iglesia Park Community Center. The cash-only clinic will offer vaccinations and microchipping at discounted rates along with dog licensing from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Vaccines for cats and dogs will range from $7 to $28. Dogs must be on leashes and cats in carriers. The Iglesia Park Community Center is at 24671 Via Iglesia, near Moulton Parkway and Calle Cortez.

Beach Pit BBQ, which started with six Orange County locations, is down to three after its most recent closure in Aliso Viejo. Beach Pit BBQ closed its Laguna Niguel and Huntington Beach restaurants in the fall. Owner Tim DeCinces cited high rent costs and the mall setting that made the three locations fail. "BBQ isn't a staple for Southern Californians like tacos, burgers or pizza. It is more of an experience or novelty dining choice," DeCinces said in an email. "Going into strip mall lost the character of visiting our original three stores.

Aliso Viejo was awarded more than $93,000 in waterway improvement funding on Aug. 8 from the Orange County Transportation Authority's Measure M2 environmental program. The program funds projects to protect county waterways and beaches from pollution generated by transportation. Aliso Viejo plans to match the funding with $40,000 of its own money. "As we continue to meet the transportation needs of our county, we have to remember how critical it is to protect and preserve our environment from the impacts of our projects," OCTA Chairwoman and the Fifth District county Supervisor Patricia Bates said in a statement.

The Habit Burger Grill is holding "pre-opening" events at its new Aliso Viejo location Sunday and Monday, with proceeds benefiting three charities: Savannah's Organic Ranch, the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. and Share Our Strength. From noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, 100% of sales will go to Savannah's Organic Ranch. Known for its farm, the Aliso-Viejo based nonprofit also raises money for pediatric cancer research. Then, from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, dinner sales will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Assn., which spends 76 cents out of every dollar donated for research, services and education.

Prosecutors have charged a man with kidnapping a boy during a Saturday carjacking in Aliso Viejo. James Christopher Corr, 34, of Mission Viejo faces a slew of felony counts, including carjacking, kidnapping during the commission of a carjacking, first-degree robbery and hit-and-run with injury, according to the Orange County district attorney's office. Corr is first accused of breaking into a Honda Accord parked at an Aliso Viejo business and stealing a purse. Sometime after 8 a.m., Corr allegedly entered an open garage with a Volvo SUV inside, where a mother had left her 2-year-old son in the backseat as she went into her home to retrieve something.

The following is from Wednesday's Aliso Viejo City Council meeting. * O.C. Human Relations reports on hate crime Judy Iannaccone of Orange County Human Relations gave an annual report to the council on its 2010 findings regarding hate crimes and race-related bullying in the area. Aliso Viejo had one hate crime reported in 2010, according to Iannaccone and the California attorney general's 2010 report. Orange County as a whole had 65 documented victims.

Aliso Viejo is welcoming its third charter school, the Community Roots Academy, which just started its first academic year. Founded by Jeremy Cavallaro and Eve Fein, the school uses interdisciplinary, six-week projects to not only meet state standards but also to teach students skills beyond the classroom. "We believe a project process shows a whole different set of skills that fosters problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, initiative and articulation of one's ideas," Executive Director of Education Cavallaro said.

Laguna Beach's AYSO Division 5 boys' All-Star team won an exciting Area 11-L tournament game last weekend when Sam Stinnett scored a late goal to lift the team to a 3-2 victory over host Aliso Viejo. With just a few minutes left in regulation play, Laguna set up a corner kick that went to Stinnett, who then smashed the ball into the net to give Laguna the victory. Laguna had taken an early 1-0 lead when mid-fielder Michael Dougher scored. Aliso Viejo came back to tie the match on a penalty kick goal.

(Re "Mayor signs on for marriage equality," March 23): I was the one who asked Mayor Jane Egly to sign the pledge, which I did March 17. I emailed Egly asking for her support, and she signed the pledge March 19. I've been trying to get Mayor Donald Garcia of Aliso Viejo (where I live — I work in Laguna Beach) to sign, but at every turn he keeps dodging my questions. Hopefully other mayors in Orange County will follow. Alex Gill-Gerards Aliso Viejo * Not concerned gay reputation is fading (Re "Hansen: Gay Laguna fades away," March 23)

Fugitive rocker arrested while touring with band Police arrested a fugitive wanted in Connecticut last week when he and his touring blues band stopped for a gig in Laguna Niguel. Johnny Vibrato - whose real name is John McNally, 49 - eluded law enforcement for two years while touring with the band he sings and plays guitar for, the Razorbacks. Connecticut prosecutors charged McNally in 2010 with multiple counts of sexual assault and injury on a minor. Tustin police found McNally in Laguna Niguel after Connecticut state police informed them his band might be somewhere in Southern California.

While it felt like summer in most of Orange County this weekend, Aliso Viejo was a winter wonderland. The city's Snow Fest 2012 on Saturday drew people from all ages to enjoy about 52 tons of snow trucked in for the event. Families came to the Grand Park in Aliso Town Center to take rides down "Grand Mountain" and the "Bunny Slope," and the young ones enjoyed the "Snow Man Park" play area. —Kelly Parker

The following is from the Feb. 1 Aliso Viejo City Council meeting. * Policy for freebies The council approved a recommendation to enact a policy for free tickets and passes given to city officials, City Manager Mark Pulone said Thursday. Tickets and passes are defined as complimentary admission to events, shows or performances, according to the staff report. The Fair Political Practice Commission (FPPC) requires a policy "that identifies the legitimate public purpose for which the ticket or pass was distributed," according to a staff report, so as not to be considered a gift.

Printmaking class for beginners The Laguna Outreach for Community Arts on Saturday morning will put on a printmaking class for beginners at the Laguna Nursery. The 9:30 to 11 a.m. class will revolve around California natives and succulents, which will be introduced to the students by horticulturalist Ruben Flores. Instructor Sheryl Seltzer, a printmaking specialist, will teach the class, LOCA officials said in a news release. LOCA is a nonprofit coalition of artists, art educators and advocates that promotes arts education for people in the Laguna Beach area.

Beach Pit BBQ, which started with six Orange County locations, is down to three after its most recent closure in Aliso Viejo. Beach Pit BBQ closed its Laguna Niguel and Huntington Beach restaurants in the fall. Owner Tim DeCinces cited high rent costs and the mall setting that made the three locations fail. "BBQ isn't a staple for Southern Californians like tacos, burgers or pizza. It is more of an experience or novelty dining choice," DeCinces said in an email. "Going into strip mall lost the character of visiting our original three stores.

The Capistrano Unified School District board appointed new officers at its Dec. 12 meeting. Gary Pritchard was named president, John Alpay is vice president and Lynn Hatton is clerk of the board. "I am proud to have the confidence of my colleagues on the board," Pritchard said in a statement. "It is my hope that we can continue to work collaboratively as a board to find unique and innovative solutions to provide all of our students with an educational experience they not only need, but deserve, while we continue to responsibly manage the challenges of the current fiscal environment.