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Join Me for Irvine’s 10th Annual Super Pet Adoption Event!

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10th Annual Super Pet Adoption Event

IMG_0419Join me for Irvine’s 10th Annual Super Pet Adoption Event on Sunday, June 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  More than 40 pet rescue groups and animal shelters will bring some 600 homeless dogs, cats, rabbits and small animals for adoption.

The Super Pet Adoption Event features dozens of vendors, gourmet food trucks, a silent auction, low-cost microchipping and an opportunity drawing.  Each animal available for adoption is spayed or neutered, microchipped and evaluated by a veterinarian.  Cats and dogs are vaccinated appropriate to age.

adopt.me.02The suggested donation for the event is $2 per person or $5 per family.  Parking is free.  Event proceeds benefit the Irvine Animal Care Center in its efforts to provide care and support to thousands of homeless, neglected and abused animals each year.

What: Irvine’s 10th annual Super Pet Adoption Event

Where: 6443 Oak Canyon, Irvine, CA 92618

When: Sunday, June 5, 2016. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To download the event flyer, click here.

For more information, call 949-724-7740.

Seniors Helping Seniors

There will be lots of adorable animals who need forever homes at the Super Pet Adoption Event, but the best pet for you, especially if you are a senior, is a senior animal.

One of the best programs of the Irvine Animal Care Center is “Seniors Helping Seniors.”  In order to help both the senior people and the homeless senior pets of our community, the Irvine Animal Care Center has implemented a new program that will allow individuals age 62 and older to adopt a senior pet at no charge.  Many of our senior pets came from a nice home environment and were relinquished because their owners could no longer care for them.

melissa bunnyThe stress of shelter life is often quite difficult for senior animals and so the quicker they can find a good new home, the better. These animals are often already housebroken, so they make great companions for senior citizens.

Adoption hours at the Irvine Animal Care Center are noon to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Center is closed on Tuesdays and holidays.

Please allow yourself at least one hour to visit with adoptable animals.   Look for the green “senior” stamp on the kennel cards to identify adoptable seniors.

For more information, call 949-724-7740.

Bunnies are Best in Bunches

Dogs and cats are not the only animals looking for forever homes at the Irvine Animal Care Center.  The Center also has many super cute bunnies for adoption.

Rabbits make wonderful pets for the right people.  According to the website Petfinder, “Rabbits have strikingly distinctive personalities. They can be as playful and silly as puppies or kittens, as independent and fascinating as cats, or as loyal and openly affectionate as dogs. And long-time rabbit owners claim that domestic rabbits are, in their own way, every bit as smart as cats and dogs. . .  If you want a fascinating, funny, warm and wonderful companion animal, try a rabbit.”

Many of the bunnies at the Center are litter-mates who are bonded to each other.  For that reason, if you can, it might be a great idea to adopt two or three bonded siblings.

Whatever animal you adopt, or whether you just come visit the animals and support the Irvine Animal Care Center, I’m sure you’ll have a great time at the Super Pet Adoption Event.

I hope to see you there!

 

 

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Join Me as Irvine Honors Our Fallen Heroes

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“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  President John F. Kennedy

Please join me this weekend as Irvine honors the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

Irvine has a long and proud military tradition. From 1942 to 1999, Irvine was home to Marine Air Station El Toro, the largest Marine Corps Air Station on the West Coast. During World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War, thousands of United States Marines, as well as airmen, sailors and soldiers, departed for war from MCAS El Toro.

Many never returned.

As the daughter of a combat veteran and as an Irvine Community Services Commissioner, I am proud that Irvine will honor our fallen heroes in two ceremonies this weekend:

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Candle Lighting Ceremony: Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial 

4531 Bryan Avenue, Irvine CA 92620

4:00 p.m.

Northwood memorialThe Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial, dedicated in 2010, is the nation’s first and only memorial dedicated exclusively to listing the names of all the fallen American service members in Afghanistan and Iraq.  The names of every service member who has died in Afghanistan and Iraq are engraved in granite in a permanent memorial, to assure that future generations of Americans will remember and honor them with gratitude as we do today. The ceremony will honor our fallen heroes from all generations, with special tribute to those fallen heroes of the recent and ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  We will also hear from and honor Gold Star families.  Please bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating.

Monday, May 30, 2016

Memorial Day Ceremony: Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park

4 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine CA 92606

10:00 a.m.

Col. Bill Barber Marine Corp Memorial Park, located next to City Hall, is named in honor of Korean War Medal of Honor recipient and Irvine resident Marine Corp Colonel William E. Barber (1919-2002).  Attendees will have the opportunity to memorialize our troops’ sacrifice by writing a brief remembrance to be posted on a memory board. Cards will also be available for well-wishers to send a message of appreciation and support to Irvine’s adopted 211/Marine Battalion.  Click here to download a pre-made remembrance card.

As stated so beautifully and appropriately by the Veterans of Foreign Wars:

“Pausing to remember and honor America’s fallen service members is a practice dating back more than 100 years. Since the days of the Civil War, humble Americans have gathered together on Memorial Day to remember and pay tribute to all who have fought and selflessly surrendered the precious gift of life, so that other could live free.

Again we gather this Memorial Day, as a nation solemnly united in remembrance of the fallen defenders of our great nation. Freedom is not free. It has come at great cost, paid for with the lives of our sons and daughters, husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, friends and comrades.

Every American owes a great debt to the courageous men and women who have selflessly given their all to defend and protect our way of life. And while giving back to the extent they deserve is impossible, celebrating their memory and honoring their most selfless deeds offers a start.

This Memorial Day, pause to reflect on the absolute selflessness of the 1.3 million members of our nation’s military who paid the price needed to ensure our way of life endures, and let us not forget the families whose pain will never go away, but may lessen with our thanks and prayers.

God Bless our fallen, their families, and our men and women in uniform all over the world.”

 

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Stop Human Trafficking in Irvine: Look Beneath the Surface

Human-Trafficking (2)Irvine is among the safest cities in America.  Yet even here in Irvine, where crime statistics are extremely low, others are forced to labor against their will.  We need to be alert for those who live and work among us and are enslaved. To recognize and stop it, we will need to look beneath the surface.

Here are some disturbing facts about human trafficking:

  • Human trafficking is a term for a modern form of slavery.  It is a criminal human rights violation.
  • All trafficking victims share one essential experience: the loss of freedom.
  • There are more slaves today than at any time in human history.
  • 20.9 million people around the world are victims of human trafficking.
  • Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world, second only to drug trafficking.
  • The world-wide business of human trafficking brings in an estimated $150 billion a year.
  • According to the U.S. State Department, approximately two million women and children are victims of human trafficking every year.
  • Half of human trafficking victims are younger than 16 years old.

Human trafficking is taking place right before our eyes, in our own communities and places of business.  It occurs in our office buildings, malls, restaurants, and hotels, as well as in residential brothels and street-based commercial sex establishments.

In most cases, human trafficking is hidden in plain sight – disguised by being right out in the open, masquerading as a legitimate business, such as a nail salon or janitorial company.

Unless we know what to look for, we will probably not even see it.

slavery_look_beneath_surface_girlIn the area of sex-based slavery, businesses appear and disappear overnight. Customers seeking their services find them on internet chat rooms. Women held captive in these businesses are moved frequently between locations and cities.  Traffickers do not want the women to learn too much about their location or to have relationships with customers or others who could help them escape. Too often, victims of sex trafficking do not even know that we would consider them to be victims of a crime.

Labor traffickers use individuals to perform labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Labor trafficking includes situations of debt bondage, forced labor, and involuntary child labor. Often the victims of human trafficking owe large debts they are unable to pay it off, or were recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work.  People are promised immigration, documentation, education, a career, and then are forced into slave labor or debt bondage and kept isolated and beaten, with no identification, and are told that they will be punished or imprisoned by legal authorities rather than helped.

Traffickers most often prey on the most vulnerable, the undocumented, and on non-English speakers.  But traffickers prey on all nationalities, including native-born American.

Victims and their captors are often from the same ethnic group and might even know each other’s families, so the threat of violence against relatives at home is used to control them.

We can stop human trafficking by knowing what to look for and then reporting our observations to local authorities or the National Hotline at 888-373-7888.

At the airport, look for travelers who are not dressed appropriately for the weather or who have few or no personal items, are less well dressed than their companions, or wearing clothes that are the wrong size; have a tattoo of a bar code, or the word “Daddy,” or man’s name; cannot provide details of their departure location, destination, or flight information.

Also look for travelers whose communication seems scripted, or who appear to be unable to move around freely, or appear to be controlled, closely watched or followed; who appear afraid to discuss themselves around others, deferring any attempts at conversation to someone who appears to be controlling them.

In regard to children, look for those who are dressed in a sexualized manner, or seem to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, are malnourished or show signs of physical or sexual abuse, such as bruises, scars, or cigarette burns.

In our communities and neighborhoods, look for those who appear not to be free to leave or to come and go as he/she wishes; are unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips.

Also look for those who work excessively long and/or unusual hours; are not allowed breaks or who suffer under unusual restrictions at work; whose work or living conditions involve high security measures, such as opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, or security cameras.

We should also be alert for persons living or working in our communities who avoid eye contact, or appear to be fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, nervous or paranoid; or who exhibit unusually fearful or anxious behavior regarding law enforcement.

We need to be on the alert for people living or working in our community who appear not to be in control of his/her own money, with no financial records or bank account; who are not in control of their own identification documents (ID or passport); are not allowed or able to speak for themselves; who cannot explain or state where they live; or who appear not to know basic facts about the city or community where they are living.

Poor physical health can also be an indication of human trafficking.  We should be alert for people living or working in our community who appear to lack medical care or appear to be malnourished or shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or exposure to harmful chemicals.

With two million victims every year and $150 billion in illicit profits, law enforcement cannot stop it alone.  Everyone one of us needs to be alert to human trafficking and ready to inform the proper authorities whenever they suspect that someone they know or see is a human trafficking victim.

Human trafficking is a global problem, but we can be a crucial part of a local solution.

Irvine is a community that cares and together we can make a difference.

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Join Me on the Ride of Silence to Honor Cyclists Killed or Injured and Promote Sharing the Road

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Join us on Wednesday, May 18, as we meet once again at Irvine City Hall to remember and honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

We ride to promote sharing the road and provide awareness of the rights and safety of bicyclists.  Our silent ride also commemorates those who have been killed or injured doing what each of us has a right to do – a right that, far too often, motorists fail to recognize, sometimes with deadly consequences.

Ghost bike (2)Irvine is a wonderful city for biking, whether for commuting, exercising, or just enjoying the outdoors. We have more than 300 miles of on-street bike lanes and more than 50 miles of off-street bikeways.  Our bicycle trails are some of the most beautiful, and peaceful, places in Irvine.

Yet in Irvine, as everywhere else, motorists must learn to better share the road safely with cyclists; that cyclists have the same rights to the road as motorists; and that cyclists are the most vulnerable users of the roadways.

Since last year’s ride, 21 bicyclists have been killed in Orange County.  That is far, far too many. Among the victims was 9-year-old Kevin Jiang here in Irvine, who was struck and killed by a van while riding his bike home from school. These individuals were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, co-workers, as well as cyclists.  We have no idea of the impact they may have had in this world because their lives were taken by motorists.

Irvine’s Ride of Silence is part of a larger, international movement to commemorate cyclists killed or injured while riding on public roads and to raise awareness among motorists of the dangers they pose to cyclists.

As a bicyclist myself, as the mother of a bicyclist, as an Irvine resident and Community Services Commissioner, as an advocate for more active transportation as a way to cut pollution and our reliance on fossil fuels, I am honored to ride with you.

The Ride of Silence asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. There are no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured.

Participating in the Ride of Silence is a very emotional experience.  Here is how I described the Ride in a guest column in the Orange County Register in 2014:

“Participating in the Ride of Silence in Irvine last week was a deeply emotional experience.  Beginning at Irvine City Hall, we rode our bicycles in a 9.7-mile loop around Irvine in single file and in silence.  It was a powerful sight to see scores of silent riders forming a solemn line stretching more than a mile as the evening sky turned purple.  Founded in 2003 to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways, promote sharing the road and provide awareness of bicycling safety, the Ride of Silence is an international event taking place in hundreds of cities across the globe. . .

As an Irvine Community Services Commissioner, I often tell people that Irvine is a wonderful city for biking. We have 301 miles of on-street bike lanes and 54 miles of off-street bikeways. Our bicycle trails are some of the most beautiful, and peaceful, places in Irvine. And Irvine has been recognized as a “Silver” Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, making it the most bicycle-friendly city in Southern California. Yet in Irvine, as everywhere else, motorists must learn to share the road safely with cyclists [and more must be done to make our roads safer for bicyclists].

We must remember that cyclists have legal rights to the road as do motorists and bicyclists are the most vulnerable users of the roadways.

We ride to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured.

We ride to promote public awareness of bicycling safety.

We ride so that no bicyclist is ever again killed or injured because of a motorist’s failure to share the road.”

What: The Ride of Silence

When: Wednesday, May 18. Gather at 6 PM. Assemble at 6:30 PM. Ride at 7 PM.

Where: Irvine Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza (near the flag poles in front of the Police Department).

The Irvine Police Department has been invited to participate and provide support in escorting again for the ride.

More information, click here for the Ride of Silence Orange County.

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Help Irvine Animal Care Center’s March Foster Donation Drive!

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Irvine Animal Care Center‘s month-long Foster Donation Drive has begun!  The Center is collecting much needed items to support the needs of its foster program.

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Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox with one of the animals available for adoption at the Irvine Animal Care Center

Not only does this program help animals at the Center, it also allows the Center, through its Third Chance for Pets program, to bring in under-aged animals from other Southern California shelters where their chances for adoption are limited.

For more information on the March Foster Donation Drive and to see the Center’s wish lists, please visit the Center’s website and click on the Events tab.

The Irvine Animal Care Center is a progressive and innovative municipal animal shelter that continually strives to strengthen the human-animal bond and improve the welfare of animals by promoting their humane care and treatment.

The Center’s 3.73 acre, park-like facility cares for thousands of homeless, neglected and abused animals every year. All animals in their care receive veterinary care, high-quality food, soft bedding and daily socialization.

Your support helps the Center fulfill its mission of placing all adoptable animals into permanent, loving, responsible pet homes and reuniting owner-identified animals with their owners; providing a safe, clean, caring and enriching environment that meets the high standards of our community and provides the community a resource of trained and knowledgeable staff and volunteers; and promoting human responsibility for companion animals.

Click here to learn more about the Center’s adoption program and to see the dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals that are currently looking for new forever homes.

We are so fortunate to have the Irvine Animal Center in our community!  Please consider contributing and/or volunteering.  Making donations to the Irvine Animal Care Center is easy and available online.

Irvine Animal Care Center’s Hours of Operation:

Weekdays: Noon to 7:00 PM

Weekends: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Closed Tuesdays and Holidays.

Adoptions stop one hour prior to closing.

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Join Me on the Next Irvine Food Tour: Phans 55 Vietnamese Bistro and Bar

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Please join me as we continue our Irvine Food Tour, showcasing and sharing our wonderful cultural diversity in Irvine as expressed in scores of amazing local restaurants and markets featuring cuisines as diverse as Irvine’s population.

Irvine is home to scores of remarkable locally-owned restaurants featuring cuisine as diverse as Irvine’s population. But many people who live in Irvine are not aware of the great restaurants we have, or perhaps they’re a little uncertain about trying food they perhaps have not eaten before. That is why I created the Irvine Food Tour, where we visit a local restaurant and the owner or chef selects the menu and explains the food as it is brought to us.

The Irvine Food Tour is also a great way to support local businesses and to connect local business owners with the community.

Our next Irvine Food Tour Destination is Phans 55, a Vietnamese Bistro and Bar.

As the home of more than 200,000 people of Vietnamese heritage, Orange County has hundreds of restaurants specializing in Vietnamese cuisine.  You can find restaurants featuring traditional dishes from every region and city in Vietnam. Irvine’s Phans 55, a family owned and operated restaurant, takes a slightly different approach: Vietnamese cuisine with a modern flare.

The menu is built around the healthy, fresh, distinctive cuisine of Vietnam, as beautiful as it is delicious.

OC Metro Magazine has raved about Phan 55’s “quality of the locally sourced food and the outstanding diversity of inspiring flavors.” OC Coast Magazine promised its readers that they “will love Phans 55, a sexy Vietnamese bistro and bar that serves healthy Vietnamese and focuses on the green movement.”

Our hosts and guides will be owners Tom and Susie Phan, who bring to Phans 55’s wonderful cuisine many years of technique and training passed on from generation to generation.

As always they’ll be great food and great conversation!

There are vegetarian and kid-friendly options.  Each diner will purchase their own items from the menu.

As Tom and Susie Phan have said, “it is through eating that we can take a moment and listen to each other’s lives. Food always has this magical element that can bond different people from different backgrounds together. ”

We could not agree more!

What: Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox

When: Monday, April 4, 2016, at 6:00 p.m.

Where: Phans 55, a Vietnamese Bistro and Bar. 6000 Scholarship, Irvine CA 92612

If you have any questions, please contact me at 949-683-8855 or melissa@melissafoxlaw.com.

Seating is limited, so please reserve your spot as soon as possible by calling me at 949-683-8855 or emailing me at melissa@melissafoxlaw.com.

See you there!

Please note:  Commissioner Melissa Fox’s Irvine Food Tour is the creation of Melissa Fox and Dr. Catherine Liu, based on their love of Irvine’s many cultures and cuisines and their desire to share Irvine’s many wonderful cultures and cuisines with you, and is not an official activity or event of the City of Irvine

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Residents Work Together to Save Woodbridge Village Center — and Win!

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It feels good when we work together and win!

This week, the Irvine Company announced plans to spend $30 million to revitalize the Woodbridge Village Center, which has not been updated since it was built in 1979.  The Center is in the middle of Irvine’s Village of Woodbridge, which encompasses about 9,600 homes and 30,000 residents.  According to the Irvine Company, the $30 million reinvestment will “upgrade the retail, dining and entertainment mix to complement longtime favorites, freshen the architecture for a coastal California feel, and create an expansive outdoor setting for dining, relaxing and community gatherings that overlooks North Lake.”

Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox and her son, Max, bicycling in Woodbridge.

Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox and her son, Max, bicycling in Woodbridge.

Last year, Woodbridge residents were gravely concerned that the Village Center would be demolished, and that in its place new development would add unwanted housing and traffic congestion to Woodbridge and forever change the character of their beautiful community – without their input or consent.

In response, a group of residents calling themselves Friends of Woodbridge Village Center formed to fight for their neighborhood.

In an email, they warned that “Big changes are in the works for the Woodbridge Village Center. The Irvine Company is presently evaluating options to replace the Village Center with either a residential development (most likely condominiums), or with a standard shopping center. Regardless of the option selected, the current Village Center will most likely be destroyed.”

The group mobilized residents to oppose any move to demolish the Village Center or change the character of the neighborhood.  Students from Lakeside Middle School marched with protest signs to tell the Irvine Company that they loved the Village Center.

As I wrote at the time in support of the Woodbridge Village Center, “When Woodbridge opened on Father’s Day in 1975, it was Irvine’s premier master planned community, showcasing Irvine’s commitment to creating villages of single family homes and townhouses, with parks, greenbelts, bicycle trails, interconnecting pathways, open space, and neighborhood shopping.  After 40 years of success, the people of Woodbridge love their community, and they love their Woodbridge Village Center. That’s why people are so upset by the prospect that their Village Center will be destroyed and replaced with high density apartments and condos or office buildings. . . The public interest – in preventing over-crowding, increased crime and congestion, and in preserving the character of our communities – comes before the private interests of developers, no matter how big and powerful those developers may be.”

Now it appears that the residents’ concerns have been heard.

Congratulations to the Friends of Woodbridge Village Center – and to all of us who worked to ensure that Woodbridge remains one of Irvine’s most beautiful communities.

Congratulations to the Irvine Company for listening to Woodbridge’s residents and for re-investing in the Woodbridge Village Center.

Now we must continue to work together to ensure that the beauty, safety and character of our communities are preserved in all of Irvine.

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The Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox Returns! Join Us for a Spectacular Persian Dinner at House of Kabob!

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“I don’t know anyone who has had Persian food and didn’t like it. Seriously.” ― Rick Steves, Guidebook Author and TV host.

Food is an expression of culture and a central focus of family life.  Here in Irvine, our cultural diversity is expressed in many forms, including restaurants.  I would like to share my love of Irvine’s many cultures and cuisines with you. That’s why I’ve launched the Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox.

Food Tour HOK 2-8-16 (2) (1) (1)-page-0Please join us as we continue our Irvine Food Tour, showcasing and sharing our wonderful cultural diversity in Irvine as expressed in scores of amazing local restaurants and markets featuring cuisines as diverse as Irvine’s population!

As always, there’s going to be great food and great conversation!

Our next Irvine Food Tour destination is House of Kabob on Monday, February 8 at 6:00 p.m., for a spectacular dinner of Persian food.

House of Kabob is an award-winning restaurant that offers a casual yet refined dining experience through a meticulous fusion of flavorful food, pleasant ambience, and congenial hospitality.  The restaurant’s goal is to provide authentic Persian/Mediterranean cuisine coupled with impeccable service. Every dish is prepared fresh daily with only the finest ingredients.

The Los Angeles Times has raved that “House of Kabob cooks with self-assurance, its name a declaration of the restaurant’s dominion over all things skewered. Kabobs do indeed fare well, gobbets of beef, lamb or chicken charred in a primal, pleasing way. The koobideh kebab — ground beef formed into a torpedo — is the juicy ideal of what a kebab can be, the meat made almost silken amid the flames.  Combination kebabs offer a complete experience. The zafarani kebab trio provides a taste of everything: a boneless chicken kebab, a koobideh kebab and two lamb chops. Each kebab plate is served with a heap of basmati rice and orbs of charbroiled tomato, their skins blistered and scarred like the craggy surface of some comet-battered planet.”

Our expert host will be owner Jozef Besharati, who has more than 30 years of experience in culinary creations, event planning, and hotel management.  Mr. Besharati’s experience first began when he attended Le Vieux Bois in Geneva, Switzerland, which is known to be one of the top culinary schools in Europe.  After six rigorous years of training, he proceeded to work at Geneva’s acclaimed AAA Five Star Hotel du Rhone. After nearly 10 years of advancing his knowledge of management and culinary expertise where he worked under some of the most well-known chefs in Europe, Mr. Besharati moved to Irvine, California, where he spent the next 15 years working as the Catering and Banquet Manager at the AAA Five Star Le Meridian Hotel and later the AAA Five Star Sutton Place Hotel.

Seating is limited, so please reserve your spot as soon as possible by calling me at 949-683-8855 or emailing me at melissa@melissafoxlaw.com.

There are vegetarian and kid-friendly options.  Each diner will purchase their own items from the menu.

See you there!

What: Irvine Food Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox

When: Monday, February 8, 2016, at 6:00 p.m.

Where: House of Kabob, 92 Corporate Park, Irvine, CA 92606

If you have any questions, please contact me at 949-683-8855 or melissa@melissafoxlaw.com.

See you there!

Please note:  Commissioner Melissa Fox’s Irvine Food Tour is the creation of Melissa Fox and Dr. Catherine Liu, based on their love of Irvine’s many cultures and cuisines and their desire to share Irvine’s many wonderful cultures and cuisines with you, and is not an official activity or event of the City of Irvine

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Happy Korean American Day!

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Today commemorates the 113th  year of Korean immigration to the United States.

Korean War veterans (2)On January 13, 1903, a group of 102 Koreans arrived in Honolulu from Japan aboard the steamship RMS Gaelic to work in the Hawaiian sugar cane fields. This date is traditionally regarded as marking the first Korean immigration to the United States and celebrated as Korean American Day, although several individual Koreans had immigrated to the United States earlier, including Philip Jaisohn (Seo Jae-pil), a journalist and medical doctor and a noted champion for Korea’s independence and democracy, who in 1890 became the first Korean to become a naturalized U.S. citizen.

From these humble beginnings, a large and vibrant Korean American community has grown, now numbering nearly 2 million people of Korean descent in the United States, including nearly half a million people in California, and more than 13,000 Korean Americans living in Irvine.

melissa-koreanfestival-02 (2)Irvine is proud to celebrate our thriving Korean American community. Each year Irvine holds our annual Irvine Korean Cultural Festival, designed to share Korean culture with the entire community by showcasing its customs, heritage, arts and cuisine.

Our city has adopted the South Korean city of Seocho-gu as one of Irvine’s four “Sister Cities,” and has begun planning for the construction of a traditional Korean garden in Col. Bill Barber Park next to Irvine City Hall.

As the proud daughter of a Korean War veteran, and as a proud resident of Irvine, I feel a deep appreciation for the vital contributions that Korean Americans have made to our city, our state, and our country.

I am proud to live in a city that celebrates and treasures our tremendous diversity, including our vital Korean American community, and I join my Korean American friends and neighbors in celebrating Korean American contributions to our shared American heritage and way of life.

Happy Korean American Day!

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The Spirit of Christmas

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“For the spirit of Christmas knows no race, no creed, no clime, no limitation of time or space. Yes, the spirit of Christmas breathes an eternal message of peace and goodwill to all men.”  — President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Dear Friends,

During this special time of the year, I am filled with joy and gratitude for all of our blessings.

I am particularly thankful for our wonderful community and for your friendship.

Michael, Max and I wish you a Merry Christmas, a joyous holiday season, and a healthy and prosperous new year!

Sincerely,

Melissa

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Happy Thanksgiving from the Fox Family

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We Americans have much for which we are deeply grateful.

We are grateful for this great nation, for our freedoms, and for those whose sacrifices, past and present, have made those freedoms endure for generations.

We are grateful for our families and friends, and for the love that makes life worthwhile.

We are grateful for the blessings of our beautiful planet and our beautiful state of California.

We are also grateful that we are fortunate enough to be able to help others.

Our family, especially during the holidays, supports ClothingDonations.org, a service of Vietnam Veterans of America. ClothingDonations.org will pick up your used clothes and household goods at your convenience and use them to support programs that address the needs of all our veterans.

We also support Families Forward, an Irvine-based organization that assists Orange County families in financial crisis to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and helps these families to once again become independent, productive residents of the community. During the holidays,Families Forward also provides in-need families with festive food baskets and personalized holiday gifts.

Another worthy organization is the California Association of Food Banks, founded in 1995 to help hungry people throughout California, including our local Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and the Community Action Partnership of Orange County Food Bank.

Our City of Irvine proudly and gratefully supports the Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee, which provides charitable and educational activities and support for the benefit and welfare of the United States Marines and their families assigned to Camp Pendleton, California, with special emphasis on the Marines and families of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines.

We also endorse giving to Socks for Heroes, which ships socks along with other essentials to United States Marine Corps combat infantry units, provides Marine children the ability to take advantage of swimming lessons, sports, and camps, and provides other programs for single Marines and Marine families during deployments.

We are grateful, too, for everyone in our community and our nation who protects us and serves those in need.

Our friend Michael Kinslow, who we lost last year, wrote a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving for those who protect and those who serve:

Thank you God for every woman and man who risks their life for my freedom and safety. Please bless their families with peace.

Thank you God for every child, woman, and man who volunteers in my community. All of those who feed the hungry, provide shelter, and all who put their hearts, minds, and souls into building up others and caring for all of your creatures. Please bless them in their own time of need.

Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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Join Me at Irvine’s Global Village Festival 2015!

Globalvillage.2015

My favorite Irvine cultural event of the year is almost here!

This Saturday, September 26, 2015, is the Irvine Global Village Festival!

Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox at Irvine's Global Village Festival 2013

Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox at Irvine’s Global Village Festival 2013

In Irvine, we are proud of saying that our City is not only among the most diverse cities in the nation, it is also the most fully integrated. There are no ethnic, linguistic, religious, or cultural enclaves in Irvine: every neighborhood reflects Irvine’s harmonious ethnic, linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity.

How diverse is Irvine?  A non-English language is spoken in a remarkable 58% of Irvine homes, with more than 70 different languages spoken in residences throughout Irvine.  Nearly 40 % of Irvine’s public school students have a primary language other than English.  Irvine is also home to more than 80 different churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship, serving Irvine’s wonderful cultural and religious diversity.

This year marks the 14th anniversary of the Irvine Global Village Festival – Irvine’s largest and most attended community event.  Founded in 1998 by a group of Irvine residents to help promote understanding and build harmony within Irvine’s many diverse cultures, the Global Village Festival is now Irvine’s signature event, featuring more than 100 performances on five stages; international cuisine and food from more than 50 restaurants; an international marketplace filled with unique crafts and textiles; interactive, educational and entertaining cultural displays, demonstrations, and performances; and an international village just for kids.

I’m looking forward to celebrating the many facets of Irvine’s diversity at the Global Village Festival – and I look forward to seeing you there!

Here are some important Festival details:

What: Irvine Global Village Festival

When: Saturday, September 27, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where: Bill Barber Park, 4 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA

Cost: Admission is FREE! Food tasting tickets are available for purchase at the event. Tickets are $1 each; with tasting prices ranging from 1 to 3 tickets per item. Cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover are accepted at designated ticket booth locations. Prices for sample sized items range from $1 to $3; it is recommended to purchase $10 per person. Tickets are non-refundable. For your convenience, a Schools First automatic teller machine (ATM) is located at the Irvine Civic Center, adjacent to the Irvine Police Department entrance.

Parking: There is no on-site parking at the event. While parking is not available at the event site, FREE shuttle buses will be in service to transport guests to and from the Festival’s satellite parking locations at Main and Jamboree and Woodbridge Community Park. Shuttles will be running from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Disabled Person Parking will be available at the San Juan or Civic Center parking lots adjacent to Bill Barber Park. Please have the appropriate placard visible when entering the parking lot.

Bike to the Festival – that’s how I’m getting there!  By far the easiest way to get to the Festival is by bike. The City of Irvine has an extensive system of bike trails to get you to and from the event, and once inside, riders can safely and securely store their bikes at the Festival’s free Bike Valet area, hosted by the Bicycle Club of Irvine and the Orange County Bicycle Coalition. Use the City’s Interactive Bike Map to plan your trip. Enter the destination address as “4 Civic Center”.

Pets: Dogs are welcome at the Irvine Global Village Festival! However, owners must be responsible for their pets; dogs must be on leash, interact well in a large crowd and remain in the charge of a person competent to restrain them.

See you there!

by

We Remember . . .

9-11 WTC

The World Trade Center (New York, New York)

Gordon McCannel Aamoth, 32, New York, N.Y.

Maria Rose Abad, 49, Syosset, N.Y.

Edelmiro (Ed) Abad, 54, New York, N.Y.

Andrew Anthony Abate, 37, Melville, N.Y.

Vincent Abate, 40, New York, N.Y.

Laurence Christopher Abel, 37

William F. Abrahamson, 58, Cortland Manor, N.Y.

Richard Anthony Aceto, 42, Wantagh, N.Y.

Erica Van Acker, 62, New York, N.Y.

Heinrich B. Ackermann, 38, New York, N.Y.

Paul Andrew Acquaviva, 29, Glen Rock, N.J.

Donald L. Adams, 28, Chatham, N.J.

Shannon Lewis Adams, 25, New York, N.Y.

Stephen Adams, 51, New York, N.Y.

Patrick Adams, 60, New York, N.Y.

Ignatius Adanga, 62, New York, N.Y.

Christy A. Addamo, 28, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Terence E. Adderley, 22, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Sophia B. Addo, 36, New York, N.Y.

Lee Adler, 48, Springfield, N.J.

Daniel Thomas Afflitto, 32, Manalapan, N.J.

Emmanuel Afuakwah, 37, New York, N.Y.

Alok Agarwal, 36, Jersey City, N.J.

Mukul Agarwala, 37, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Agnello, 35, New York, N.Y.

David Scott Agnes, 46, New York, N.Y.

Joao A. Aguiar Jr., 30, Red Bank, N.J.

Lt. Brian G. Ahearn, 43, Huntington, N.Y.

Jeremiah J. Ahern, 74, Cliffside Park, N.J.

Joanne Ahladiotis, 27, New York, N.Y.

Shabbir Ahmed, 47, New York, N.Y.

Terrance Andre Aiken, 30, New York, N.Y.

Godwin Ajala, 33, New York, N.Y.

Gertrude M. Alagero, 37, New York, N.Y.

Andrew Alameno, 37, Westfield, N.J.

Margaret Ann (Peggy) Jezycki Alario, 41, New York, N.Y.

Gary Albero, 39, Emerson, N.J.

Jon L. Albert, 46, Upper Nyack, N.Y.

Peter Craig Alderman, 25, New York, N.Y.

Jacquelyn Delaine Aldridge, 46, New York, N.Y.

Grace Alegre-Cua, 40, Glen Rock, N.J.

David D. Alger, 57, New York, N.Y.

Ernest Alikakos, 43, New York, N.Y.

Edward L. Allegretto, 51, Colonia, N.J.

Eric Allen, 44, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Ryan Allen, 39, New York, N.Y.

Richard Lanard Allen, 30, New York, N.Y.

Richard Dennis Allen, 31, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Edward Allingham, 36, River Edge, N.J.

Janet M. Alonso, 41, Stony Point, N.Y.

Anthony Alvarado, 31, New York, N.Y.

Antonio Javier Alvarez, 23, New York, N.Y.

Telmo Alvear, 25, New York, N.Y.

Cesar A. Alviar, 60, Bloomfield, N.J.

Tariq Amanullah, 40, Metuchen, N.J.

Angelo Amaranto, 60, New York, N.Y.

James Amato, 43, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

Joseph Amatuccio, 41, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Charles Amoroso, 29, New York, N.Y.

Kazuhiro Anai, 42, Scarsdale, N.Y.

Calixto Anaya, 35, Suffern, N.Y.

Jorge Octavio Santos Anaya, 25, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico

Joseph Peter Anchundia, 26, New York, N.Y.

Kermit Charles Anderson, 57, Green Brook, N.J.

Yvette Anderson, 53, New York, N.Y.

John Andreacchio, 52, New York, N.Y.

Michael Rourke Andrews, 34, Belle Harbor, N.Y.

Jean A. Andrucki, 42, Hoboken, N.J.

Siew-Nya Ang, 37, East Brunswick, N.J.

Joseph Angelini, 38, Lindenhurst, N.Y.

Joseph Angelini, 63, Lindenhurst, N.Y.

Laura Angilletta, 23, New York, N.Y.

Doreen J. Angrisani, 44, New York, N.Y.

Lorraine D. Antigua, 32, Middletown, N.J.

Peter Paul Apollo, 26, Hoboken, N.J.

Faustino Apostol, 55, New York, N.Y.

Frank Thomas Aquilino, 26, New York, N.Y.

Patrick Michael Aranyos, 26, New York, N.Y.

David Gregory Arce, 36, New York, N.Y.

Michael G. Arczynski, 45, Little Silver, N.J.

Louis Arena, 32, New York, N.Y.

Adam Arias, 37, Staten Island, N.Y.

Michael J. Armstrong, 34, New York, N.Y.

Jack Charles Aron, 52, Bergenfield, N.J.

Joshua Aron, 29, New York, N.Y.

Richard Avery Aronow, 48, Mahwah, N.J.

Japhet J. Aryee, 49, Spring Valley, N.Y.

Carl Asaro, 39, Middletown, N.Y.

Michael A. Asciak, 47, Ridgefield, N.J.

Michael Edward Asher, 53, Monroe, N.Y.

Janice Ashley, 25, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Thomas J. Ashton, 21, New York, N.Y.

Manuel O. Asitimbay, 36, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Gregg Arthur Atlas, 45, Howells, N.Y.

Gerald Atwood, 38, New York, N.Y.

James Audiffred, 38, New York, N.Y.

Kenneth W. Van Auken, 47, East Brunswick, N.J.

Louis F. Aversano, Jr, 58, Manalapan, N.J.

Ezra Aviles, 41, Commack, N.Y.

Ayodeji Awe, 42, New York, N.Y

Samuel (Sandy) Ayala, 36, New York, N.Y.

Arlene T. Babakitis, 47, Secaucus, N.J.

Eustace (Rudy) Bacchus, 48, Metuchen, N.J.

John James Badagliacca, 35, New York, N.Y.

Jane Ellen Baeszler, 43, New York, N.Y.

Robert J. Baierwalter, 44, Albertson, N.Y.

Andrew J. Bailey, 29, New York, N.Y.

Brett T. Bailey, 28, Bricktown, N.J.

Tatyana Bakalinskaya, 43, New York, N.Y.

Michael S. Baksh, 36, Englewood, N.J.

Sharon Balkcom, 43, White Plains, N.Y.

Michael Andrew Bane, 33, Yardley, Pa.

Kathy Bantis, 44, Chicago, Ill.

Gerard Jean Baptiste, 35, New York, N.Y.

Walter Baran, 42, New York, N.Y.

Gerard A. Barbara, 53, New York, N.Y.

Paul V. Barbaro, 35, Holmdel, N.J.

James W. Barbella, 53, Oceanside, N.Y.

Ivan Kyrillos Fairbanks Barbosa, 30, Jersey City, N.J.

Victor Daniel Barbosa, 23, New York, N.Y.

Colleen Ann Barkow, 26, East Windsor, N.J.

David Michael Barkway, 34, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Matthew Barnes, 37, Monroe, N.Y.

Sheila Patricia Barnes, 55, Bay Shore, N.Y.

Evan J. Baron, 38, Bridgewater, N.J.

Renee Barrett-Arjune, 41, Irvington, N.J.

Arthur T. Barry, 35, New York, N.Y.

Diane G. Barry, 60, New York, N.Y.

Maurice Vincent Barry, 49, Rutherford, N.J.

Scott D. Bart, 28, Malverne, N.Y.

Carlton W. Bartels, 44, New York, N.Y.

Guy Barzvi, 29, New York, N.Y.

Inna Basina, 43, New York, N.Y.

Alysia Basmajian, 23, Bayonne, N.J.

Kenneth William Basnicki, 48, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

Lt. Steven J. Bates, 42, New York, N.Y.

Paul James Battaglia, 22, New York, N.Y.

David Bauer, 45, Rumson, N.J.

Ivhan Luis Carpio Bautista, 24, New York, N.Y.

Marlyn C. Bautista, 46, Iselin, N.J.

Jasper Baxter, 45, Philadelphia, Pa.

Michele (Du Berry) Beale, 37, Essex, Britain

Paul F. Beatini, 40, Park Ridge, N.J.

Jane S. Beatty, 53, Belford, N.J.

Larry I. Beck, 38, Baldwin, N.Y.

Manette Marie Beckles, 43, Rahway, N.J.

Carl John Bedigian, 35, New York, N.Y.

Michael Beekman, 39, New York, N.Y.

Maria Behr, 41, Milford, N.J.

Yelena Belilovsky, 38, Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Nina Patrice Bell, 39, New York, N.Y.

Andrea Della Bella, 59, Jersey City, N.J.

Debbie S. Bellows, 30, East Windsor, N.J.

Stephen Elliot Belson, 51, New York, N.Y.

Paul Michael Benedetti, 32, New York, N.Y.

Denise Lenore Benedetto, 40, New York, N.Y.

Bryan Craig Bennett, 25, New York, N.Y.

Oliver Duncan Bennett, 29, London, England

Eric L. Bennett, 29, New York, N.Y.

Margaret L. Benson, 52, Rockaway, N.J.

Dominick J. Berardi, 25, New York, N.Y.

James Patrick Berger, 44, Lower Makefield, Pa.

Steven Howard Berger, 45, Manalapan, N.J.

John P. Bergin, 39, New York, N.Y.

Alvin Bergsohn, 48, Baldwin Harbor, N.Y.

Daniel D. Bergstein, 38, Teaneck, N.J.

Michael J. Berkeley, 38, New York, N.Y.

Donna Bernaerts-Kearns, 44, Hoboken, N.J.

David W. Bernard, 57, Chelmsford, Mass.

William Bernstein, 44, New York, N.Y.

David M. Berray, 39, New York, N.Y.

David S. Berry, 43, New York, N.Y.

Joseph J. Berry, 55, Saddle River, N.J.

William Reed Bethke, 36, Hamilton, N.J.

Timothy D. Betterly, 42, Little Silver, N.J.

Edward F. Beyea, 42, New York, N.Y.

Paul Michael Beyer, 37, New York, N.Y.

Anil T. Bharvaney, 41, East Windsor, N.J.

Bella Bhukhan, 24, Union, N.J.

Shimmy D. Biegeleisen, 42, New York, N.Y.

Peter Alexander Bielfeld, 44, New York, N.Y.

William Biggart, 54, New York, N.Y.

Brian Bilcher, 36, New York, N.Y.

Carl Vincent Bini, 44, New York, N.Y.

Gary Bird, 51, Tempe, Ariz.

Joshua David Birnbaum, 24, New York, N.Y.

George Bishop, 52, Granite Springs, N.Y.

Jeffrey D. Bittner, 27, New York, N.Y.

Balewa Albert Blackman, 26, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Joseph Blackwell, 42, Patterson, N.Y.

Susan L. Blair, 35, East Brunswick, N.J.

Harry Blanding, 38, Blakeslee, Pa.

Janice L. Blaney, 55, Williston Park, N.Y.

Craig Michael Blass, 27, Greenlawn, N.Y.

Rita Blau, 52, New York, N.Y.

Richard M. Blood, 38, Ridgewood, N.J.

Michael A. Boccardi, 30, Bronxville, N.Y.

John Paul Bocchi, 38, New Vernon, N.J.

Michael L. Bocchino, 45, New York, N.Y.

Susan Mary Bochino, 36, New York, N.Y.

Bruce Douglas (Chappy) Boehm, 49, West Hempstead, N.Y.

Mary Katherine Boffa, 45, New York, N.Y.

Nicholas A. Bogdan, 34, Browns Mills, N.J.

Darren C. Bohan, 34, New York, N.Y.

Lawrence Francis Boisseau, 36, Freehold, N.J.

Vincent M. Boland, 25, Ringwood, N.J.

Alan Bondarenko, 53, Flemington, N.J.

Andre Bonheur, 40, New York, N.Y.

Colin Arthur Bonnett, 39, New York, N.Y.

Frank Bonomo, 42, Port Jefferson, N.Y.

Yvonne L. Bonomo, 30, New York, N.Y.

Sean Booker, 35, Irvington, N.J.

Sherry Ann Bordeaux, 38, Jersey City, N.J.

Krystine C. Bordenabe, 33, Old Bridge, N.J.

Martin Boryczewski, 29, Parsippany, N.J.

Richard E. Bosco, 34, Suffern, N.Y.

John Howard Boulton, 29, New York, N.Y.

Francisco Bourdier, 41, New York, N.Y.

Thomas H. Bowden, 36, Wyckoff, N.J.

Kimberly S. Bowers, 31, Islip, N.Y.

Veronique (Bonnie) Nicole Bowers, 28, New York, N.Y.

Larry Bowman, 46, New York, N.Y.

Shawn Edward Bowman, 28, New York, N.Y.

Kevin L. Bowser, 45, Philadelphia, Pa.

Gary R. Box, 37, North Bellmore, N.Y.

Gennady Boyarsky, 34, New York, N.Y.

Pamela Boyce, 43, New York, N.Y.

Michael Boyle, 37, Westbury, N.Y.

Alfred Braca, 54, Leonardo, N.J.

Sandra Conaty Brace, 60, New York, N.Y.

Kevin H. Bracken, 37, New York, N.Y.

David Brian Brady, 41, Summit, N.J.

Alexander Braginsky, 38, Stamford, Conn.

Nicholas W. Brandemarti, 21, Mantua, N.J.

Michelle Renee Bratton, 23, Yonkers, N.Y.

Patrice Braut, 31, New York, N.Y.

Lydia Estelle Bravo, 50, Dunellen, N.J.

Ronald Michael Breitweiser, 39, Middletown Township, N.J.

Edward A. Brennan, 37, New York, N.Y.

Frank H. Brennan, 50, New York, N.Y.

Michael Emmett Brennan, 27, New York, N.Y.

Peter Brennan, 30, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

Thomas M. Brennan, 32, Scarsdale, N.Y.

Capt. Daniel Brethel, 43, Farmingdale, N.Y.

Gary L. Bright, 36, Union City, N.J.

Jonathan Eric Briley, 43, Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Mark A. Brisman, 34, Armonk, N.Y.

Paul Gary Bristow, 27, New York, N.Y.

Victoria Alvarez Brito, 38, New York, N.Y.

Mark Francis Broderick, 42, Old Bridge, N.J.

Herman C. Broghammer, 58, North Merrick, N.Y.

Keith Broomfield, 49, New York, N.Y.

Janice J. Brown, 35, New York, N.Y.

Lloyd Brown, 28, Bronxville, N.Y.

Capt. Patrick J. Brown, 48, New York, N.Y.

Bettina Browne, 49, Atlantic Beach, N.Y.

Mark Bruce, 40, Summit, N.J.

Richard Bruehert, 38, Westbury, N.Y.

Andrew Brunn, 28,  Levittown, N.Y.

Capt. Vincent Brunton, 43, New York, N.Y.

Ronald Paul Bucca, 47, Tuckahoe, N.Y.

Brandon J. Buchanan, 24, New York, N.Y.

Greg Joseph Buck, 37, New York, N.Y.

Dennis Buckley, 38, Chatham, N.J.

Nancy Bueche, 43, Hicksville, N.Y.

Patrick Joseph Buhse, 36, Lincroft, N.J.

John E. Bulaga, 35, Paterson, N.J.

Stephen Bunin, 45, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Daniel Burke, 38, Bedford Hills, N.Y.

Capt. William F. Burke, 46, New York, N.Y.

Matthew J. Burke, 28, New York, N.Y.

Donald James Burns, 61, Nissequogue, N.Y.

Kathleen A. Burns, 49, New York, N.Y.

Keith James Burns, 39, East Rutherford, N.J.

John Patrick Burnside, 36, New York, N.Y.

Irina Buslo, 32, New York, N.Y.

Milton Bustillo, 37, New York, N.Y.

Thomas M. Butler, 37, Kings Park, N.Y.

Patrick Byrne, 39, New York, N.Y.

Timothy G. Byrne, 36, Manhattan, N.Y.

Jesus Cabezas, 66, New York, N.Y.

Lillian Caceres, 48, New York, N.Y.

Brian Joseph Cachia, 26, New York, N.Y.

Steven Cafiero, 31, New York, N.Y.

Richard M. Caggiano, 25, New York, N.Y.

Cecile M. Caguicla, 55, Boonton, N.J.

Michael John Cahill, 37, East Williston, N.Y.

Scott W. Cahill, 30, West Caldwell, N.J.

Thomas J. Cahill, 36, Franklin Lakes, N.J.

George Cain, 35, Massapequa, N.Y.

Salvatore B. Calabro, 38, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Calandrillo, 49, Hawley, Pa.

Philip V. Calcagno, 57, New York, N.Y.

Edward Calderon, 44, Jersey City, N.J.

Kenneth Marcus Caldwell, 30, New York, N.Y.

Dominick E. Calia, 40, Manalapan, N.J.

Felix (Bobby) Calixte, 38, New York, N.Y.

Capt. Frank Callahan, 51, New York, N.Y.

Liam Callahan, 44, Rockaway, N.J.

Luigi Calvi, 34, East Rutherford, N.J.

Roko Camaj, 60, Manhasset, N.Y.

Michael Cammarata, 22, Huguenot, N.Y.

David Otey Campbell, 51, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Geoffrey Thomas Campbell, 31, New York, N.Y.

Sandra Patricia Campbell, 45, New York, N.Y.

Jill Marie Campbell, 31, New York, N.Y.

Robert Arthur Campbell, 25, New York, N.Y.

Juan Ortega Campos, 32, New York, N.Y.

Sean Canavan, 39, New York, N.Y.

John A. Candela, 42, Glen Ridge, N.J.

Vincent Cangelosi, 30, New York, N.Y.

Stephen J. Cangialosi, 40, Middletown, N.J.

Lisa B. Cannava, 30, New York, N.Y.

Brian Cannizzaro, 30, New York, N.Y.

Michael R. Canty, 30, Schenectady, N.Y.

Louis A. Caporicci, 35, New York, N.Y.

Jonathan N. Cappello, 23, Garden City, N.Y.

James Christopher Cappers, 33, Wading River, N.Y.

Richard M. Caproni, 34, Lynbrook, N.Y.

Jose Cardona, 32, New York, N.Y.

Dennis M Carey, 51, Wantagh, N.Y.

Edward Carlino, 46, New York, N.Y.

Michael Scott Carlo, 34, New York, N.Y.

David G. Carlone, 46, Randolph, N.J.

Rosemarie C. Carlson, 40, New York, N.Y.

Mark Stephen Carney, 41, Rahway, N.J.

Joyce Ann Carpeneto, 40, New York, N.Y.

Alicia Acevedo Carranza, Teziutlan, Puebla, Mexico

Jeremy M. Carrington, 34, New York, N.Y.

Michael T. Carroll, 39, New York, N.Y.

Peter Carroll, 42, New York, N.Y.

James J. Carson, 32, Massapequa, N.Y.

James Marcel Cartier, 26, New York, N.Y.

Vivian Casalduc, 45, New York, N.Y.

John F. Casazza, 38, Colts Neck, N.J.

Paul Cascio, 23, Manhasset, N.Y.

Kathleen Hunt Casey, 43, Middletown, N.J.

Margarito Casillas, 54, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Thomas Anthony Casoria, 29, New York, N.Y.

William Otto Caspar, 57, Eatontown, N.J.

Alejandro Castano, 35, Englewood, N.J.

Arcelia Castillo, 49, Elizabeth, N.J.

Leonard M. Castrianno, 30, New York, N.Y.

Jose Ramon Castro, 37, New York, N.Y.

Richard G. Catarelli, 47, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Sean Caton, 34, New York, N.Y.

Robert J. Caufield, 48, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Mary Teresa Caulfield, 58, New York, N.Y.

Judson Cavalier, 26, Huntington, N.Y.

Michael Joseph Cawley, 32, Bellmore, N.Y.

Jason D. Cayne, 32, Morganville, N.J.

Juan Armando Ceballos, 47, New York, N.Y.

Marcia G. Cecil-Carter, 34, New York, N.Y.

Jason Cefalu, 30, West Hempstead, N.Y.

Thomas J. Celic, 43, New York, N.Y.

Ana M. Centeno, 38, Bayonne, N.J.

Joni Cesta, 37, Bellmore, N.Y.

Jeffrey M. Chairnoff, 35, West Windsor, N.J.

Swarna Chalasani, 33, Jersey City, N.J.

William Chalcoff, 41, Roslyn, N.Y.

Eli Chalouh, 23, New York, N.Y.

Charles Lawrence (Chip) Chan, 23, New York, N.Y.

Mandy Chang, 40, New York, N.Y.

Mark L. Charette, 38, Millburn, N.J.

Gregorio Manuel Chavez, 48, New York, N.Y.

Jayceryll M. de Chavez, 24, Carteret, N.J.

Pedro Francisco Checo, 35, New York, N.Y.

Douglas MacMillan Cherry, 38, Maplewood, N.J.

Stephen Patrick Cherry, 41, Stamford, Conn.

Vernon Paul Cherry, 49, New York, N.Y.

Nestor Chevalier, 30, New York, N.Y.

Swede Joseph Chevalier, 26, Locust, N.J.

Alexander H. Chiang, 51, New City, N.Y.

Dorothy J. Chiarchiaro, 61, Glenwood, N.J.

Luis Alfonso Chimbo, 39, New York, N.Y.

Robert Chin, 33, New York, N.Y.

Wing Wai (Eddie) Ching, 29, Union, N.J.

Nicholas P. Chiofalo, 39, Selden, N.Y.

John Chipura, 39, New York, N.Y.

Peter A. Chirchirillo, 47, Langhorne, Pa.

Catherine E. Chirls, 47, Princeton, N.J.

Kyung (Kaccy) Cho, 30, Clifton, N.J.

Abul K. Chowdhury, 30, New York, N.Y.

Mohammed Salahuddin Chowdhury, 38, New York, N.Y.

Kirsten L. Christophe, 39, Maplewood, N.J.

Pamela Chu, 31, New York, N.Y.

Steven Paul Chucknick, 44, Cliffwood Beach, N.J.

Wai-ching Chung, 36, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Ciafardini, 30, New York, N.Y.

Alex F. Ciccone, 38, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Frances Ann Cilente, 26, New York, N.Y.

Elaine Cillo, 40, New York, N.Y.

Edna Cintron, 46, New York, N.Y.

Nestor Andre Cintron, 26, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Robert Dominick Cirri, 39, Nutley, N.J.

Juan Pablo Alvarez Cisneros, 23, Weehawken, N.J.

Gregory Alan Clark, 40, Teaneck, N.J.

Mannie Leroy Clark, 54, New York, N.Y.

Thomas R. Clark, 37, Summit, N.J.

Eugene Clark, 47, New York, N.Y.

Benjamin Keefe Clark, 39, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Robert Clarke, 34, Philadelphia, Pa.

Donna Clarke, 39, New York, N.Y.

Michael Clarke, 27, Prince’s Bay, N.Y.

Suria R.E. Clarke, 30, New York, N.Y.

Kevin Francis Cleary, 38, New York, N.Y.

James D. Cleere, 55, Newton, Iowa

Geoffrey W. Cloud, 36, Stamford, Conn.

Susan M. Clyne, 42, Lindenhurst, N.Y.

Steven Coakley, 36, Deer Park, N.Y.

Jeffrey Coale, 31, Souderton, Pa.

Patricia A. Cody, 46, Brigantine, N.J.

Daniel Michael Coffey, 54, Newburgh, N.Y.

Jason Matthew Coffey, 25, Newburgh, N.Y.

Florence Cohen, 62, New York, N.Y.

Kevin Sanford Cohen, 28, Edison, N.J.

Anthony Joseph Coladonato, 47, New York, N.Y.

Mark J. Colaio, 34, New York, N.Y.

Stephen J. Colaio, 32, Montauk, N.Y.

Christopher M. Colasanti, 33, Hoboken, N.J.

Michel Paris Colbert, 39, West New York, N.J.

Kevin Nathaniel Colbert, 25, New York, N.Y.

Keith Eugene Coleman, 34, Warren, N.J.

Scott Thomas Coleman, 31, New York, N.Y.

Tarel Coleman, 32, New York, N.Y.

Liam Joseph Colhoun, 34, Flushing,, N.Y.

Robert D. Colin, 49, West Babylon, N.Y.

Robert J. Coll, 35, Glen Ridge, N.J.

Jean Marie Collin, 42, New York, N.Y.

John Michael Collins, 42, New York, N.Y.

Michael L. Collins, 38, Montclair, N.J.

Thomas J. Collins, 36, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Collison, 50, New York, N.Y.

Patricia Malia Colodner, 39, New York, N.Y.

Linda M. Colon, 46, Perrineville, N.J.

Soledi Colon, 39, New York, N.Y.

Ronald Comer, 56, Northport, N.Y.

Jaime Concepcion, 46, New York, N.Y.

Albert Conde, 62, Englishtown, N.J.

Denease Conley, 44, New York, N.Y.

Susan Clancy Conlon, 41, New York, N.Y.

Margaret Mary Conner, 57, New York, N.Y.

John E. Connolly, 46, Allenwood, N.J.

Cynthia L. Connolly, 40, Metuchen, N.J.

James Lee Connor, 38, Summit, N.J.

Jonathan (J.C.) Connors, 55, Old Brookville, N.Y.

Kevin P. Connors, 55, Greenwich, Conn.

Kevin Francis Conroy, 47, New York, N.Y.

Brenda E. Conway, 40, New York, N.Y.

Dennis Michael Cook, 33, Colts Neck, N.J.

Helen D. Cook, 24, New York, N.Y.

John A. Cooper, 40, Bayonne, N.J.

Joseph J. Coppo, 47, New Canaan, Conn.

Gerard J. Coppola, 46, New Providence, N.J.

Joseph Albert Corbett, 28, Islip, N.Y.

Alejandro Cordero, 23, New York, N.Y.

Robert Cordice, 28, New York, N.Y.

Ruben D. Correa, 44, New York, N.Y.

Danny A. Correa-Gutierrez, 25, Fairview, N.J.

James Corrigan, 60, New York, N.Y.

Carlos Cortes, 57, New York, N.Y.

Kevin M. Cosgrove, 46, West Islip, N.Y.

Dolores Marie Costa, 53, Middletown, N.J.

Digna Alexandra Rivera Costanza, 25, New York, N.Y.

Charles Gregory Costello, 46, Old Bridge, N.J.

Michael S. Costello, 27, Hoboken, N.J.

Conrod K.H. Cottoy, 51, New York, N.Y.

Martin Coughlan, 54, New York, N.Y.

Sgt. John Gerard Coughlin, 43, Pomona, N.Y.

Timothy John Coughlin, 42, New York, N.Y.

James E. Cove, 48, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Andre Cox, 29, New York, N.Y.

Frederick John Cox, 27, New York, N.Y.

James Raymond Coyle, 26, New York, N.Y.

Michelle Coyle-Eulau, 38, Garden City, N.Y.

Anne M. Cramer, 47, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Seton Cramer, 34, Manahawkin, N.J.

Denise Crant, 46, Hackensack, N.J.

Robert James Crawford, 62, New York, N.Y.

James L. Crawford, 33, Madison, N.J.

Joanne Mary Cregan, 32, New York, N.Y.

Lucia Crifasi, 51, Glendale, N.Y.

Lt. John Crisci, 48, Holbrook, N.Y.

Daniel Hal Crisman, 25, New York, N.Y.

Dennis A. Cross, 60, Islip Terrace, N.Y.

Helen Crossin-Kittle, 34, Larchmont, N.Y.

Kevin Raymond Crotty, 43, Summit, N.J.

Thomas G. Crotty, 42, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

John Crowe, 57, Rutherford, N.J.

Welles Remy Crowther, 24, Upper Nyack, N.Y.

Robert L. Cruikshank, 64, New York, N.Y.

Francisco Cruz, 47, New York, N.Y.

John Robert Cruz, 32, Jersey City, N.J.

Kenneth John Cubas, 48, Woodstock, N.Y.

Richard Joseph Cudina, 46, Glen Gardner, N.J.

Neil James Cudmore, 38, Port Washington, N.Y.

Thomas Patrick Cullen, 31, New York, N.Y.

Joan McConnell Cullinan, 47, Scarsdale, N.Y.

Joyce Cummings, 65, Trinidad

Brian Thomas Cummins, 38, Manasquan, N.J.

Nilton Albuquerque Fernao Cunha, 41

Michael Joseph Cunningham, 39, Princeton Junction, N.J.

Robert Curatolo, 31, New York, N.Y.

Laurence Curia, 41, Garden City, N.Y.

Paul Dario Curioli, 53, Norwalk, Conn.

Beverly Curry, 41, New York, N.Y.

Sgt. Michael Curtin, 45, Medford, N.Y.

Gavin Cushny, 47, Hoboken, N.J.

Caleb Arron Dack, 39, Montclair, N.J.

Carlos S. DaCosta, 41, Elizabeth, N.J.

John D’Allara, 47, Pearl River, N.Y.

Vincent D’Amadeo, 36, East Patchoque, N.Y.

Thomas A. Damaskinos, 33, Matawan, N.J.

Jack L. D’Ambrosi, 45, Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

Jeannine Marie Damiani-Jones, 28, New York, N.Y.

Patrick W. Danahy, 35, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

Nana Kwuku Danso, 47, New York, N.Y.

Mary D’Antonio, 55, New York, N.Y.

Vincent G. Danz, 38, Farmingdale, N.Y.

Dwight Donald Darcy, 55, Bronxville, N.Y.

Elizabeth Ann Darling, 28, Newark, N.J.

Annette Andrea Dataram, 25, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Edward Alexander D’Atri, 38, New York, N.Y.

Michael D. D’Auria, 25, New York, N.Y.

Lawrence Davidson, 51, New York, N.Y.

Michael Allen Davidson, 27, Westfield, N.J.

Scott Matthew Davidson, 33, New York, N.Y.

Titus Davidson, 55, New York, N.Y.

Niurka Davila, 47, New York, N.Y.

Clinton Davis, 38, New York, N.Y.

Wayne Terrial Davis, 29, Fort Meade, Md.

Calvin Dawson, 46, New York, N.Y.

Anthony Richard Dawson, 32, Southampton, Hampshire, England

Edward James Day, 45, New York, N.Y.

Emerita (Emy) De La Pena, 32, New York, N.Y.

Melanie Louise De Vere, 30, London, England

William T. Dean, 35, Floral Park, N.Y.

Robert J. DeAngelis, 48, West Hempstead, N.Y.

Thomas P. Deangelis, 51, Westbury, N.Y.

Tara Debek, 35, Babylon, N.Y.

Anna Debin, 30, East Farmingdale, N.Y.

James V. DeBlase, 45, Manalapan, N.J.

Paul DeCola, 39, Ridgewood, N.Y.

Simon Dedvukaj, 26, Mohegan Lake, N.Y.

Jason Christopher DeFazio, 29, New York, N.Y.

David A. Defeo, 37, New York, N.Y.

Jennifer DeJesus, 23, New York, N.Y.

Monique E. DeJesus, 28, New York, N.Y.

Nereida DeJesus, 30, New York, N.Y.

Donald A. Delapenha, 37, Allendale, N.J.

Vito Joseph Deleo, 41, New York, N.Y.

Danielle Delie, 47, New York, N.Y.

Colleen Ann Deloughery, 41, Bayonne, N.J.

Francis (Frank) Albert DeMartini, 49, New York, N.Y.

Anthony Demas, 61, New York, N.Y.

Martin DeMeo, 47, Farmingville, N.Y.

Francis X. Deming, 47, Franklin Lakes, N.J.

Carol K. Demitz, 49, New York, N.Y.

Kevin Dennis, 43, Peapack, N.J.

Thomas F. Dennis, 43, Setauket, N.Y.

Jean C. DePalma, 42, Newfoundland, N.J.

Jose Nicolas Depena, 42, New York, N.Y.

Robert J. Deraney, 43, New York, N.Y.

Michael DeRienzo, 37, Hoboken, N.J.

David Paul Derubbio, 38, New York, N.Y.

Jemal Legesse DeSantis, 28, Jersey City, N.J.

Christian L. DeSimone, 23, Ringwood, N.J.

Edward DeSimone, 36, Atlantic Highlands, N.J.

Lt. Andrew Desperito, 44, Patchogue, N.Y.

Michael Jude D’Esposito, 32, Morganville, N.J.

Cindy Ann Deuel, 28, New York, N.Y.

Jerry DeVito, 66, New York, N.Y.

Robert P. Devitt, 36, Plainsboro, N.J.

Dennis Lawrence Devlin, 51, Washingtonville, N.Y.

Gerard Dewan, 35, New York, N.Y.

Simon Suleman Ali Kassamali Dhanani, 62, Hartsdale, N.Y.

Michael L. DiAgostino, 41, Garden City, N.Y.

Matthew Diaz, 33, New York, N.Y.

Nancy Diaz, 28, New York, N.Y.

Obdulio Ruiz Diaz, 44, New York, N.Y.

Lourdes Galletti Diaz, 32, New York, N.Y.

Michael Diaz-Piedra III, 49, New York, N.Y.

Judith Belguese Diaz-Sierra, 32, Bay Shore, N.Y.

Patricia F. DiChiaro, 63, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Dermot Dickey, 50, Manhasset, N.Y.

Lawrence Patrick Dickinson, 35, Morganville, N.J.

Michael David Diehl, 48, Brick, N.J.

John DiFato, 39, New York, N.Y.

Vincent F. DiFazio, 43, Hampton, N.J.

Carl DiFranco, 27, New York, N.Y.

Donald J. DiFranco, 43, New York, N.Y.

Debra Ann DiMartino, 36, New York, N.Y.

Stephen P. Dimino, 48, Basking Ridge, N.J.

William J. Dimmling, 47, Garden City, N.Y.

Christopher Dincuff, 31, Jersey City, N.J.

Jeffrey M. Dingle, 32, New York, N.Y.

Anthony DiOnisio, 38, Glen Rock, N.J.

George DiPasquale, 33, New York, N.Y.

Joseph DiPilato, 57, New York, N.Y.

Douglas Frank DiStefano, 24, Hoboken, N.J.

Ramzi A. Doany, 35, Bayonne, N.J., Jordanian

John J. Doherty, 58, Hartsdale, N.Y.

Melissa C. Doi, 32, New York, N.Y.

Brendan Dolan, 37, Glen Rock, N.J.

Neil Dollard, 28, Hoboken, N.J.

James Joseph Domanico, 56, New York, N.Y.

Benilda Pascua Domingo, 37, New York, N.Y.

Charles (Carlos) Dominguez, 34, East Meadow, N.Y.

Geronimo (Jerome) Mark Patrick Dominguez, 37, Holtsville, N.Y.

Lt. Kevin W. Donnelly, 43, New York, N.Y.

Jacqueline Donovan, 34, New York, N.Y.

Stephen Dorf, 39, New Milford, N.J.

Thomas Dowd, 37, Monroe, N.Y.

Lt. Kevin Christopher Dowdell, 46, New York, N.Y.

Mary Yolanda Dowling, 46, New York, N.Y.

Raymond M. Downey, 63, Deer Park, N.Y.

Joseph M. Doyle, 25, New York, N.Y.

Frank Joseph Doyle, 39, Englewood, N.J.

Randy Drake, 37, Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Stephen Patrick Driscoll, 38, Lake Carmel, N.Y.

Mirna A. Duarte, 31, New York, N.Y.

Luke A. Dudek, 50, Livingston, N.J.

Christopher Michael Duffy, 23, New York, N.Y.

Gerard Duffy, 53, Manorville, N.Y.

Michael Joseph Duffy, 29, Northport, N.Y.

Thomas W. Duffy, 52, Pittsford, N.Y.

Antoinette Duger, 44, Belleville, N.J.

Jackie Sayegh Duggan, 34

Sareve Dukat, 53, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Joseph Dunne, 28, Mineola, N.Y.

Richard A. Dunstan, 54, New Providence, N.J.

Patrick Thomas Dwyer, 37, Nissequogue, N.Y.

Joseph Anthony Eacobacci, 26, New York, N.Y.

John Bruce Eagleson, 53, Middlefield, Conn.

Robert D. Eaton, 37, Manhasset, N.Y.

Dean P. Eberling, 44, Cranford, N.J.

Margaret Ruth Echtermann, 33, Hoboken, N.J.

Paul Robert Eckna, 28, West New York, N.J.

Constantine (Gus) Economos, 41, New York, N.Y.

Dennis Michael Edwards, 35, Huntington, N.Y.

Michael Hardy Edwards, 33, New York, N.Y.

Lisa Egan, 31, Cliffside Park, N.J.

Capt. Martin Egan, 36, New York, N.Y.

Michael Egan, 51, Middletown, N.J.

Christine Egan, 55, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Samantha Egan, 24, Jersey City, N.J.

Carole Eggert, 60, New York, N.Y.

Lisa Caren Weinstein Ehrlich, 36, New York, N.Y.

John Ernst (Jack) Eichler, 69, Cedar Grove, N.J.

Eric Adam Eisenberg, 32, Commack, N.Y.

Daphne F. Elder, 36, Newark, N.J.

Michael J. Elferis, 27, College Point, N.Y.

Mark J. Ellis, 26, South Huntington, N.Y.

Valerie Silver Ellis, 46, New York, N.Y.

Albert Alfy William Elmarry, 30, North Brunswick, N.J.

Edgar H. Emery, 45, Clifton, N.J.

Doris Suk-Yuen Eng, 30, New York, N.Y.

Christopher S. Epps, 29, New York, N.Y.

Ulf Ramm Ericson, 79, Greenwich, Conn.

Erwin L. Erker, 41, Farmingdale, N.Y.

William J. Erwin, 30, Verona, N.J.

Sarah (Ali) Escarcega, 35, New York, N.Y.

Jose Espinal, 31, Dominican Republic

Fanny M. Espinoza, 29, Teaneck, N.J.

Francis Esposito, 32, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Michael Esposito, 41, New York, N.Y.

William Esposito, 51, Bellmore, N.Y.

Brigette Ann Esposito, 34, New York, N.Y.

Ruben Esquilin, 35, New York, N.Y.

Sadie Ette, 36, New York, N.Y.

Barbara G. Etzold, 43, Jersey City, N.J.

Eric Brian Evans, 31, Weehawken, N.J.

Robert Edward Evans, 36, Franklin Square, N.Y.

Meredith Emily June Ewart, 29, Hoboken, N.J.

Catherine K. Fagan, 58, New York, N.Y.

Patricia M. Fagan, 55, Toms River, N.J.

Keith G. Fairben, 24, Floral Park, N.Y.

William Fallon, 38, Coram, N.Y.

William F. Fallon, 53, Rocky Hill, N.J.

Anthony J. Fallone, 39, New York, N.Y.

Dolores B. Fanelli, 38, Farmingville, N.Y.

John Joseph Fanning, 54, West Hempstead, N.Y.

Kathleen (Kit) Faragher, 33, Denver, Colo.

Capt. Thomas Farino, 37, Bohemia, N.Y.

Nancy Carole Farley, 45, Jersey City, N.J.

Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Farmer, 62, New York, N.Y.

Douglas Farnum, 33, New York, N.Y.

John W. Farrell, 41, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Terrence Patrick Farrell, 45, Huntington, N.Y.

John G. Farrell, 32, New York, N.Y.

Capt. Joseph Farrelly, 47, New York, N.Y.

Thomas P. Farrelly, 54, East Northport, N.Y.

Syed Abdul Fatha, 54, Newark, N.J.

Christopher Faughnan, 37, South Orange, N.J.

Wendy R. Faulkner, 47, Mason, Ohio

Shannon M. Fava, 30, New York, N.Y.

Bernard D. Favuzza, 52, Suffern, N.Y.

Robert Fazio, 41, Freeport, N.Y.

Ronald C. Fazio, 57, Closter, N.J.

William Feehan, 72, New York, N.Y.

Francis J. (Frank) Feely, 41, Middletown, N.Y.

Garth E. Feeney, 28, New York, N.Y.

Sean B. Fegan, 34, New York, N.Y.

Lee S. Fehling, 28, Wantagh, N.Y.

Peter Feidelberg, 34, Hoboken, N.J.

Alan D. Feinberg, 48, New York, N.Y.

Rosa Maria Feliciano, 30, New York, N.Y.

Edward T. Fergus, 40, Wilton, Conn.

George Ferguson, 54, Teaneck, N.J.

Henry Fernandez, 23, New York, N.Y.

Judy H. Fernandez, 27, Parlin, N.J.

Jose Manuel Contreras Fernandez, El Aguacate, Jalisco, Mexico

Elisa Giselle Ferraina, 27, London, England

Anne Marie Sallerin Ferreira, 29, Jersey City, N.J.

Robert John Ferris, 63, Garden City, N.Y.

David Francis Ferrugio, 46, Middletown, N.J.

Louis V. Fersini, 38, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Michael David Ferugio, 37, New York, N.Y.

Bradley James Fetchet, 24, New York, N.Y.

Jennifer Louise Fialko, 29, Teaneck, N.J.

Kristen Fiedel, 27, New York, N.Y.

Samuel Fields, 36, New York, N.Y.

Michael Bradley Finnegan, 37, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Timothy J. Finnerty, 33, Glen Rock, N.J.

Michael Curtis Fiore, 46, New York, N.Y.

Stephen J. Fiorelli, 43, Aberdeen, N.J.

Paul M. Fiori, 31, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

John Fiorito, 40, Stamford, Conn.

Lt. John R. Fischer, 46, New York, N.Y.

Andrew Fisher, 42, New York, N.Y.

Thomas J. Fisher, 36, Union, N.J.

Bennett Lawson Fisher, 58, Stamford, Conn.

John Roger Fisher, 46, Bayonne, N.J.

Lucy Fishman, 37, New York, N.Y.

Ryan D. Fitzgerald, 26, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Fitzpatrick, 35, Tuckahoe, N.Y.

Richard P. Fitzsimons, 57, Lynbrook, N.Y.

Salvatore A. Fiumefreddo, 47, Manalapan, N.J.

Christina Donovan Flannery, 26, New York, N.Y.

Eileen Flecha, 33, New York, N.Y.

Andre G. Fletcher, 37, North Babylon, N.Y.

Carl Flickinger, 38, Conyers, N.Y.

John Joseph Florio, 33, Oceanside, N.Y.

Joseph W. Flounders, 46, East Stroudsburg, Pa.

David Fodor, 38, Garrison, N.Y.

Lt. Michael N. Fodor, 53, Warwick, N.Y.

Steven Mark Fogel, 40, Westfield, N.Y.

Thomas Foley, 32, West Nyack, N.Y.

David Fontana, 37, New York, N.Y.

Chih Min (Dennis) Foo, 40, Holmdel, N.J.

Del Rose Forbes-Cheatham, 48, New York, N.Y.

Godwin Forde, 39, New York, N.Y.

Donald A. Foreman, 53, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Hugh Forsythe, 44, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Claudia Alicia Martinez Foster, 26, New York, N.Y.

Noel J. Foster, 40, Bridgewater, N.J.

Ana Fosteris, 58, Coram, N.Y.

Robert J. Foti, 42, Albertson, N.Y.

Jeffrey L. Fox, 40, Cranbury, N.J.

Virginia Fox, 58, New York, N.Y.

Virgin (Lucy) Francis, 62, New York, N.Y.

Pauline Francis, 57, New York, N.Y.

Joan Francis, age unknown, Trinidad-Tobago

Gary J. Frank, 35, South Amboy, N.J.

Morton Frank, 31, New York, N.Y.

Peter Christopher Frank, 29, New York, N.Y.

Richard K. Fraser, 32, New York, N.Y.

Kevin Joseph Frawley, 34, Bronxville, N.Y.

Clyde Frazier, 41, New York, N.Y.

Lillian I. Frederick, 46, Teaneck, N.J.

Andrew Fredericks, 40, Suffern, N.Y.

Tamitha Freemen, 35, New York, N.Y.

Brett O. Freiman, 29, Roslyn, N.Y.

Lt. Peter L. Freund, 45, Westtown, N.Y.

Arlene E. Fried, 49, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.

Alan Wayne Friedlander, 52, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

Andrew K. Friedman, 44, Woodbury, N.Y.

Gregg J. Froehner, 46, Chester, N.J.

Peter Christian Fry, 36, Wilton, Conn.

Clement Fumando, 59, New York, N.Y.

Steven Elliot Furman, 40, Wesley Hills, N.Y.

Paul James Furmato, 37, Colts Neck, N.J.

Fredric Gabler, 30, New York, N.Y.

Richard S. Gabrielle, 50, West Haven, Conn.

James Andrew Gadiel, 23, New York, N.Y.

Pamela Gaff, 51, Robinsville, N.J.

Ervin Vincent Gailliard, 42, New York, N.Y.

Deanna L. Galante, 32, New York, N.Y.

Grace Galante, 29, New York, N.Y.

Anthony Edward Gallagher, 41, New York, N.Y.

Daniel James Gallagher, 23, Red Bank, N.J.

John Patrick Gallagher, 31, Yonkers, N.Y.

Cono E. Gallo, 30, New York, N.Y.

Vincenzo Gallucci, 36, Monroe Township, N.J.

Thomas Edward Galvin, 32, New York, N.Y.

Giovanna (Genni) Gambale, 27, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Gambino, 48, Babylon, N.Y.

Giann F. Gamboa, 26, New York, N.Y.

Peter J. Ganci, 55, North Massapequa, N.Y.

Claude Michael Gann, 41, Roswell, Ga.

Lt. Charles William Garbarini, 44, Pleasantville, N.Y.

Cesar Garcia, 36, New York, N.Y.

David Garcia, 40, Freeport, N.Y.

Jorge Luis Morron Garcia, 38, New York, N.Y.

Juan Garcia, 50, New York, N.Y.

Marlyn C. Garcia, 21, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Gardner, 36, Darien, Conn.

Douglas B. Gardner, 39, New York, N.Y.

Harvey J. Gardner, 35, Lakewood, N.J.

Thomas A. Gardner, 39, Oceanside, N.Y.

Jeffrey B. Gardner, 36, Hoboken, N.J.

William Arthur Gardner, 45, Lynbrook, N.Y.

Francesco Garfi, 29, New York, N.Y.

Rocco Gargano, 28, Bayside, N.Y.

James M. Gartenberg, 36, New York, N.Y.

Matthew David Garvey, 37

Bruce Gary, 51, Bellmore, N.Y.

Palmina Delli Gatti, 33, New York, N.Y.

Boyd A. Gatton, 38, Jersey City, N.J.

Donald Richard Gavagan, 35, New York, N.Y.

Terence D. Gazzani, 24, New York, N.Y.

Gary Geidel, 44, New York, N.Y.

Paul Hamilton Geier, 36, Farmingdale, N.Y.

Julie M. Geis, 44, Lees Summit, Mo.

Peter Gelinas, 34, New York, N.Y.

Steven Paul Geller, 52, New York, N.Y.

Howard G. Gelling, 28, New York, N.Y.

Peter Victor Genco, 36, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Steven Gregory Genovese, 37, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Alayne F. Gentul, 44, Mountain Lakes, N.J.

Edward F. Geraghty, 45, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Suzanne Geraty, 30, New York, N.Y.

Ralph Gerhardt, 33, New York, N.Y.

Robert J. Gerlich, 56, Monroe, Conn.

Denis P. Germain, 33, Tuxedo Park, N.Y.

Marina R. Gertsberg, 25, New York, N.Y.

Susan M. Getzendanner, 57, New York, N.Y.

James Gerard Geyer, 41, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Joseph M. Giaccone, 43, Monroe, N.J.

Lt. Vincent Francis Giammona, 40, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Debra L. Gibbon, 43, Hackettstown, N.J.

James A. Giberson, 43, New York, N.Y.

Craig Neil Gibson, 37, New York, N.Y.

Ronnie Gies, 43, Merrick, N.Y.

Laura A. Giglio, 35, Oceanside, N.Y.

Andrew Clive Gilbert, 39, Califon, N.J.

Timothy Paul Gilbert, 35, Lebanon, N.J.

Paul Stuart Gilbey, 39, Chatham, N.J.

Paul John Gill, 34, New York, N.Y.

Mark Y. Gilles, 33, New York, N.Y.

Evan H. Gillette, 40, New York, N.Y.

Ronald Gilligan, 43, Norwalk, Conn.

Sgt. Rodney C. Gillis, 34, New York, N.Y.

Laura Gilly, 32, New York, N.Y.

Lt. John F. Ginley, 37, Warwick, N.Y.

Jeffrey Giordano, 46, New York, N.Y.

John Giordano, 46, Newburgh, N.Y.

Donna Marie Giordano, 44, Parlin, N.J.

Steven A. Giorgetti, 43, Manhasset, N.Y.

Martin Giovinazzo, 34, New York, N.Y.

Kum-Kum Girolamo, 41, New York, N.Y.

Salvatore Gitto, 44, Manalapan, N.J.

Cynthia Giugliano, 46, Nesconset, N.Y.

Mon Gjonbalaj, 65, New York, N.Y.

Dianne Gladstone, 55, New York, N.Y.

Keith Alexander Glascoe, 38, New York, N.Y.

Thomas I. Glasser, 40, Summit, N.J.

Harry Glenn, 38, Piscataway, N.J.

Barry H. Glick, 55, Wayne, N.J.

Steven Lawrence Glick, 42, Greenwich, Conn.

John T. Gnazzo, 32, New York, N.Y.

William (Bill) Robert Godshalk, 35, New York, N.Y.

Michael Gogliormella, 43, New Providence, N.J.

Brian Fredric Goldberg, 26, Union, N.J.

Jeffrey Grant Goldflam, 48, Melville, N.Y.

Michelle Herman Goldstein, 31, New York, N.Y.

Monica Goldstein, 25, New York, N.Y.

Steven Goldstein, 35, Princeton, N.J.

Andrew H. Golkin, 30, New York, N.Y.

Dennis James Gomes, 40, New York, N.Y.

Enrique Antonio Gomez, 42, New York, N.Y.

Jose Bienvenido Gomez, 45, New York, N.Y.

Manuel Gomez, 42, New York, N.Y.

Wilder Gomez, 38, New York, N.Y.

Jenine Gonzalez, 27, New York, N.Y.

Joel Guevara Gonzalez, 23, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico

Rosa J. Gonzalez, 32, Jersey City, N.J.

Mauricio Gonzalez, 27, New York, N.Y.

Calvin J. Gooding, 38, Riverside, N.Y.

Harry Goody, 50, New York, N.Y.

Kiran Reddy Gopu, 24, Bridgeport, Conn.

Catherine Carmen Gorayeb, 41, New York, N.Y.

Kerene Gordon, 43, New York, N.Y.

Sebastian Gorki, 27, New York, N.Y.

Thomas E. Gorman, 41, Middlesex, N.J.

Kieran Gorman, 35, Yonkers, N.Y.

Michael Edward Gould, 29, Hoboken, N.J.

Yugi Goya, 42, Rye, N.Y.

Jon Richard Grabowski, 33, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Michael Grady, 39, Cranford, N.J.

Edwin John Graf, 48, Rowayton, Conn.

David M. Graifman, 40, New York, N.Y.

Gilbert Granados, 51, Hicksville, N.Y.

Elvira Granitto, 43, New York, N.Y.

Winston Arthur Grant, 59, West Hempstead, N.Y.

Christopher Stewart Gray, 32, Weehawken, N.J.

James Michael Gray, 34, New York, N.Y.

Linda Mair Grayling, 44, New York, N.Y.

John Michael Grazioso, 41, Middletown, N.J.

Timothy Grazioso, 42, Gulf Stream, Fla.

Derrick Arthur Green, 44, New York, N.Y.

Wade Brian Green, 42, Westbury, N.Y.

Elaine Myra Greenberg, 56, New York, N.Y.

Gayle R. Greene, 51, Montville, N.J.

James Arthur Greenleaf, 32, New York, N.Y.

Eileen Marsha Greenstein, 52, Morris Plains, N.J.

Elizabeth (Lisa) Martin Gregg, 52, New York, N.Y.

Donald H. Gregory, 62, Ramsey, N.J.

Florence M. Gregory, 38, New York, N.Y.

Denise Gregory, 39, New York, N.Y.

Pedro (David) Grehan, 35, Hoboken, N.J.

John M. Griffin, 38, Waldwick, N.J.

Tawanna Griffin, 30, New York, N.Y.

Joan D. Griffith, 39, Willingboro, N.J.

Warren Grifka, 54, New York, N.Y.

Ramon Grijalvo, 58

Joseph F. Grillo, 46, New York, N.Y.

David Grimner, 51, Merrick, N.Y.

Kenneth Grouzalis, 56, Lyndhurst, N.J.

Joseph Grzelak, 52, New York, N.Y.

Matthew J. Grzymalski, 34, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Robert Joseph Gschaar, 55, Spring Valley, N.Y.

Liming (Michael) Gu, 34, Piscataway, N.J.

Jose A. Guadalupe, 37, New York, N.Y.

Yan Zhu (Cindy) Guan, 25, New York, N.Y.

Geoffrey E. Guja, 47, Lindenhurst, N.Y.

Lt. Joseph Gullickson, 37, New York, N.Y.

Babita Guman, 33, New York, N.Y.

Douglas B. Gurian, 38, Tenafly, N.J.

Philip T. Guza, 54, Sea Bright, N.J.

Barbara Guzzardo, 49, Glendale, N.Y.

Peter Gyulavary, 44, Warwick, N.Y.

Gary Robert Haag, 36, Ossining, N.Y.

Andrea Lyn Haberman, 25, Chicago, Ill.

Barbara M. Habib, 49, New York, N.Y.

Philip Haentzler, 49, New York, N.Y.

Nizam A. Hafiz, 32, New York, N.Y.

Karen Hagerty, 34, New York, N.Y.

Steven Hagis, 31, New York, N.Y.

Mary Lou Hague, 26, New York, N.Y.

David Halderman, 40, New York, N.Y.

Maile Rachel Hale, 26, Cambridge, Mass.

Richard Hall, 49, Purchase, N.Y.

Vaswald George Hall, 50, New York, N.Y.

Robert John Halligan, 59, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Lt. Vincent Gerard Halloran, 43, North Salem, N.Y.

James D. Halvorson, 56, Greenwich, Conn.

Mohammad Salman Hamdani, 23, New York, N.Y.

Felicia Hamilton, 62, New York, N.Y.

Robert Hamilton, 43, Washingtonville, N.Y.

Frederic Kim Han, 45, Marlboro, N.J.

Christopher James Hanley, 34, New York, N.Y.

Sean Hanley, 35, New York, N.Y.

Valerie Joan Hanna, 57, Freeville, N.Y.

Thomas Hannafin, 36, New York, N.Y.

Kevin James Hannaford, 32, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Michael L. Hannan, 34, Lynbrook, N.Y.

Dana Hannon, 29, Suffern, N.Y.

Vassilios G. Haramis, 56, New York, N.Y.

James A. Haran, 41, Malverne, N.Y.

Jeffrey P. Hardy, 46, New York, N.Y.

Timothy John Hargrave, 38, Readington, N.J.

Daniel Harlin, 41, Kent, N.Y.

Frances Haros, 76, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Harvey L. Harrell, 49, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Stephen Gary Harrell, 44, Warwick, N.Y.

Stewart D. Harris, 52, Marlboro, N.J.

Aisha Harris, 22, New York, N.Y.

John Patrick Hart, 38, Danville, Calif.

John Clinton Hartz, 64, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Emeric J. Harvey, 56, Montclair, N.J.

Capt. Thomas Theodore Haskell, 37, Massapequa, N.Y.

Timothy Haskell, 34, Seaford, N.Y.

Joseph John Hasson, 34, New York, N.Y.

Capt. Terence S. Hatton, 41, New York, N.Y.

Leonard William Hatton, 45, Ridgefield Park, N.J.

Michael Helmut Haub, 34, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.

Timothy Aaron Haviland, 41, Oceanside, N.Y.

Donald G. Havlish, 53, Yardley, Pa.

Anthony Hawkins, 30, New York, N.Y.

Nobuhiro Hayatsu, 36, Scarsdale, N.Y.

Philip Hayes, 67, Northport, N.Y.

William Ward Haynes, 35, Rye, N.Y.

Scott Hazelcorn, 29, Hoboken, N.J.

Lt. Michael K. Healey, 42, East Patchogue, N.Y.

Roberta Bernstein Heber, 60, New York, N.Y.

Charles Francis Xavier Heeran, 23, Belle Harbor, N.Y.

John Heffernan, 37, New York, N.Y.

Howard Joseph Heller, 37, Ridgefield, Conn.

JoAnn L. Heltibridle, 46, Springfield, N.J.

Mark F. Hemschoot, 45, Red Bank, N.J.

Ronnie Lee Henderson, 52, Newburgh, N.Y.

Janet Hendricks, 48, New York, N.Y.

Brian Hennessey, 35, Ringoes, N.J.

Michelle Marie Henrique, 27, New York, N.Y.

Joseph P. Henry, 25, New York, N.Y.

William Henry, 49, New York, N.Y.

John Henwood, 35, New York, N.Y.

Robert Allan Hepburn, 39, Union, N.J.

Mary (Molly) Herencia, 47, New York, N.Y.

Lindsay Coates Herkness, 58, New York, N.Y.

Harvey Robert Hermer, 59, New York, N.Y.

Claribel Hernandez, 31, New York, N.Y.

Norberto Hernandez, 42, New York, N.Y.

Raul Hernandez, 51, New York, N.Y.

Gary Herold, 44, Farmingdale, N.Y.

Jeffrey A. Hersch, 53, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Hetzel, 33, Elmont, N.Y.

Capt. Brian Hickey, 47, New York, N.Y.

Ysidro Hidalgo-Tejada, 47, New York, N.Y., Dominican Republic

Lt. Timothy Higgins, 43, Farmingville, N.Y.

Robert D. Higley, 29, New Fairfield, Conn.

Todd Russell Hill, 34, Boston, Mass.

Clara Victorine Hinds, 52, New York, N.Y.

Neal Hinds, 28, New York, N.Y.

Mark D. Hindy, 28, New York, N.Y.

Richard Bruce Van Hine, 48, Greenwood Lake, N.Y.

Katsuyuki Hirai, 32, Hartsdale, N.Y.

Heather Malia Ho, 32, New York, N.Y.

Tara Yvette Hobbs, 31, New York, N.Y.

Thomas A. Hobbs, 41, Baldwin, N.Y.

James L. Hobin, 47, Marlborough, Conn.

Robert Wayne Hobson, 36, New Providence, N.J.

DaJuan Hodges, 29, New York, N.Y.

Ronald George Hoerner, 58, Massapequa Park, N.Y.

Patrick Aloysius Hoey, 53, Middletown, N.J.

Stephen G. Hoffman, 36, Long Beach, N.Y.

Marcia Hoffman, 52, New York, N.Y.

Frederick J. Hoffmann, 53, Freehold, N.J.

Michele L. Hoffmann, 27, Freehold, N.J.

Judith Florence Hofmiller, 53, Brookfield, Conn.

Thomas Warren Hohlweck, 57, Harrison, N.Y.

Jonathan R. Hohmann, 48, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Francis Holland, 32, Glen Rock, N.J.

John Holland, 30, New York, N.Y.

Elizabeth Holmes, 42, New York, N.Y.

Thomas P. Holohan, 36, Chester, N.Y.

Bradley Hoorn, 22, New York, N.Y.

James P. Hopper, 51, Farmingdale, N.Y.

Montgomery McCullough Hord, 46, Pelham, N.Y.

Michael Horn, 27, Lynbrook, N.Y.

Matthew D. Horning, 26, Hoboken, N.J.

Robert L. Horohoe, 31, New York, N.Y.

Aaron Horwitz, 24, New York, N.Y.

Charles J. Houston, 42, New York, N.Y.

Uhuru G. Houston, 32, Englewood, N.J.

George Howard, 45, Hicksville, N.Y.

Steven L. Howell, 36, New York, N.Y.

Michael C. Howell, 60, New York, N.Y.

Jennifer L. Howley, 34, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Milagros “Millie” Hromada, 35, New York, N.Y.

Marian Hrycak, 56, New York, N.Y.

Stephen Huczko, 44, Bethlehem, N.J.

Kris R. Hughes, 30, Nesconset, N.Y.

Melissa Harrington Hughes, 31, San Francisco, Calif.

Thomas F. Hughes, 46, Spring Lake Heights, N.J.

Timothy Robert Hughes, 43, Madison, N.J.

Paul R. Hughes, 38, Stamford, Conn.

Robert T. “Bobby” Hughes, 23, Sayreville, N.J.

Susan Huie, 43, Fair Lawn, N.J.

Mychal Lamar Hulse, 30, New York, N.Y.

William C. Hunt, 32, Norwalk, Conn.

Joseph G. Hunter, 31, South Hempstead, N.Y.

Robert Hussa, 51, Roslyn, N.Y.

Capt. Walter Hynes, 46, Belle Harbor, N.Y.

Thomas E. Hynes, 28, Norwalk, Conn.

Joseph Anthony Ianelli, 28, Hoboken, N.J.

Zuhtu Ibis, 25, Clifton, N.J.

Jonathan Lee Ielpi, 29, Great Neck, N.Y.

Michael Patrick Iken, 37, New York, N.Y.

Daniel Ilkanayev, 36, New York, N.Y.

Capt. Frederick Ill, 49, Pearl River, N.Y.

Abraham Nethanel Ilowitz, 51, New York, N.Y.

Anthony P. Infante, 47, Chatham, N.J.

Louis S. Inghilterra, 45, New Castle, N.Y.

Christopher N. Ingrassia, 28, Watchung, N.J.

Paul Innella, 33, East Brunswick, N.J.

Stephanie V. Irby, 38, New York, N.Y.

Douglas Irgang, 32, New York, N.Y.

Todd A. Isaac, 29, New York, N.Y.

Erik Hans Isbrandtsen, 30, New York, N.Y.

Taizo Ishikawa, 50, Japan

Aram Iskenderian, 41, Merrick, N.Y.

John Iskyan, 41, Wilton, Conn.

Kazushige Ito, 35, New York, N.Y.

Aleksandr Valeryerich Ivantsov, 23, New York, N.Y.

Virginia Jablonski, 49, Matawan, N.J.

Brooke Alexandra Jackman, 23, New York, N.Y.

Aaron Jacobs, 27, New York, N.Y.

Jason Kyle Jacobs, 32, Mendham, N.J.

Michael Grady Jacobs, 54, Danbury, Conn.

Ariel Louis Jacobs, 29, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

Steven A. Jacobson, 53, New York, N.Y.

Ricknauth Jaggernauth, 58, New York, N.Y.

Jake Denis Jagoda, 24, Huntington, N.Y.

Yudh V.S. Jain, 54, New City, N.Y.

Maria Jakubiak, 41, Ridgewood, N.Y.

Gricelda E. James, 44, Willingboro, N.J.

Ernest James, 40, New York, N.Y.

Mark Jardim, 39, New York, N.Y.

Mohammed Jawara, 30, New York, N.Y.

Francois Jean-Pierre, 58, New York, N.Y.

Maxima Jean-Pierre, 40, Bellport, N.Y.

Paul E. Jeffers, 39, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Jenkins, 47, New York, N.Y.

Alan K. Jensen, 49, Wyckoff, N.J.

Prem N. Jerath, 57, Edison, N.J.

Farah Jeudy, 32, Spring Valley, N.Y.

Hweidar Jian, 42, East Brunswick, N.J.

Eliezer Jimenez, 38, New York, N.Y.

Luis Jimenez, 25, New York, N.Y.

Charles Gregory John, 44, New York, N.Y.

Nicholas John, 42, New York, N.Y.

Scott M. Johnson, 26, New York, N.Y.

LaShawana Johnson, 27, New York, N.Y.

William Johnston, 31, North Babylon, N.Y.

Arthur Joseph Jones, 37, Ossining, N.Y.

Allison Horstmann Jones, 31, New York, N.Y.

Brian L. Jones, 44, New York, N.Y.

Christopher D. Jones, 53, Huntington, N.Y.

Donald T. Jones, 39, Livingston, N.J.

Donald W. Jones, 43, Fairless Hills, Pa.

Linda Jones, 50, New York, N.Y.

Mary S. Jones, 72, New York, N.Y.

Andrew Jordan, 35, Remsenburg, N.Y.

Robert Thomas Jordan, 34, Williston, N.Y.

Ingeborg Joseph, 60, Germany

Karl Henri Joseph, 25, New York, N.Y.

Stephen Joseph, 39, Franklin Park, N.J.

Albert Joseph, 79, New York, N.Y.

Jane Eileen Josiah, 47, Bellmore, N.Y.

Lt. Anthony Jovic, 39, Massapequa, N.Y.

Angel Luis Juarbe, 35, New York, N.Y.

Karen Susan Juday, 52, New York, N.Y.

The Rev. Mychal Judge, 68, New York, N.Y.

Paul W. Jurgens, 47, Levittown, N.Y.

Thomas Edward Jurgens, 26, Lawrence, N.Y.

Kacinga Kabeya, 63, McKinney, Texas

Shashi Kiran Lakshmikantha Kadaba, 25, Hackensack, N.J.

Gavkharoy Mukhometovna Kamardinova, 26, New York, N.Y.

Shari Kandell, 27, Wyckoff, N.J.

Howard Lee Kane, 40, Hazlet, N.J.

Jennifer Lynn Kane, 26, Fair Lawn, N.J.

Vincent D. Kane, 37, New York, N.Y.

Joon Koo Kang, 34, Riverdale, N.J.

Sheldon R. Kanter, 53, Edison, N.J.

Deborah H. Kaplan, 45, Paramus, N.J.

Alvin Peter Kappelmann, 57, Green Brook, N.J.

Charles Karczewski, 34, Union, N.J.

William A. Karnes, 37, New York, N.Y.

Douglas G. Karpiloff, 53, Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Charles L. Kasper, 54, New York, N.Y.

Andrew Kates, 37, New York, N.Y.

John Katsimatides, 31, East Marion, N.Y.

Sgt. Robert Kaulfers, 49, Kenilworth, N.J.

Don Jerome Kauth, 51, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Hideya Kawauchi, 36, Fort Lee, N.J.

Edward T. Keane, 66, West Caldwell, N.J.

Richard M. Keane, 54, Wethersfield, Conn.

Lisa Kearney-Griffin, 35, Jamaica, N.Y.

Karol Ann Keasler, 42, New York, N.Y.

Paul Hanlon Keating, 38, New York, N.Y.

Leo Russell Keene, 33, Westfield, N.J.

Joseph J. Keller, 31, Park Ridge, N.J.

Peter Rodney Kellerman, 35, New York, N.Y.

Joseph P. Kellett, 37, Riverdale, N.Y.

Frederick H. Kelley, 57, Huntington, N.Y.

James Joseph Kelly, 39, Oceanside, N.Y.

Joseph A. Kelly, 40, Oyster Bay, N.Y.

Maurice Patrick Kelly, 41, New York, N.Y.

Richard John Kelly, 50, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Michael Kelly, 41, Wyckoff, N.J.

Thomas Richard Kelly, 38, Riverhead, N.Y.

Thomas W. Kelly, 51, New York, N.Y.

Timothy C. Kelly, 37, Port Washington, N.Y.

William Hill Kelly, 30, New York, N.Y.

Robert C. Kennedy, 55, Toms River, N.J.

Thomas J. Kennedy, 36, Islip Terrace, N.Y.

John Keohane, 41, Jersey City, N.J.

Lt. Ronald T. Kerwin, 42, Levittown, N.Y.

Howard L. Kestenbaum, 56, Montclair, N.J.

Douglas D. Ketcham, 27, New York, N.Y.

Ruth E. Ketler, 42, New York, N.Y.

Boris Khalif, 30, New York, N.Y.

Sarah Khan, 32, New York, N.Y.

Taimour Firaz Khan, 29, New York, N.Y.

Rajesh Khandelwal, 33, South Plainfield, N.J.

SeiLai Khoo, 38, Jersey City, N.J.

Michael Kiefer, 25, Hempstead, N.Y.

Satoshi Kikuchihara, 43, Scarsdale, N.Y.

Andrew Jay-Hoon Kim, 26, Leonia, N.J.

Lawrence Don Kim, 31, Blue Bell, Pa.

Mary Jo Kimelman, 34, New York, N.Y.

Andrew Marshall King, 42, Princeton, N.J.

Lucille T. King, 59, Ridgewood, N.J.

Robert King, 36, Bellerose Terrace, N.Y.

Lisa M. King-Johnson, 34, New York, N.Y.

Takashi Kinoshita, 46, Rye, N.Y.

Chris Michael Kirby, 21, New York, N.Y.

Howard (Barry) Kirschbaum, 53, New York, N.Y.

Glenn Davis Kirwin, 40, Scarsdale, N.Y.

Richard J. Klares, 59, Somers, N.Y.

Peter A. Klein, 35, Weehawken, N.J.

Alan D. Kleinberg, 39, East Brunswick, N.J.

Karen J. Klitzman, 38, New York, N.Y.

Ronald Philip Kloepfer, 39, Franklin Square, N.Y.

Yevgeny Kniazev, 46, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Patrick Knox, 31, Hoboken, N.J.

Andrew Knox, 30, Adelaide, Australia

Rebecca Lee Koborie, 48, Guttenberg, N.J.

Deborah Kobus, 36, New York, N.Y.

Gary Edward Koecheler, 57, Harrison, N.Y.

Frank J. Koestner, 48, New York, N.Y.

Ryan Kohart, 26, New York, N.Y.

Vanessa Lynn Kolpak, 21, New York, N.Y.

Irina Kolpakova, 37, New York, N.Y.

Suzanne Kondratenko, 27, Chicago, Ill.

Abdoulaye Kone, 37, New York, N.Y.

Bon-seok Koo, 42, River Edge, N.J.

Dorota Kopiczko, 26, Nutley, N.J.

Scott Kopytko, 32, New York, N.Y.

Bojan Kostic, 34, New York, N.Y.

Danielle Kousoulis, 29, New York, N.Y.

John J. Kren, 52, New York, N.Y.

William Krukowski, 36, New York, N.Y.

Lyudmila Ksido, 46, New York, N.Y.

Shekhar Kumar, 30, New York, N.Y.

Kenneth Kumpel, 42, Cornwall, N.Y.

Frederick Kuo, 53, Great Neck, N.Y.

Patricia Kuras, 42, New York, N.Y.

Nauka Kushitani, 44, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Joseph Kuveikis, 48, Carmel, N.Y.

Victor Kwarkye, 35, New York, N.Y.

Kui Fai Kwok, 31, New York, N.Y.

Angela R. Kyte, 49, Boonton, N.J.

Amarnauth Lachhman, 42, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Andrew LaCorte, 61, Jersey City, N.J.

Ganesh Ladkat, 27, Somerset, N.J.

James P. Ladley, 41, Colts Neck, N.J.

Daniel M. Van Laere, 46, Glen Rock, N.J.

Joseph A. Lafalce, 54, New York, N.Y.

Jeanette LaFond-Menichino, 49, New York, N.Y.

David LaForge, 50, Port Richmond, N.Y.

Michael Patrick LaForte, 39, Holmdel, N.J.

Alan Lafrance, 43, New York, N.Y.

Juan Lafuente, 61, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Neil K. Lai, 59, East Windsor, N.J.

Vincent A. Laieta, 31, Edison, N.J.

William David Lake, 44, New York, N.Y.

Franco Lalama, 45, Nutley, N.J.

Chow Kwan Lam, 48, Maywood, N.J.

Stephen LaMantia, 38, Darien, Conn.

Amy Hope Lamonsoff, 29, New York, N.Y.

Robert T. Lane, 28, New York, N.Y.

Brendan M. Lang, 30, Red Bank, N.J.

Rosanne P. Lang, 42, Middletown, N.J.

Vanessa Langer, 29, Yonkers, N.Y.

Mary Lou Langley, 53, New York, N.Y.

Peter J. Langone, 41, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.

Thomas Langone, 39, Williston Park, N.Y.

Michele B. Lanza, 36, New York, N.Y.

Ruth Sheila Lapin, 53, East Windsor, N.J.

Carol Ann LaPlante, 59, New York, N.Y.

Ingeborg Astrid Desiree Lariby, 42, New York, N.Y.

Robin Larkey, 48, Chatham, N.J.

Christopher Randall Larrabee, 26, New York, N.Y.

Hamidou S. Larry, 37, New York, N.Y.

Scott Larsen, 35, New York, N.Y.

John Adam Larson, 37, Colonia, N.J.

Gary E. Lasko, 49, Memphis, Tenn.

Nicholas C. Lassman, 28, Cliffside Park, N.J.

Paul Laszczynski, 49, Paramus, N.J.

Jeffrey Latouche, 49, New York, N.Y.

Cristina de Laura, age unknown, Columbia

Oscar de Laura, age unknown, Columbia

Charles Laurencin, 61, New York, N.Y.

Stephen James Lauria, 39, New York, N.Y.

Maria Lavache, 60, New York, N.Y.

Denis F. Lavelle, 42, Yonkers, N.Y.

Jeannine M. LaVerde, 36, New York, N.Y.

Anna A. Laverty, 52, Middletown, N.J.

Steven Lawn, 28, West Windsor, N.J.

Robert A. Lawrence, 41, Summit, N.J.

Nathaniel Lawson, 61, New York, N.Y.

Eugen Lazar, 27, New York, N.Y.

James Patrick Leahy, 38, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Joseph Gerard Leavey, 45, Pelham, N.Y.

Neil Leavy, 34, New York, N.Y.

Leon Lebor, 51, Jersey City, N.J.

Kenneth Charles Ledee, 38, Monmouth, N.J.

Alan J. Lederman, 43, New York, N.Y.

Elena Ledesma, 36, New York, N.Y.

Alexis Leduc, 45, New York, N.Y.

Myung-woo Lee, 41, Lyndhurst, N.J.

David S. Lee, 37, West Orange, N.J.

Gary H. Lee, 62, Lindenhurst, N.Y.

Hyun-joon (Paul) Lee, 32, New York, N.Y.

Jong-min Lee, 24, New York, N.Y.

Juanita Lee, 44, New York, N.Y.

Lorraine Lee, 37, New York, N.Y.

Richard Y.C. Lee, 34, Great Neck, N.Y.

Yang Der Lee, 63, New York, N.Y.

Kathryn Blair Lee, 55, New York, N.Y.

Stuart (Soo-Jin) Lee, 30, New York, N.Y.

Linda C. Lee, 34, New York, N.Y.

Stephen Lefkowitz, 50, Belle Harbor, N.Y.

Adriana Legro, 32, New York, N.Y.

Edward J. Lehman, 41, Glen Cove, N.Y.

Eric Andrew Lehrfeld, 32, New York, N.Y.

David Ralph Leistman, 43, Garden City, N.Y.

David Prudencio LeMagne, 27, North Bergen, N.J.

Joseph A. Lenihan, 41, Greenwich, Conn.

John J. Lennon, 44, Howell, N.J.

John Robinson Lenoir, 38, Locust Valley, N.Y.

Jorge Luis Leon, 43, Union City, N.J.

Matthew Gerard Leonard, 38, New York, N.Y.

Michael Lepore, 39, New York, N.Y.

Charles Antoine Lesperance, 55

Jeffrey Earle LeVeen, 55, Manhasset, N.Y.

John D. Levi, 50, New York, N.Y.

Alisha Caren Levin, 33, New York, N.Y.

Neil D. Levin, 47, New York, N.Y.

Robert Levine, 56, West Babylon, N.Y.

Robert M. Levine, 66, Edgewater, N.J.

Shai Levinhar, 29, New York, N.Y.

Adam J. Lewis, 36, Fairfield, Conn.

Margaret Susan Lewis, 49, Elizabeth, N.J.

Ye Wei Liang, 27, New York, N.Y.

Orasri Liangthanasarn, 26, Bayonne, N.J.

Daniel F. Libretti, 43, New York, N.Y.

Ralph M. Licciardi, 30, West Hempstead, N.Y.

Edward Lichtschein, 35, New York, N.Y.

Steven B. Lillianthal, 38, Millburn, N.J.

Carlos R. Lillo, 37, Babylon, N.Y.

Craig Damian Lilore, 30, Lyndhurst, N.J.

Arnold A. Lim, 28, New York, N.Y.

Darya Lin, 32, Chicago, Ill.

Wei Rong Lin, 31, Jersey City, N.J.

Nickie L. Lindo, 31, New York, N.Y.

Thomas V. Linehan, 39, Montville, N.J.

Robert Thomas Linnane, 33, West Hempstead, N.Y.

Alan Linton, 26, Jersey City, N.J.

Diane Theresa Lipari, 42, New York, N.Y.

Kenneth P. Lira, 28, Paterson, N.J.

Francisco Alberto Liriano, 33, New York, N.Y.

Lorraine Lisi, 44, New York, N.Y.

Paul Lisson, 45, New York, N.Y.

Vincent Litto, 52, New York, N.Y.

Ming-Hao Liu, 41, Livingston, N.J.

Nancy Liz, 39, New York, N.Y.

Harold Lizcano, 31, East Elmhurst, N.Y.

Martin Lizzul, 31, New York, N.Y.

George A. Llanes, 33, New York, N.Y.

Elizabeth Claire Logler, 31, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Catherine Lisa Loguidice, 30, New York, N.Y.

Jerome Robert Lohez, 30, Jersey City, N.J.

Michael W. Lomax, 37, New York, N.Y.

Laura M. Longing, 35, Pearl River, N.Y.

Salvatore P. Lopes, 40, Franklin Square, N.Y.

Daniel Lopez, 39, New York, N.Y.

Luis Lopez, 38, New York, N.Y.

Manuel L. Lopez, 54, Jersey City, N.J.

George Lopez, 40, Stroudsburg, Pa.

Joseph Lostrangio, 48, Langhorne, Pa.

Chet Louie, 45, New York, N.Y.

Stuart Seid Louis, 43, East Brunswick, N.J.

Joseph Lovero, 60, Jersey City, N.J.

Michael W. Lowe, 48, New York, N.Y.

Garry Lozier, 47, Darien, Conn.

John Peter Lozowsky, 45, New York, N.Y.

Charles Peter Lucania, 34, East Atlantic Beach, N.Y.

Edward (Ted) H. Luckett, 40, Fair Haven, N.J.

Mark G. Ludvigsen, 32, New York, N.Y.

Lee Charles Ludwig, 49, New York, N.Y.

Sean Thomas Lugano, 28, New York, N.Y.

Daniel Lugo, 45, New York, N.Y.

Marie Lukas, 32, New York, N.Y.

William Lum, 45, New York, N.Y.

Michael P. Lunden, 37, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Lunder, 34, Wall, N.J.

Anthony Luparello, 62, New York, N.Y.

Gary Lutnick, 36, New York, N.Y.

Linda Luzzicone, 33, New York, N.Y.

Alexander Lygin, 28, New York, N.Y.

Farrell Peter Lynch, 39, Centerport, N.Y.

James Francis Lynch, 47, Woodbridge, N.J.

Louise A. Lynch, 58, Amityville, N.Y.

Michael Lynch, 34, New York, N.Y.

Michael F. Lynch, 33, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Michael Francis Lynch, 30, New York, N.Y.

Richard Dennis Lynch, 30, Bedford Hills, N.Y.

Robert H. Lynch, 44, Cranford, N.J.

Sean Patrick Lynch, 36, Morristown, N.J.

Sean Lynch, 34, New York, N.Y.

Michael J. Lyons, 32, Hawthorne, N.Y.

Patrick Lyons, 34, South Setauket, N.Y.

Monica Lyons, 53, New York, N.Y.

Robert Francis Mace, 43, New York, N.Y.

Jan Maciejewski, 37, New York, N.Y.

Catherine Fairfax MacRae, 23, New York, N.Y.

Richard B. Madden, 35, Westfield, N.J.

Simon Maddison, 40, Florham Park, N.J.

Noell Maerz, 29, Long Beach, N.Y.

Jeannieann Maffeo, 40, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Maffeo, 30, New York, N.Y.

Jay Robert Magazine, 48, New York, N.Y.

Charles Wilson Magee, 51, Wantagh, N.Y.

Brian Magee, 52, Floral Park, N.Y.

Joseph Maggitti, 47, Abingdon, Md.

Ronald E. Magnuson, 57, Park Ridge, N.J.

Daniel L. Maher, 50, Hamilton, N.J.

Thomas Anthony Mahon, 37, East Norwich, N.Y.

William Mahoney, 38, Bohemia, N.Y.

Joseph Maio, 32, Roslyn Harbor, N.Y.

Takashi Makimoto, 49, New York, N.Y.

Abdu Malahi, 37, New York, N.Y.

Debora Maldonado, 47, New York, N.Y.

Myrna T. Maldonado-Agosto, 49, New York, N.Y.

Alfred R. Maler, 39, Convent Station, N.J.

Gregory James Malone, 42, Hoboken, N.J.

Edward Francis (Teddy) Maloney, 32, Darien, Conn.

Joseph E. Maloney, 46, Farmingville, N.Y.

Gene E. Maloy, 41, New York, N.Y.

Christian Maltby, 37, Chatham, N.J.

Francisco Miguel (Frank) Mancini, 26, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Mangano, 53, Jackson, N.J.

Sara Elizabeth Manley, 31, New York, N.Y.

Debra M. Mannetta, 31, Islip, N.Y.

Terence J. Manning, 36, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Marion Victoria (vickie) Manning, 27, Rochdale, N.Y.

James Maounis, 42, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Ross Marchbanks, 47, Nanuet, N.Y.

Peter Edward Mardikian, 29, New York, N.Y.

Edward Joseph Mardovich, 42, Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.

Lt. Charles Joseph Margiotta, 44, New York, N.Y.

Kenneth Joseph Marino, 40, Monroe, N.Y.

Lester Vincent Marino, 57, Massapequa, N.Y.

Vita Marino, 49, New York, N.Y.

Kevin D. Marlo, 28, New York, N.Y.

Jose J. Marrero, 32, Old Bridge, N.J.

John Marshall, 35, Congers, N.Y.

James Martello, 41, Rumson, N.J.

Michael A. Marti, 26, Glendale, N.Y.

Lt. Peter Martin, 43, Miller Place, N.Y.

William J. Martin, 35, Rockaway, N.J.

Brian E. Martineau, 37, Edison, N.J.

Betsy Martinez, 33, New York, N.Y.

Edward J. Martinez, 60, New York, N.Y.

Jose Angel Martinez, 49, Hauppauge, N.Y.

Robert Gabriel Martinez, 24, New York, N.Y.

Lizie Martinez-Calderon, 32, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Paul Richard Martini, 37, New York, N.Y.

Joseph A. Mascali, 44, New York, N.Y.

Bernard Mascarenhas, 54, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

Stephen F. Masi, 55, New York, N.Y.

Nicholas G. Massa, 65, New York, N.Y.

Patricia A. Massari, 25, Glendale, N.Y.

Michael Massaroli, 38, New York, N.Y.

Philip W. Mastrandrea, 42, Chatham, N.J.

Rudolph Mastrocinque, 43, Kings Park, N.Y.

Joseph Mathai, 49, Arlington, Mass.

Charles William Mathers, 61, Sea Girt, N.J.

William A. Mathesen, 40, Morristown, N.J.

Marcello Matricciano, 31, New York, N.Y.

Margaret Elaine Mattic, 51, New York, N.Y.

Robert D. Mattson, 54, Green Pond, N.J.

Walter Matuza, 39, New York, N.Y.

Charles A. (Chuck) Mauro, 65, New York, N.Y.

Charles J. Mauro, 38, New York, N.Y.

Dorothy Mauro, 55, New York, N.Y.

Nancy T. Mauro, 51, New York, N.Y.

Tyrone May, 44, Rahway, N.J.

Keithroy Maynard, 30, New York, N.Y.

Robert J. Mayo, 46, Morganville, N.J.

Kathy Nancy Mazza-Delosh, 46, Farmingdale, N.Y.

Edward Mazzella, 62, Monroe, N.Y.

Jennifer Mazzotta, 23, New York, N.Y.

Kaaria Mbaya, 39, Edison, N.J.

James J. McAlary, 42, Spring Lake Heights, N.J.

Brian McAleese, 36, Baldwin, N.Y.

Patricia A. McAneney, 50, Pomona, N.Y.

Colin Richard McArthur, 52, Howell, N.J.

John McAvoy, 47, New York, N.Y.

Kenneth M. McBrayer, 49, New York, N.Y.

Brendan McCabe, 40, Sayville, N.Y.

Michael J. McCabe, 42, Rumson, N.J.

Thomas McCann, 46, Manalapan, N.J.

Justin McCarthy, 30, Port Washington, N.Y.

Kevin M. McCarthy, 42, Fairfield, Conn.

Michael Desmond McCarthy, 33, Huntington, N.Y.

Robert Garvin McCarthy, 33, Stony Point, N.Y.

Stanley McCaskill, 47, New York, N.Y.

Katie Marie McCloskey, 25, Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Tara McCloud-Gray, 30, New York, N.Y.

Charles Austin McCrann, 55, New York, N.Y.

Tonyell McDay, 25, Colonia, N.J.

Matthew T. McDermott, 34, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Joseph P. McDonald, 43, Livingston, N.J.

Brian G. McDonnell, 38, Wantagh, N.Y.

Michael McDonnell, 34, Red Bank, N.J.

John F. McDowell, 33, New York, N.Y.

Eamon J. McEneaney, 46, New Canaan, Conn.

John Thomas McErlean, 39, Larchmont, N.Y.

Daniel F. McGinley, 40, Ridgewood, N.J.

Mark Ryan McGinly, 26, New York, N.Y.

Lt. William E. McGinn, 43, New York, N.Y.

Thomas H. McGinnis, 41, Oakland, N.J.

Michael Gregory McGinty, 42, Foxboro, Mass.

Ann McGovern, 68, East Meadow, N.Y.

Scott Martin McGovern, 35, Wyckoff, N.J.

William J. McGovern, 49, Smithtown, N.Y.

Stacey S. McGowan, 38, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Francis Noel McGuinn, 48, Rye, N.Y.

Patrick J. McGuire, 40, Madison, N.J.

Thomas M. McHale, 33, Huntington, N.Y.

Keith McHeffey, 31, Monmouth Beach, N.J.

Denis J. McHugh, 36, New York, N.Y.

Dennis P. McHugh, 34, Sparkill, N.Y.

Michael Edward McHugh, 35, Tuckahoe, N.Y.

Ann M. McHugh, 35, New York, N.Y.

Robert G. McIlvaine, 26, New York, N.Y.

Donald James McIntyre, 38, New City, N.Y.

Stephanie McKenna, 45, New York, N.Y.

Barry J. McKeon, 47, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

Evelyn C. McKinnedy, 60, New York, N.Y.

Darryl Leron McKinney, 26, New York, N.Y.

Robert C. McLaughlin, 29, Westchester, N.Y.

George Patrick McLaughlin, 36, Hoboken, N.J.

Gavin McMahon, 35, Bayonne, N.J.

Robert Dismas McMahon, 35, New York, N.Y.

Edmund M. McNally, 41, Fair Haven, N.J.

Daniel McNeal, 29, Towson, Md.

Walter Arthur McNeil, 53, Stroudsburg, Pa.

Sean Peter McNulty, 30, New York, N.Y.

Christine Sheila McNulty, 42, Peterborough, England

Robert William McPadden, 30, Pearl River, N.Y.

Terence A. McShane, 37, West Islip, N.Y.

Timothy Patrick McSweeney, 37, New York, N.Y.

Martin E. McWilliams, 35, Kings Park, N.Y.

Rocco A. Medaglia, 49, Melville, N.Y.

Abigail Cales Medina, 46, New York, N.Y.

Ana Iris Medina, 39, New York, N.Y.

Deborah Medwig, 46, Dedham, Mass.

William J. Meehan, 49, Darien, Conn.

Damian Meehan, 32, Glen Rock, N.J.

Alok Kumar Mehta, 23, Hempstead, N.Y.

Raymond Meisenheimer, 46, West Babylon, N.Y.

Manuel Emilio Mejia, 54, New York, N.Y.

Eskedar Melaku, 31, New York, N.Y.

Antonio Melendez, 30, New York, N.Y.

Mary Melendez, 44, Stroudsburg, Pa.

Yelena Melnichenko, 28, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Stuart Todd Meltzer, 32, Syosset, N.Y.

Diarelia Jovannah Mena, 30, New York, N.Y.

Charles Mendez, 38, Floral Park, N.Y.

Lizette Mendoza, 33, North Bergen, N.J.

Shevonne Mentis, 25, New York, N.Y.

Steve Mercado, 38, New York, N.Y.

Wesley Mercer, 70, New York, N.Y.

Ralph Joseph Mercurio, 47, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Alan H. Merdinger, 47, Allentown, Pa.

George C. Merino, 39, New York, N.Y.

Yamel Merino, 24, Yonkers, N.Y.

George Merkouris, 35, Levittown, N.Y.

Deborah Merrick, 45, residence unknown

Raymond J. Metz, 37, Trumbull, Conn.

Jill A. Metzler, 32, Franklin Square, N.Y.

David Robert Meyer, 57, Glen Rock, N.J.

Nurul Huq Miah, 35, New York, N.Y.

William Edward Micciulli, 30, Matawan, N.J.

Martin Paul Michelstein, 57, Morristown, N.J.

Luis Clodoaldo Revilla Mier, 54

Peter T. Milano, 43, Middletown, N.J.

Gregory Milanowycz, 25, Cranford, N.J.

Lukasz T. Milewski, 21, New York, N.Y.

Sgt. Craig James Miller, 29, VA

Corey Peter Miller, 34, New York, N.Y.

Douglas C. Miller, 34, Port Jervis, N.Y.

Henry Miller, 52, Massapequa, N.Y.

Michael Matthew Miller, 39, Englewood, N.J.

Phillip D. Miller, 53, New York, N.Y.

Robert C. Miller, 55, Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.

Robert Alan Miller, 46, Matawan, N.J.

Joel Miller, 55, Baldwin, N.Y.

Benjamin Millman, 40, New York, N.Y.

Charles M. Mills, 61, Brentwood, N.Y.

Ronald Keith Milstein, 54, New York, N.Y.

Robert Minara, 54, Carmel, N.Y.

William G. Minardi, 46, Bedford, N.Y.

Louis Joseph Minervino, 54, Middletown, N.J.

Thomas Mingione, 34, West Islip, N.Y.

Wilbert Miraille, 29, New York, N.Y.

Domenick Mircovich, 40, Closter, N.J.

Rajesh A. Mirpuri, 30, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

Joseph Mistrulli, 47, Wantagh, N.Y.

Susan Miszkowicz, 37, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Paul Thomas Mitchell, 46, New York, N.Y.

Richard Miuccio, 55, New York, N.Y.

Frank V. Moccia, 57, Hauppauge, N.Y.

Capt. Louis Joseph Modafferi, 45, New York, N.Y.

Boyie Mohammed, 50, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Dennis Mojica, 50, New York, N.Y.

Manuel Mojica, 37, Bellmore, N.Y.

Manuel Dejesus Molina, 31, New York, N.Y.

Kleber Rolando Molina, 44, New York, N.Y.

Fernando Jimenez Molinar, 21, Oaxaca, Mexico

Carl Molinaro, 32, New York, N.Y.

Justin J. Molisani, 42, Middletown Township, N.J.

Brian Patrick Monaghan, 21, New York, N.Y.

Franklin Monahan, 45, Roxbury, N.Y.

John Gerard Monahan, 47, Wanamassa, N.J.

Kristen Montanaro, 34, New York, N.Y.

Craig D. Montano, 38, Glen Ridge, N.J.

Michael Montesi, 39, Highland Mills, N.Y.

Cheryl Ann Monyak, 43, Greenwich, Conn.

Capt. Thomas Moody, 45, Stony Brook, N.Y.

Sharon Moore, 37, New York, N.Y.

Krishna Moorthy, 59, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

Abner Morales, 37, New York, N.Y.

Carlos Morales, 29, New York, N.Y.

Paula Morales, 42, New York, N.Y.

Luis Morales, 46, New York, N.Y.

John Moran, 43, Rockaway, N.Y.

John Christopher Moran, 38, Haslemere, Surrey, England

Kathleen Moran, 42, New York, N.Y.

Lindsay S. Morehouse, 24, New York, N.Y.

George Morell, 47, Mount. Kisco, N.Y.

Steven P. Morello, 52, Bayonne, N.J.

Vincent S. Morello, 34, New York, N.Y.

Arturo Alva Moreno, 47, Mexico City, Mexico

Yvette Nicole Moreno, 25, New York, N.Y.

Dorothy Morgan, 47, Hempstead, N.Y.

Richard Morgan, 66, Glen Rock, N.J.

Nancy Morgenstern, 32, New York, N.Y.

Sanae Mori, 27, Tokyo, Japan

Blanca Morocho, 26, New York, N.Y.

Leonel Morocho, 36, New York, N.Y.

Dennis G. Moroney, 39, Eastchester, N.Y.

Lynne Irene Morris, 22, Monroe, N.Y.

Seth A. Morris, 35, Kinnelon, N.J.

Stephen Philip Morris, 31, Ormond Beach, Fla.

Christopher M. Morrison, 34, Charlestown, Mass.

Ferdinand V. Morrone, 63, Lakewood, N.J.

William David Moskal, 50, Brecksville, Ohio

Manuel Da Mota, 43, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Marco Motroni, 57, Fort Lee, N.J.

Iouri A. Mouchinski, 55, New York, N.Y.

Jude J. Moussa, 35, New York, N.Y.

Peter C. Moutos, 44, Chatham, N.J.

Damion Mowatt, 21, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Mozzillo, 27, New York, N.Y.

Stephen V. Mulderry, 33, New York, N.Y.

Richard Muldowney, 40, Babylon, N.Y.

Michael D. Mullan, 34, New York, N.Y.

Dennis Michael Mulligan, 32, New York, N.Y.

Peter James Mulligan, 28, New York, N.Y.

Michael Joseph Mullin, 27, Hoboken, N.J.

James Donald Munhall, 45, Ridgewood, N.J.

Nancy Muniz, 45, New York, N.Y.

Carlos Mario Munoz, 43, New York, N.Y.

Francisco Munoz, 29, New York, N.Y.

Theresa (Terry) Munson, 54, New York, N.Y.

Robert M. Murach, 45, Montclair, N.J.

Cesar Augusto Murillo, 32, New York, N.Y.

Marc A. Murolo, 28, Maywood, N.J.

Robert Eddie Murphy, 56, New York, N.Y.

Brian Joseph Murphy, 41, New York, N.Y.

Christopher W. Murphy, 35, Easton, Md.

Edward C. Murphy, 42, Clifton, N.J.

James F. Murphy, 30, Garden City, N.Y.

James Thomas Murphy, 35, Middletown, N.J.

Kevin James Murphy, 40, Northport, N.Y.

Patrick Sean Murphy, 36, Millburn, N.J.

Lt. Raymond E. Murphy, 46, New York, N.Y.

Charles Murphy, 38, New York, N.Y.

John Joseph Murray, 32, Hoboken, N.J.

John Joseph Murray, 52, Colts Neck, N.J.

Susan D. Murray, 54, Summit, N.J.

Valerie Victoria Murray, 65, New York, N.Y.

Richard Todd Myhre, 37, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Robert B. Nagel, 55, New York, N.Y.

Takuya Nakamura, 30, Tuckahoe, N.Y.

Alexander J.R. Napier, 38, Morris Township, N.J.

Frank Joseph Naples, 29, Cliffside Park, N.J.

John Napolitano, 33, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

Catherine A. Nardella, 40, Bloomfield, N.J.

Mario Nardone, 32, New York, N.Y.

Manika Narula, 22, Kings Park, N.Y.

Narender Nath, 33, Colonia, N.J.

Karen S. Navarro, 30, New York, N.Y.

Joseph M. Navas, 44, Paramus, N.J.

Francis J. Nazario, 28, Jersey City, N.J.

Glenroy Neblett, 42, New York, N.Y.

Marcus R. Neblett, 31, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.

Jerome O. Nedd, 39, New York, N.Y.

Laurence Nedell, 51, Lindenhurst, N.Y.

Luke G. Nee, 44, Stony Point, N.Y.

Pete Negron, 34, Bergenfield, N.J.

Ann Nicole Nelson, 30, New York, N.Y.

David William Nelson, 50, New York, N.Y.

James Nelson, 40, Clark, N.J.

Michele Ann Nelson, 27, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Peter Allen Nelson, 42, Huntington Station, N.Y.

Oscar Nesbitt, 58, New York, N.Y.

Gerard Terence Nevins, 46, Campbell Hall, N.Y.

Christopher Newton-Carter, 51, Middletown, N.J.

Kapinga Ngalula, 58, McKinney, Texas

Nancy Yuen Ngo, 36, Harrington Park, N.J.

Jody Tepedino Nichilo, 39, New York, N.Y.

Martin Niederer, 23, Hoboken, N.J.

Alfonse J. Niedermeyer, 40, Manasquan, N.J.

Frank John Niestadt, 55, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

Gloria Nieves, 48, New York, N.Y.

Juan Nieves, 56, New York, N.Y.

Troy Edward Nilsen, 33, New York, N.Y.

Paul R. Nimbley, 42, Middletown, N.J.

John Ballantine Niven, 44, Oyster Bay, N.Y.

Katherine (Katie) McGarry Noack, 30, Hoboken, N.J.

Curtis Terrence Noel, 22, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Daniel R. Nolan, 44, Hopatcong, N.J.

Robert Walter Noonan, 36, Norwalk, Conn.

Daniela R. Notaro, 25, New York, N.Y.

Brian Novotny, 33, Hoboken, N.J.

Soichi Numata, 45, Irvington, N.Y.

Brian Felix Nunez, 29, New York, N.Y.

Jose R. Nunez, 42, New York, N.Y.

Jeffrey Nussbaum, 37, Oceanside, N.Y.

James A. Oakley, 52, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

Dennis O’Berg, 28, Babylon, N.Y.

James P. O’Brien, 33, New York, N.Y.

Scott J. O’Brien, 40, New York, N.Y.

Timothy Michael O’Brien, 40, Brookville, N.Y.

Michael O’Brien, 42, Cedar Knolls, N.J.

Captain Daniel O’Callaghan, 42, Smithtown, N.Y.

Richard J. O’Connor, 49, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Dennis J. O’Connor, 34, New York, N.Y.

Diana J. O’Connor, 38, Eastchester, N.Y.

Keith K. O’Connor, 28, Hoboken, N.J.

Amy O’Doherty, 23, New York, N.Y.

Marni Pont O’Doherty, 31, Armonk, N.Y.

Douglas Oelschlager, 36, New York, N.Y.

Takashi Ogawa, 37, Tokyo, Japan

Albert Ogletree, 49, New York, N.Y.

Philip Paul Ognibene, 39, New York, N.Y.

James Andrew O’Grady, 32, Harrington Park, N.J.

Joseph J. Ogren, 30, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Thomas O’Hagan, 43, New York, N.Y.

Samuel Oitice, 45, Peekskill, N.Y.

Patrick O’Keefe, 44, Oakdale, N.Y.

Capt. William O’Keefe, 49, New York, N.Y.

Gerald Michael Olcott, 55, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Gerald O’Leary, 34, Stony Point, N.Y.

Christine Anne Olender, 39, New York, N.Y.

Elsy Carolina Osorio Oliva, 27, New York, N.Y.

Linda Mary Oliva, 44, New York, N.Y.

Edward K. Oliver, 31, Jackson, N.J.

Leah E. Oliver, 24, New York, N.Y.

Eric T. Olsen, 41, New York, N.Y.

Jeffrey James Olsen, 31, New York, N.Y.

Maureen L. Olson, 50, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Steven John Olson, 38, New York, N.Y.

Matthew Timothy O’Mahony, 39, New York, N.Y.

Toshihiro Onda, 39, New York, N.Y.

Seamus L. Oneal, 52, New York, N.Y.

John P. O’Neill, 49, New York, N.Y.

Sean Gordon Corbett O’Neill, 34, Rye, N.Y.

Peter J. O’Neill, 21, Amityville, N.Y.

Michael C. Opperman, 45, Selden, N.Y.

Christopher Orgielewicz, 35, Larchmont, N.Y.

Margaret Orloske, 50, Windsor, Conn.

Virginia A. Ormiston, 42, New York, N.Y.

Kevin O’Rourke, 44, Hewlett, N.Y.

Juan Romero Orozco, Acatlan de Osorio, Puebla, Mexico

Ronald Orsini, 59, Hillsdale, N.J.

Peter K. Ortale, 37, New York, N.Y.

Emilio (Peter) Ortiz, 38, New York, N.Y.

David Ortiz, 37, Nanuet, N.Y.

Paul Ortiz, 21, New York, N.Y.

Sonia Ortiz, 58, New York, N.Y.

Alexander Ortiz, 36, Ridgewood, N.Y.

Pablo Ortiz, 49, New York, N.Y.

Masaru Ose, 36, Fort Lee, N.J.

Robert W. O’Shea, 47, Wall, N.J.

Patrick J. O’Shea, 45, Farmingdale, N.Y.

James Robert Ostrowski, 37, Garden City, N.Y.

Timothy O’Sullivan, 68, Albrightsville, Pa.

Jason Douglas Oswald, 28, New York, N.Y.

Michael Otten, 42, East Islip, N.Y.

Isidro Ottenwalder, 35, New York, N.Y.

Michael Chung Ou, 53, New York, N.Y.

Todd Joseph Ouida, 25, River Edge, N.J.

Jesus Ovalles, 60, New York, N.Y.

Peter J. Owens, 42, Williston Park, N.Y.

Adianes Oyola, 23, New York, N.Y.

Angel M. Pabon, 54, New York, N.Y.

Israel Pabon, 31, New York, N.Y.

Roland Pacheco, 25, New York, N.Y.

Michael Benjamin Packer, 45, New York, N.Y.

Deepa K. Pakkala, 31, Stewartsville, N.J.

Jeffrey Matthew Palazzo, 33, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Anthony Palazzo, 44, Armonk, N.Y.

Richard (Rico) Palazzolo, 39, New York, N.Y.

Orio Joseph Palmer, 45, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Frank A. Palombo, 46, New York, N.Y.

Alan N. Palumbo, 42, New York, N.Y.

Christopher M. Panatier, 36, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Dominique Pandolfo, 27, Hoboken, N.J.

Paul Pansini, 34, New York, N.Y.

John M. Paolillo, 51, Glen Head, N.Y.

Edward J. Papa, 47, Oyster Bay, N.Y.

Salvatore Papasso, 34, New York, N.Y.

James N. Pappageorge, 29, Yonkers, N.Y.

Vinod K. Parakat, 34, Sayreville, N.J.

Vijayashanker Paramsothy, 23, New York, N.Y.

Nitin Ramesh Parandkar, 28, Waltham, Mass.

Hardai (Casey) Parbhu, 42, New York, N.Y.

James Wendell Parham, 32, New York, N.Y.

Debra (Debbie) Paris, 48, New York, N.Y.

George Paris, 33, New York, N.Y.

Gye-Hyong Park, 28, New York, N.Y.

Philip L. Parker, 53, Skillman, N.J.

Michael A. Parkes, 27, New York, N.Y.

Robert Emmett Parks, 47, Middletown, N.J.

Hasmukhrai Chuckulal Parmar, 48, Warren, N.J.

Robert Parro, 35, Levittown, N.Y.

Diane Marie Moore Parsons, 58, Malta, N.Y.

Leobardo Lopez Pascual, 41, New York, N.Y.

Michael J. Pascuma, 50, Massapequa Park, N.Y.

Jerrold H. Paskins, 56, Anaheim Hills, Calif.

Horace Robert Passananti, 55, New York, N.Y.

Suzanne H. Passaro, 38, East Brunswick, N.J.

Victor Antonio Martinez Pastrana, 38, Tlachichuca, Puebla, Mexico

Manish K. Patel, 29, Edison, N.J.

Avnish Ramanbhai Patel, 28, New York, N.Y.

Dipti Patel, 38, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Steven B. Paterson, 40, Ridgewood, N.J.

James Matthew Patrick, 30, Norwalk, Conn.

Manuel Patrocino, 34, New York, N.Y.

Bernard E. Patterson, 46, Upper Brookville, N.Y.

Cira Marie Patti, 40, New York, N.Y.

Robert Edward Pattison, 40, New York, N.Y.

James R. Paul, 58, New York, N.Y.

Sharon Cristina Millan Paz, 31, New York, N.Y.

Patrice Paz, 52, New York, N.Y.

Victor Paz-Gutierrez, 43, New York, N.Y.

Stacey L. Peak, 36, New York, N.Y.

Richard Allen Pearlman, 18, New York, N.Y.

Durrell Pearsall, 34, Hempstead, N.Y.

Thomas E. Pedicini, 30, Hicksville, N.Y.

Todd D. Pelino, 34, Fair Haven, N.J.

Michel Adrian Pelletier, 36, Greenwich, Conn.

Anthony Peluso, 46, New York, N.Y.

Angel Ramon Pena, 45, River Vale, N.J.

Richard Al Penny, 53, New York, N.Y.

Salvatore F. Pepe, 45, New York, N.Y.

Carl Allen Peralta, 37, New York, N.Y.

Robert David Peraza, 30, New York, N.Y.

Jon A. Perconti, 32, Brick, N.J.

Alejo Perez, 66, Union City, N.J.

Angel Perez, 43, Jersey City, N.J.

Angela Susan Perez, 35, New York, N.Y.

Ivan Perez, 37, New York, N.Y.

Nancy E. Perez, 36, Secaucus, N.J.

Anthony Perez, 33, Locust Valley, N.Y.

Joseph John Perroncino, 33, Smithtown, N.Y.

Edward J. Perrotta, 43, Mount Sinai, N.Y.

Lt. Glenn C. Perry, 41, Monroe, N.Y.

Emelda Perry, 52, Elmont, N.Y.

John William Perry, 38, New York, N.Y.

Franklin Allan Pershep, 59, New York, N.Y.

Daniel Pesce, 34, New York, N.Y.

Michael J. Pescherine, 32, New York, N.Y.

Davin Peterson, 25, New York, N.Y.

William Russel Peterson, 46, New York, N.Y.

Mark Petrocelli, 28, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Philip S. Petti, 43, New York, N.Y.

Glen Kerrin Pettit, 30, Oakdale, N.Y.

Dominick Pezzulo, 36, New York, N.Y.

Kaleen E. Pezzuti, 28, Fair Haven, N.J.

Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, 42, New York, N.Y.

Tu-Anh Pham, 42, Princeton, N.J.

Lt. Kenneth John Phelan, 41, New York, N.Y.

Michael V. San Phillip, 55, Ridgewood, N.J.

Eugenia Piantieri, 55, New York, N.Y.

Ludwig John Picarro, 44, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Matthew Picerno, 44, Holmdel, N.J.

Joseph O. Pick, 40, Hoboken, N.J.

Christopher Pickford, 32, New York, N.Y.

Dennis J. Pierce, 54, New York, N.Y.

Joseph A. Della Pietra, 24, New York, N.Y.

Bernard T. Pietronico, 39, Matawan, N.J.

Nicholas P. Pietrunti, 38, Belford, N.J.

Theodoros Pigis, 60, New York, N.Y.

Susan Elizabeth Ancona Pinto, 44, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Piskadlo, 48, North Arlington, N.J.

Christopher Todd Pitman, 30, New York, N.Y.

Josh Michael Piver, 23, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Plumitallo, 45, Manalapan, N.J.

John M. Pocher, 36, Middletown, N.J.

William Howard Pohlmann, 56, Ardsley, N.Y.

Laurence M. Polatsch, 32, New York, N.Y.

Thomas H. Polhemus, 39, Morris Plains, N.J.

Steve Pollicino, 48, Plainview, N.Y.

Susan M. Pollio, 45, Long Beach Township, N.J.

Joshua Poptean, 37, New York, N.Y.

Giovanna Porras, 24, New York, N.Y.

Anthony Portillo, 48, New York, N.Y.

James Edward Potorti, 52, Princeton, N.J.

Daphne Pouletsos, 47, Westwood, N.J.

Richard Poulos, 55, Levittown, N.Y.

Stephen E. Poulos, 45, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Brandon Jerome Powell, 26, New York, N.Y.

Shawn Edward Powell, 32, New York, N.Y.

Tony Pratt, 43, New York, N.Y.

Gregory M. Preziose, 34, Holmdel, N.J.

Wanda Ivelisse Prince, 30, New York, N.Y.

Vincent Princiotta, 39, Orangeburg, N.Y.

Kevin Prior, 28, Bellmore, N.Y.

Everett Martin (Marty) Proctor, 44, New York, N.Y.

Carrie B. Progen, 25, New York, N.Y.

David Lee Pruim, 53, Upper Montclair, N.J.

Richard Prunty, 57, Sayville, N.Y.

John F. Puckett, 47, Glen Cove, N.Y.

Robert D. Pugliese, 47, East Fishkill, N.Y.

Edward F. Pullis, 34, Hazlet, N.J.

Patricia Ann Puma, 33, New York, N.Y.

Hemanth Kumar Puttur, 26, White Plains, N.Y.

Edward R. Pykon, 33, Princeton, N.J.

Christopher Quackenbush, 44, Manhasset, N.Y.

Lars Peter Qualben, 49, New York, N.Y.

Lincoln Quappe, 38, Sayville, N.Y.

Beth Ann Quigley, 25, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Michael Quilty, 42, New York, N.Y.

Ricardo Quinn, 40, New York, N.Y.

James Francis Quinn, 23, New York, N.Y.

Carol Rabalais, 38, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Peter A. Racaniello, 30, New York, N.Y.

Leonard Ragaglia, 36, New York, N.Y.

Eugene J. Raggio, 55, New York, N.Y.

Laura Marie Ragonese-Snik, 41, Bangor, Pa.

Michael Ragusa, 29, New York, N.Y.

Peter F. Raimondi, 46, New York, N.Y.

Harry A. Raines, 37, New York, N.Y.

Ehtesham U. Raja, 28, Clifton, N.J.

Valsa Raju, 39, Yonkers, N.Y.

Edward Rall, 44, Holbrook, N.Y.

Lukas (Luke) Rambousek, 27, New York, N.Y.

Julio Fernandez Ramirez, 51, New York, N.Y.

Maria Isabel Ramirez, 25, New York, N.Y.

Harry Ramos, 41, Newark, N.J.

Vishnoo Ramsaroop, 44, New York, N.Y.

Lorenzo Ramzey, 48, East Northport, N.Y.

  1. Todd Rancke, 42, Summit, N.J.

Adam David Rand, 30, Bellmore, N.Y.

Jonathan C. Randall, 42, New York, N.Y.

Srinivasa Shreyas Ranganath, 26, Hackensack, N.J.

Anne Rose T. Ransom, 45, Edgewater, N.J.

Faina Rapoport, 45, New York, N.Y.

Robert Arthur Rasmussen, 42, Hinsdale, Ill.

Amenia Rasool, 33, New York, N.Y.

Roger Mark Rasweiler, 53, Flemington, N.J.

David Alan James Rathkey, 47, Mountain Lakes, N.J.

William Ralph Raub, 38, Saddle River, N.J.

Gerard Rauzi, 42, New York, N.Y.

Alexey Razuvaev, 40, New York, N.Y.

Gregory Reda, 33, New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Sarah Prothero Redheffer, 35, London, England

Michele Reed, 26, Ringoes, N.J.

Judith A. Reese, 56, Kearny, N.J.

Donald J. Regan, 47, Wallkill, N.Y.

Lt. Robert M. Regan, 48, Floral Park, N.Y.

Thomas M. Regan, 43, Cranford, N.J.

Christian Michael Otto Regenhard, 28, New York, N.Y.

Howard Reich, 59, New York, N.Y.

Gregg Reidy, 26, Holmdel, N.J.

Kevin O. Reilly, 28, New York, N.Y.

James Brian Reilly, 25, New York, N.Y.

Timothy E. Reilly, 40, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Reina, 32, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Barnes Reinig, 48, Bernardsville, N.J.

Frank B. Reisman, 41, Princeton, N.J.

Joshua Scott Reiss, 23, New York, N.Y.

Karen Renda, 52, New York, N.Y.

John Armand Reo, 28, Larchmont, N.Y.

Richard Rescorla, 62, Morristown, N.J.

John Thomas Resta, 40, New York, N.Y.

Sylvia San Pio Resta, 26, New York, N.Y.

Eduvigis (Eddie) Reyes, 37, New York, N.Y.

Bruce A. Reynolds, 41, Columbia, N.J.

John Frederick Rhodes, 57, Howell, N.J.

Francis S. Riccardelli, 40, Westwood, N.J.

Rudolph N. Riccio, 50, New York, N.Y.

AnnMarie (Davi) Riccoboni, 58, New York, N.Y.

Eileen Mary Rice, 57, New York, N.Y.

David Rice, 31, New York, N.Y.

Kenneth F. Rice, 34, Hicksville, N.Y.

Lt. Vernon Allan Richard, 53, Nanuet, N.Y.

Claude D. Richards, 46, New York, N.Y.

Gregory Richards, 30, New York, N.Y.

Michael Richards, 38, New York, N.Y.

Venesha O. Richards, 26, North Brunswick, N.J.

James C. Riches, 29, New York, N.Y.

Alan Jay Richman, 44, New York, N.Y.

John M. Rigo, 48, New York, N.Y.

Theresa (Ginger) Risco, 48, New York, N.Y.

Rose Mary Riso, 55, New York, N.Y.

Moises N. Rivas, 29, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Rivelli, 43, New York, N.Y.

Isaias Rivera, 51, Perth Amboy, N.J.

Linda Rivera, 26, New York, N.Y.

Juan William Rivera, 27, New York, N.Y.

Carmen A. Rivera, 33, Westtown, N.Y.

David E. Rivers, 40, New York, N.Y.

Joseph R. Riverso, 34, White Plains, N.Y.

Paul Rizza, 34, Park Ridge, N.J.

John Frank Rizzo, 50, New York, N.Y.

Stephen Louis Roach, 36, Verona, N.J.

Joseph Roberto, 37, Midland Park, N.J.

Leo A. Roberts, 44, Wayne, N.J.

Michael Roberts, 30, New York, N.Y.

Michael Edward Roberts, 31, New York, N.Y.

Donald Walter Robertson, 35, Rumson, N.J.

Catherina Robinson, 45, New York, N.Y.

Jeffrey Robinson, 38, Monmouth Junction, N.J.

Michell Lee Robotham, 32, Kearny, N.J.

Donald Robson, 52, Manhasset, N.Y.

Antonio Augusto Tome Rocha, 34, East Hanover, N.J.

Raymond J. Rocha, 29, Malden, Mass.

Laura Rockefeller, 41, New York, N.Y.

John M. Rodak, 39, Mantua, N.J.

Antonio Jose Carrusca Rodrigues, 35, Port Washington, N.Y.

Anthony Rodriguez, 36, New York, N.Y.

Carmen Milagros Rodriguez, 46, Freehold, N.J.

Marsha A. Rodriguez, 41, West Paterson, N.J.

Richard Rodriguez, 31, Cliffwood, N.J.

Gregory E. Rodriguez, 31, White Plains, N.Y.

David B. Rodriguez-Vargas, 44, New York, N.Y.

Matthew Rogan, 37, West Islip, N.Y.

Karlie Barbara Rogers, 25, London, England

Scott Rohner, 22, Hoboken, N.J.

Keith Roma, 27, New York, N.Y.

Joseph M. Romagnolo, 37, Coram, N.Y.

Elvin Santiago Romero, 34, Matawan, N.J.

Efrain Franco Romero, 57, Hazleton, Pa.

James A. Romito, 51, Westwood, N.J.

Sean Rooney, 50, Stamford, Conn.

Eric Thomas Ropiteau, 24, New York, N.Y.

Aida Rosario, 42, Jersey City, N.J.

Angela Rosario, 27, New York, N.Y.

Fitzroy St. Rose, 40, New York, N.Y.

Mark H. Rosen, 45, West Islip, N.Y.

Linda Rosenbaum, 41, Little Falls, N.J.

Brooke David Rosenbaum, 31, Franklin Square, N.Y.

Sheryl Lynn Rosenbaum, 33, Warren, N.J.

Lloyd D. Rosenberg, 31, Morganville, N.J.

Mark Louis Rosenberg, 26, Teaneck, N.J.

Andrew I. Rosenblum, 45, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Joshua M. Rosenblum, 28, Hoboken, N.J.

Joshua A. Rosenthal, 44, New York, N.Y.

Richard David Rosenthal, 50, Fair Lawn, N.J.

Daniel Rossetti, 32, Bloomfield, N.J.

Norman Rossinow, 39, Cedar Grove, N.J.

Nicholas P. Rossomando, 35, New York, N.Y.

Michael Craig Rothberg, 39, Greenwich, Conn.

Donna Marie Rothenberg, 53, New York, N.Y.

Nick Rowe, 29, Hoboken, N.J.

Timothy A. Roy, 36, Massapequa Park, N.Y.

Paul G. Ruback, 50, Newburgh, N.Y.

Ronald J. Ruben, 36, Hoboken, N.J.

Joanne Rubino, 45, New York, N.Y.

David Michael Ruddle, 31, New York, N.Y.

Bart Joseph Ruggiere, 32, New York, N.Y.

Susan Ann Ruggiero, 30, Plainview, N.Y.

Adam K. Ruhalter, 40, Plainview, N.Y.

Gilbert Ruiz, 57, New York, N.Y.

Stephen P. Russell, 40, Rockaway Beach, N.Y.

Steven Harris Russin, 32, Mendham, N.J.

Lt. Michael Thomas Russo, 44, Nesconset, N.Y.

Wayne Alan Russo, 37, Union, N.J.

John J. Ryan, 45, West Windsor, N.J.

Edward Ryan, 42, Scarsdale, N.Y.

Jonathan Stephan Ryan, 32, Bayville, N.Y.

Matthew Lancelot Ryan, 54, Seaford, N.Y.

Kristin A. Irvine Ryan, 30, New York, N.Y.

Tatiana Ryjova, 36, South Salem, N.Y.

Christina Sunga Ryook, 25, New York, N.Y.

Thierry Saada, 27, New York, N.Y.

Jason E. Sabbag, 26, New York, N.Y.

Thomas E. Sabella, 44, New York, N.Y.

Scott Saber, 36, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Sacerdote, 48, Freehold, N.J.

Mohammad Ali Sadeque, 62, New York, N.Y.

Francis J. Sadocha, 41, Huntington, N.Y.

Jude Elias Safi, 24, New York, N.Y.

Brock Joel Safronoff, 26, New York, N.Y.

Edward Saiya, 49, New York, N.Y.

John Patrick Salamone, 37, North Caldwell, N.J.

Hernando R. Salas, 71, New York, N.Y.

Juan Salas, 35, New York, N.Y.

Esmerlin Salcedo, 36, New York, N.Y.

John Salvatore Salerno, 31, Westfield, N.J.

Richard L. Salinardi, 32, Hoboken, N.J.

Wayne John Saloman, 43, Seaford, N.Y.

Nolbert Salomon, 33, New York, N.Y.

Catherine Patricia Salter, 37, New York, N.Y.

Frank Salvaterra, 41, Manhasset, N.Y.

Paul R. Salvio, 27, New York, N.Y.

Samuel R. Salvo, 59, Yonkers, N.Y.

Carlos Samaniego, 29, New York, N.Y.

Rena Sam-Dinnoo, 28, New York, N.Y.

James Kenneth Samuel, 29, Hoboken, N.J.

Hugo Sanay-Perafiel, 41, New York, N.Y.

Alva Jeffries Sanchez, 41, Hempstead, N.Y.

Jacquelyn P. Sanchez, 23, New York, N.Y.

Erick Sanchez, 43, New York, N.Y.

Eric Sand, 36, Westchester, N.Y.

Stacey Leigh Sanders, 25, New York, N.Y.

Herman Sandler, 57, New York, N.Y.

James Sands, 39, Bricktown, N.J.

Ayleen J. Santiago, 40, New York, N.Y.

Kirsten Santiago, 26, New York, N.Y.

Maria Theresa Santillan, 27, Morris Plains, N.J.

Susan G. Santo, 24, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Santora, 23, New York, N.Y.

John Santore, 49, New York, N.Y.

Mario L. Santoro, 28, New York, N.Y.

Rafael Humberto Santos, 42, New York, N.Y.

Rufino Conrado F. (Roy) Santos, 37, New York, N.Y.

Kalyan K. Sarkar, 53, Westwood, N.J.

Chapelle Sarker, 37, New York, N.Y.

Paul F. Sarle, 38, Babylon, N.Y.

Deepika Kumar Sattaluri, 33, Edison, N.J.

Gregory Thomas Saucedo, 31, New York, N.Y.

Susan Sauer, 48, Chicago, Ill.

Anthony Savas, 72, New York, N.Y.

Vladimir Savinkin, 21, New York, N.Y.

John Sbarbaro, 45, New York, N.Y.

Robert L. Scandole, 36, Pelham Manor, N.Y.

Michelle Scarpitta, 26, New York, N.Y.

Dennis Scauso, 46, Dix Hills, N.Y.

John A. Schardt, 34, New York, N.Y.

John G. Scharf, 29, Manorville, N.Y.

Fred Claude Scheffold, 57, Piermont, N.Y.

Angela Susan Scheinberg, 46, New York, N.Y.

Scott M. Schertzer, 28, Edison, N.J.

Sean Schielke, 27, New York, N.Y.

Steven Francis Schlag, 41, Franklin Lakes, N.J.

Jon S. Schlissel, 51, Jersey City, N.J.

Karen Helene Schmidt, 42, Bellmore, N.Y.

Ian Schneider, 45, Short Hills, N.J.

Thomas G. Schoales, 27, Stony Point, N.Y.

Marisa Di Nardo Schorpp, 38, White Plains, N.Y.

Frank G. Schott, 39, Massapequa Park, N.Y.

Gerard P. Schrang, 45, Holbrook, N.Y.

Jeffrey Schreier, 48, New York, N.Y.

John T. Schroeder, 31, Hoboken, N.J.

Susan Lee Kennedy Schuler, 55, Allentown, N.J.

Edward W. Schunk, 54, Baldwin, N.Y.

Mark E. Schurmeier, 44, McLean, Va.

Clarin Shellie Schwartz, 51, New York, N.Y.

John Schwartz, 49, Goshen, Conn.

Mark Schwartz, 50, West Hempstead, N.Y.

Adriane Victoria Scibetta, 31, New York, N.Y.

Raphael Scorca, 61, Beachwood, N.J.

Randolph Scott, 48, Stamford, Conn.

Christopher J. Scudder, 34, Monsey, N.Y.

Arthur Warren Scullin, 57, New York, N.Y.

Michael Seaman, 41, Manhasset, N.Y.

Margaret Seeliger, 34, New York, N.Y.

Carlos Segarra, 54, New York, N.Y.

Anthony Segarra, 52, New York, N.Y.

Jason Sekzer, 31, New York, N.Y.

Matthew Carmen Sellitto, 23, Morristown, N.J.

Howard Selwyn, 47, Hewlett, N.Y.

Larry John Senko, 34, Yardley, Pa.

Arturo Angelo Sereno, 29, New York, N.Y.

Frankie Serrano, 23, Elizabeth, N.J.

Alena Sesinova, 57, New York, N.Y.

Adele Sessa, 36, New York, N.Y.

Sita Nermalla Sewnarine, 37, New York, N.Y.

Karen Lynn Seymour-Dietrich, 40, Millington, N.J.

Davis (Deeg) Sezna, 22, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Joseph Sgroi, 45, New York, N.Y.

Jayesh Shah, 38, Edgewater, N.J.

Khalid M. Shahid, 25, Union, N.J.

Mohammed Shajahan, 41, Spring Valley, N.Y.

Gary Shamay, 23, New York, N.Y.

Earl Richard Shanahan, 50, New York, N.Y.

Shiv Shankar, New York, N.Y.

Neil G. Shastri, 25, New York, N.Y.

Kathryn Anne Shatzoff, 37, New York, N.Y.

Barbara A. Shaw, 57, Morris Township, N.J.

Jeffrey J. Shaw, 42, Levittown, N.Y.

Robert J. Shay, 27, New York, N.Y.

Daniel James Shea, 37, Pelham Manor, N.Y.

Joseph Patrick Shea, 47, Pelham, N.Y.

Linda Sheehan, 40, New York, N.Y.

Hagay Shefi, 34, Tenafly, N.J.

John Anthony Sherry, 34, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Atsushi Shiratori, 36, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Shubert, 43, New York, N.Y.

Mark Shulman, 47, Old Bridge, N.J.

See-Wong Shum, 44, Westfield, N.J.

Allan Shwartzstein, 37, Chappaqua, N.Y.

Johanna Sigmund, 25, Wyndmoor, Pa.

Dianne T. Signer, 32, New York, N.Y.

Gregory Sikorsky, 34, Spring Valley, N.Y.

Stephen Gerard Siller, 34, West Brighton, N.Y.

David Silver, 35, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Craig A. Silverstein, 41, Wyckoff, N.J.

Nasima H. Simjee, 38, New York, N.Y.

Bruce Edward Simmons, 41, Ridgewood, N.J.

Arthur Simon, 57, Thiells, N.Y.

Kenneth Alan Simon, 34, Secaucus, N.J.

Michael John Simon, 40, Harrington Park, N.J.

Paul Joseph Simon, 54, New York, N.Y.

Marianne Simone, 62, New York, N.Y.

Barry Simowitz, 64, New York, N.Y.

Jeff Simpson, 38, Lake Ridge, Va.

Roshan R. (Sean) Singh, 21, New York, N.Y.

Khamladai K. (Khami) Singh, 25, New York, N.Y.

Thomas E. Sinton, 44, Croton-on-hudson, N.Y.

Peter A. Siracuse, 29, New York, N.Y.

Muriel F. Siskopoulos, 60, New York, N.Y.

Joseph M. Sisolak, 35, New York, N.Y.

John P. Skala, 31, Clifton, N.J.

Francis J. Skidmore, 58, Mendham, N.J.

Toyena Corliss Skinner, 27, Kingston, N.J.

Paul A. Skrzypek, 37, New York, N.Y.

Christopher Paul Slattery, 31, New York, N.Y.

Vincent R. Slavin, 41, Belle Harbor, N.Y.

Robert Sliwak, 42, Wantagh, N.Y.

Paul K. Sloan, 26, New York, N.Y.

Stanley S. Smagala, 36, Holbrook, N.Y.

Wendy L. Small, 26, New York, N.Y.

Catherine T. Smith, 44, West Haverstraw, N.Y.

Daniel Laurence Smith, 47, Northport, N.Y.

George Eric Smith, 38, West Chester, Pa.

James G. Smith, 43, Garden City, N.Y.

Joyce Smith, 55, New York, N.Y.

Karl Trumbull Smith, 44, Little Silver, N.J.

Kevin Smith, 47, Mastic, N.Y.

Leon Smith, 48, New York, N.Y.

Moira Smith, 38, New York, N.Y.

Rosemary A. Smith, 61, New York, N.Y.

Sandra Fajardo Smith, 37, New York, N.Y.

Jeffrey Randall Smith, 36, New York, N.Y.

Bonnie S. Smithwick, 54, Quogue, N.Y.

Rochelle Monique Snell, 24, Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Leonard J. Snyder, 35, Cranford, N.J.

Astrid Elizabeth Sohan, 32, Freehold, N.J.

Sushil Solanki, 35, New York, N.Y.

Ruben Solares, 51, New York, N.Y.

Naomi Leah Solomon, 52, New York, N.Y.

Daniel W. Song, 34, New York, N.Y.

Michael C. Sorresse, 34, Morris Plains, N.J.

Fabian Soto, 31, Harrison, N.J.

Timothy P. Soulas, 35, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Gregory T. Spagnoletti, 32, New York, N.Y.

Donald F. Spampinato, 39, Manhasset, N.Y.

Thomas Sparacio, 35, New York, N.Y.

John Anthony Spataro, 32, Mineola, N.Y.

Robert W. Spear, 30, Valley Cottage, N.Y.

Maynard S. Spence, 42, Douglasville, Ga.

George E. Spencer, 50, West Norwalk, Conn.

Robert Andrew Spencer, 35, Red Bank, N.J.

Mary Rubina Sperando, 39, New York, N.Y.

Frank J. Spinelli, 44, Short Hills, N.J.

William E. Spitz, 49, Oceanside, N.Y.

Joseph P. Spor, 35, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

Klaus Johannes Sprockamp, 42, Muhltal, Germany

Saranya Srinuan, 23, New York, N.Y.

Michael F. Stabile, 50, New York, N.Y.

Lawrence T. Stack, 58, Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

Capt. Timothy Stackpole, 42, New York, N.Y.

Richard James Stadelberger, 55, Middletown, N.J.

Eric A. Stahlman, 43, Holmdel Township, N.J.

Gregory M. Stajk, 46, Long Beach, N.Y.

Corina Stan, 31, Middle Village, N.Y.

Alexandru Liviu Stan, 34, New York, N.Y.

Mary D. Stanley, 53, New York, N.Y.

Joyce Stanton

Patricia Stanton

Anthony M. Starita, 35, Westfield, N.J.

Jeffrey Stark, 30, New York, N.Y.

Derek James Statkevicus, 30, Norwalk, Conn.

Craig William Staub, 30, Basking Ridge, N.J.

William V. Steckman, 56, West Hempstead, N.Y.

Eric Thomas Steen, 32, New York, N.Y.

William R. Steiner, 56, New Hope, Pa.

Alexander Robbins Steinman, 32, Hoboken, N.J.

Andrew Stergiopoulos, 23, New York, N.Y.

Andrew Stern, 41, Bellmore, N.Y.

Martha Jane Stevens, 55, New York, N.Y.

Richard H. Stewart, 35, New York, N.Y.

Michael James Stewart, 42, New York, N.Y.

Sanford M. Stoller, 54, New York, N.Y.

Lonny J. Stone, 43, Bellmore, N.Y.

Jimmy Nevill Storey, 58, Katy, Texas

Timothy Stout, 42, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

Thomas S. Strada, 41, Chatham, N.J.

James J. Straine, 36, Oceanport, N.J.

Edward W. Straub, 48, Morris Township, N.J.

George Strauch, 53, Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J.

Edward T. Strauss, 44, Edison, N.J.

Steven R. Strauss, 51, Fresh Meadows, N.Y.

Steven F. Strobert, 33, Ridgewood, N.J.

Walwyn W. Stuart, 28, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Benjamin Suarez, 36, New York, N.Y.

David S. Suarez, 24, Princeton, N.J.

Ramon Suarez, 45, New York, N.Y.

Yoichi Sugiyama, 34, Fort Lee, N.J.

William Christopher Sugra, 30, New York, N.Y.

Daniel Suhr, 37, Nesconset, N.Y.

David Marc Sullins, 30, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Christopher P. Sullivan, 38, Massapequa, N.Y.

Patrick Sullivan, 32, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Sullivan, 38, Kearney, N.J.

Hilario Soriano (Larry) Sumaya, 42, New York, N.Y.

James Joseph Suozzo, 47, Hauppauge, N.Y.

Colleen Supinski, 27, New York, N.Y.

Robert Sutcliffe, 39, Huntington, N.Y.

Selina Sutter, 63, New York, N.Y.

Claudia Suzette Sutton, 34, New York, N.Y.

John F. Swaine, 36, Larchmont, N.Y.

Kristine M. Swearson, 34, New York, N.Y.

Brian Edward Sweeney, 29, Merrick, N.Y.

Kenneth J. Swensen, 40, Chatham, N.J.

Thomas F. Swift, 30, Jersey City, N.J.

Derek O. Sword, 29, New York, N.Y.

Kevin T. Szocik, 27, Garden City, N.Y.

Gina Sztejnberg, 52, Ridgewood, N.J.

Norbert P. Szurkowski, 31, New York, N.Y.

Harry Taback, 56, New York, N.Y.

Joann Tabeek, 41, New York, N.Y.

Norma C. Taddei, 64, New York, N.Y.

Michael Taddonio, 39, Huntington, N.Y.

Keiji Takahashi, 42, Tenafly, N.J.

Keiichiro Takahashi, 53, Port Washington, N.Y.

Phyllis Gail Talbot, 53, New York, N.Y.

Robert R. Talhami, 40, Shrewsbury, N.J.

Sean Patrick Tallon, 26, Yonkers, N.Y.

Paul Talty, 40, Wantagh, N.Y.

Maurita Tam, 22, New York, N.Y.

Rachel Tamares, 30, New York, N.Y.

Hector Tamayo, 51, New York, N.Y.

Michael Andrew Tamuccio, 37, Pelham Manor, N.Y.

Kenichiro Tanaka, 52, Rye Brook, N.Y.

Rhondelle Cherie Tankard, 31, Devonshire, Bermuda

Michael Anthony Tanner, 44, Secaucus, N.J.

Dennis Gerard Taormina, 36, Montville, N.J.

Kenneth Joseph Tarantino, 39, Bayonne, N.J.

Allan Tarasiewicz, 45, New York, N.Y.

Ronald Tartaro, 39, Bridgewater, N.J.

Darryl Taylor, 52, New York, N.Y.

Donnie Brooks Taylor, 40, New York, N.Y.

Lorisa Ceylon Taylor, 31, New York, N.Y.

Michael M. Taylor, 42, New York, N.Y.

Paul A. Tegtmeier, 41, Hyde Park, N.Y.

Yeshavant Moreshwar Tembe, 59, Piscataway, N.J.

Anthony Tempesta, 38, Elizabeth, N.J.

Dorothy Temple, 52, New York, N.Y.

Stanley L. Temple, 77, New York, N.Y.

David Tengelin, 25, New York, N.Y.

Brian J. Terrenzi, 29, Hicksville, N.Y.

Lisa Marie Terry, 42, Rochester, Mich.

Goumatie T. Thackurdeen, 35, New York, N.Y.

Harshad Sham Thatte, 30, Norcross, Ga.

Thomas F. Theurkauf, 44, Stamford, Conn.

Lesley Anne Thomas, 40, Hoboken, N.J.

Brian T. Thompson, 49, Dix Hills, N.Y.

Clive Thompson, 43, Summit, N.J.

Glenn Thompson, 44, New York, N.Y.

Perry Anthony Thompson, 36, Mount Laurel, N.J.

Vanavah Alexi Thompson, 26, New York, N.Y.

Capt. William Harry Thompson, 51, New York, N.Y.

Nigel Bruce Thompson, 33, New York, N.Y.

Eric Raymond Thorpe, 35, New York, N.Y.

Nichola A. Thorpe, 22, New York, N.Y.

Sal Tieri, 40, Shrewsbury, N.J.

John Patrick Tierney, 27, New York, N.Y.

Mary Ellen Tiesi, 38, Jersey City, N.J.

William R. Tieste, 54, Basking Ridge, N.J.

Kenneth F. Tietjen, 31, Matawan, N.J.

Stephen Edward Tighe, 41, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Scott C. Timmes, 28, Ridgewood, N.Y.

Michael E. Tinley, 56, Dallas, Texas

Jennifer M. Tino, 29, Livingston, N.J.

Robert Frank Tipaldi, 25, New York, N.Y.

John J. Tipping, 33, Port Jefferson, N.Y.

David Tirado, 26, New York, N.Y.

Hector Luis Tirado, 30, New York, N.Y.

Michelle Titolo, 34, Copiague, N.Y.

John J. Tobin, 47, Kenilworth, N.J.

Richard J. Todisco, 61, Wyckoff, N.J.

Vladimir Tomasevic, 36, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

Stephen K. Tompsett, 39, Garden City, N.Y.

Thomas Tong, 31, New York, N.Y.

Azucena de la Torre, 50, New York, N.Y.

Doris Torres, 32, New York, N.Y.

Luis Eduardo Torres, 31, New York, N.Y.

Amy E. Toyen, 24, Newton, Mass.

Christopher M. Traina, 25, Bricktown, N.J.

Daniel Patrick Trant, 40, Northport, N.Y.

Abdoul Karim Traore, 41, New York, N.Y.

Glenn J. Travers, 53, Tenafly, N.J.

Walter (Wally) P. Travers, 44, Upper Saddle River, N.J.

Felicia Traylor-Bass, 38, New York, N.Y.

Lisa L. Trerotola, 38, Hazlet, N.J.

Karamo Trerra, 40, New York, N.Y.

Michael Trinidad, 33, New York, N.Y.

Francis Joseph Trombino, 68, Clifton, N.J.

Gregory J. Trost, 26, New York, N.Y.

William Tselepis, 33, New Providence, N.J.

Zhanetta Tsoy, 32, Jersey City, N.J.

Michael Patrick Tucker, 40, Rumson, N.J.

Lance Richard Tumulty, 32, Bridgewater, N.J.

Ching Ping Tung, 44, New York, N.Y.

Simon James Turner, 39, London, England

Donald Joseph Tuzio, 51, Goshen, N.Y.

Robert T. Twomey, 48, New York, N.Y.

Jennifer Tzemis, 26, New York, N.Y.

John G. Ueltzhoeffer, 36, Roselle Park, N.J.

Tyler V. Ugolyn, 23, New York, N.Y.

Michael A. Uliano, 42, Aberdeen, N.J.

Jonathan J. Uman, 33, Westport, Conn.

Anil Shivhari Umarkar, 34, Hackensack, N.J.

Allen V. Upton, 44, New York, N.Y.

Diane Maria Urban, 50, Malverne, N.Y.

John Damien Vaccacio, 30, New York, N.Y.

Bradley H. Vadas, 37, Westport, Conn.

William Valcarcel, 54, New York, N.Y.

Mayra Valdes-Rodriguez, 39, New York, N.Y.

Felix Antonio Vale, 29, New York, N.Y.

Ivan Vale, 27, New York, N.Y.

Santos Valentin, 39, New York, N.Y.

Benito Valentin, 33, New York, N.Y.

Manuel Del Valle, 32, New York, N.Y.

Carlton Francis Valvo, 38, New York, N.Y.

Edward Raymond Vanacore, 29, Jersey City, N.J.

Jon C. Vandevander, 44, Ridgewood, N.J.

Frederick T. Varacchi, 35, Greenwich, Conn.

Gopalakrishnan Varadhan, 32, New York, N.Y.

David Vargas, 46, New York, N.Y.

Scott C. Vasel, 32, Park Ridge, N.J.

Santos Vasquez, 55, New York, N.Y.

Azael Ismael Vasquez, 21, New York, N.Y.

Arcangel Vazquez, 47, New York, N.Y.

Peter Anthony Vega, 36, New York, N.Y.

Sankara S. Velamuri, 63, Avenel, N.J.

Jorge Velazquez, 47, Passaic, N.J.

Lawrence Veling, 44, New York, N.Y.

Anthony M. Ventura, 41, Middletown, N.J.

David Vera, 41, New York, N.Y.

Loretta A, Vero, 51, Nanuet, N.Y.

Christopher Vialonga, 30, Demarest, N.J.

Matthew Gilbert Vianna, 23, Manhasset, N.Y.

Robert A. Vicario, 40, Weehawken, N.J.

Celeste Torres Victoria, 41, New York, N.Y.

Joanna Vidal, 26, Yonkers, N.Y.

John T. Vigiano, 36, West Islip, N.Y.

Joseph Vincent Vigiano, 34, Medford, N.Y.

Frank J. Vignola, 44, Merrick, N.Y.

Joseph B. Vilardo, 44, Stanhope, N.J.

Sergio Villanueva, 33, New York, N.Y.

Chantal Vincelli, 38, New York, N.Y.

Melissa Vincent, 28, Hoboken, N.J.

Francine A. Virgilio, 48, New York, N.Y.

Lawrence Virgilio, 38

Joseph G. Visciano, 22, New York, N.Y.

Joshua S. Vitale, 28, Great Neck, N.Y.

Maria Percoco Vola, 37, New York, N.Y.

Lynette D. Vosges, 48, New York, N.Y.

Garo H. Voskerijian, 43, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Alfred Vukosa, 37, New York, N.Y.

Gregory Wachtler, 25, Ramsey, N.J.

Gabriela Waisman, 33, New York, N.Y.

Wendy Alice Rosario Wakeford, 40, Freehold, N.J.

Courtney Wainsworth Walcott, 37, New York, N.Y.

Victor Wald, 49, New York, N.Y.

Benjamin Walker, 41, Suffern, N.Y.

Glen J. Wall, 38, Rumson, N.J.

Mitchel Scott Wallace, 34, Mineola, N.Y.

Lt. Robert F. Wallace, 43, New York, N.Y.

Roy Michael Wallace, 42, Wyckoff, N.J.

Peter G. Wallace, 66, Lincoln Park, N.J.

Jean Marie Wallendorf, 23, New York, N.Y.

Matthew Blake Wallens, 31, New York, N.Y.

John Wallice, 43, Huntington, N.Y.

Barbara P. Walsh, 59, New York, N.Y.

James Walsh, 37, Scotch Plains, N.J.

Jeffrey Patrick Walz, 37, Tuckahoe, N.Y.

Ching H. Wang, 59, New York, N.Y.

Weibin Wang, 41, Orangeburg, N.Y.

Lt. Michael Warchola, 51, Middle Village, N.Y.

Stephen Gordon Ward, 33, Gorham, Maine

James A. Waring, 49, New York, N.Y.

Brian G. Warner, 32, Morganville, N.J.

Derrick Washington, 33, Calverton, N.Y.

Charles Waters, 44, New York, N.Y.

James Thomas (Muddy) Waters, 39, New York, N.Y.

Capt. Patrick J. Waters, 44, New York, N.Y.

Kenneth Watson, 39, Smithtown, N.Y.

Michael H. Waye, 38, Morganville, N.J.

Walter E. Weaver, 30, Centereach, N.Y.

Todd C. Weaver, 30, New York, N.Y.

Nathaniel Webb, 56, Jersey City, N.J.

Dinah Webster, 50, Port Washington, N.Y.

Joanne Flora Weil, 39, New York, N.Y.

Michael Weinberg, 34, New York, N.Y.

Steven Weinberg, 41, New City, N.Y.

Scott Jeffrey Weingard, 29, New York, N.Y.

Steven Weinstein, 50, New York, N.Y.

Simon Weiser, 65, New York, N.Y.

David T. Weiss, 50, New York, N.Y.

David M. Weiss, 41, Maybrook, N.Y.

Vincent Michael Wells, 22, Redbridge, England

Timothy Matthew Welty, 34, Yonkers, N.Y.

Christian Hans Rudolf Wemmers, 43, San Francisco, Calif.

Ssu-Hui (Vanessa) Wen, 23, New York, N.Y.

Oleh D. Wengerchuk, 56, Centerport, N.Y.

Peter M. West, 54, Pottersville, N.J.

Whitfield West, 41, New York, N.Y.

Meredith Lynn Whalen, 23, Hoboken, N.J.

Eugene Whelan, 31, Rockaway Beach, N.Y.

John S. White, 48, New York, N.Y.

Edward James White, 30, New York, N.Y.

James Patrick White, 34, Hoboken, N.J.

Kenneth W. White, 50, New York, N.Y.

Leonard Anthony White, 57, New York, N.Y.

Malissa White, 37, New York, N.Y.

Wayne White, 38, New York, N.Y.

Adam S. White, 26, New York, N.Y.

Leanne Marie Whiteside, 31, New York, N.Y.

Mark Whitford, 31, Salisbury Mills, N.Y.

Michael T. Wholey, 34, Westwood, N.J.

Mary Lenz Wieman, 43, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Jeffrey David Wiener, 33, New York, N.Y.

William J. Wik, 44, Crestwood, N.Y.

Alison Marie Wildman, 30, New York, N.Y.

Lt. Glenn Wilkinson, 46, Bayport, N.Y.

John C. Willett, 29, Jersey City, N.J.

Brian Patrick Williams, 29, New York, N.Y.

Crossley Williams, 28, Uniondale, N.Y.

David Williams, 34, New York, N.Y.

Deborah Lynn Williams, 35, Hoboken, N.J.

Kevin Michael Williams, 24, New York, N.Y.

Louis Calvin Williams, 53, Mandeville, La.

Louie Anthony Williams, 44, New York, N.Y.

Lt. John Williamson, 46, Warwick, N.Y.

Donna Wilson, 48, Williston Park, N.Y.

William E. Wilson, 58, New York, N.Y.

Cynthia Wilson, 52, New York, N.Y.

David H. Winton, 29, New York, N.Y.

Glenn J. Winuk, 40, New York, N.Y.

Thomas Francis Wise, 43, New York, N.Y.

Alan L. Wisniewski, 47, Howell, N.J.

Frank T. Wisniewski, 54, Basking Ridge, N.J.

David Wiswall, 54, North Massapequa, N.Y.

Sigrid Charlotte Wiswe, 41, New York, N.Y.

Michael R. Wittenstein, 34, Hoboken, N.J.

Christopher W. Wodenshek, 35, Ridgewood, N.J.

Martin P. Wohlforth, 47, Greenwich, Conn.

Katherine S. Wolf, 40, New York, N.Y.

Jenny Seu Kueng Low Wong, 25, New York, N.Y.

Jennifer Y. Wong, 26, New York, N.Y.

Siu Cheung Wong, 34, Jersey City, N.J.

Yin Ping (Steven) Wong, 34, New York, N.Y.

Yuk Ping Wong, 47, New York, N.Y.

Brent James Woodall, 31, Oradell, N.J.

James J. Woods, 26, New York, N.Y.

Patrick Woods, 36, New York, N.Y.

Richard Herron Woodwell, 44, Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.

Capt. David Terence Wooley, 54, Nanuet, N.Y.

John Bentley Works, 36, Darien, Conn.

Martin Michael Wortley, 29, Park Ridge, N.J.

Rodney James Wotton, 36, Middletown, N.J.

William Wren, 61, Lynbrook, N.Y.

John Wright, 33, Rockville Centre, N.Y.

Neil R. Wright, 30, Asbury, N.J.

Sandra Wright, 57, Langhorne, Pa.

Jupiter Yambem, 41, Beacon, N.Y.

Suresh Yanamadala, 33, Plainsboro, N.J.

Matthew David Yarnell, 26, Jersey City, N.J.

Myrna Yaskulka, 59, New York, N.Y.

Shakila Yasmin, 26, New York, N.Y.

Olabisi L. Yee, 38, New York, N.Y.

Edward P. York, 45, Wilton, Conn.

Kevin Patrick York, 41, Princeton, N.J.

Raymond York, 45, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Suzanne Youmans, 60, New York, N.Y.

Jacqueline (Jakki) Young, 37, New York, N.Y.

Barrington L. Young, 35, New York, N.Y.

Elkin Yuen, 32, New York, N.Y.

Joseph Zaccoli, 39, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Adel Agayby Zakhary, 50, North Arlington, N.J.

Arkady Zaltsman, 45, New York, N.Y.

Edwin J. Zambrana, 24, New York, N.Y.

Robert Alan Zampieri, 30, Saddle River, N.J.

Mark Zangrilli, 36, Pompton Plains, N.J.

Ira Zaslow, 55, North Woodmere, N.Y.

Kenneth Albert Zelman, 37, Succasunna, N.J.

Abraham J. Zelmanowitz, 55, New York, N.Y.

Martin Morales Zempoaltecatl, 22, New York, N.Y.

Zhe (Zack) Zeng, 28, New York, N.Y.

Marc Scott Zeplin, 33, Harrison, N.Y.

Jie Yao Justin Zhao, 27, New York, N.Y.

Ivelin Ziminski, 40, Tarrytown, N.Y.

Michael Joseph Zinzi, 37, Newfoundland, N.J.

Charles A. Zion, 54, Greenwich, Conn.

Julie Lynne Zipper, 44, Paramus, N.J.

Salvatore J. Zisa, 45, Hawthorne, N.J.

Prokopios Paul Zois, 46, Lynbrook, N.Y.

Joseph J. Zuccala, 54, Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Andrew Steven Zucker, 27, New York, N.Y.

Igor Zukelman, 29, New York, N.Y.

The Pentagon (Arlington Co., Virginia)

Lt. Col. Canfield Boone, 54, Clifton, VA

Sgt. First Class Jose Calderon, 44, Puerto Rico

Lt. Col. Jerry Dickerson, 41, Durant, MS

Maj. Wallace Cole Hogan Jr., 40, FL

Lt. Col. Stephen Neil Hyland Jr., 45, Burke, VA

Sgt. Maj. Lacey Ivory, 43, Woodbridge, VA

Lt. Col. Dennis Johnson, 48, Port Edwards, WI

Maj. Steve Long, 39, GA

Lt. Col. Dean Mattson, 57, CA

Lt. Gen. Timothy Maude, 53, Fort Meyer, VA

Maj. Ron Milam, 33, Washington, D.C.

Spc. Chin Sun Pak, 25, Lawton, OK

Capt. Clifford Patterson, 33, Alexandria, VA

William Ruth, 57, Mount Airy, MD

Lt. Col. Dave Scales, 44, Cleveland, OH

Sgt. Maj. Larry Strickland, 52, Washington, D.C.

Maj. Leonard Kip Taylor, 44, Reston, VA

Sgt. Tamara Thurmond, 25, Brewton, AL

Lt. Col. Karen Wagner, 40, Houston, TX

Staff Sgt. Maudlyn White, 38, St. Croix, Virgin Islands

Maj. Dwayne Williams, 40, Jacksonville, AL

Kris Romeo Bishundat, 23, Waldorf, MD

Christopher Lee Burford, 23, Hubert, N.C.

Daniel Martin Caballero, 21, Houston, TX

Lt. Eric Allen Cranford, 32, Drexel, N.C.

Captain Gerald Francis Deconto, 44, Sandwich, MA

Johnnie Doctor Jr., 32, Jacksonville, FL

Commander Robert Edward Dolan, 43, Florham Park, N. J.

Commander William Howard Donovan Jr., 37, Nunda, N.Y.

Commander Patrick Dunn, 39, Fords, N. J.

Edward Thomas Earhart, 26, Salt Lick, KY

Lt. Commander Robert Randolph Elseth, 37, N.Y.

Jamie Lynn Fallon, 23, Woodbridge, VA

Matthew Michael Flocco, 21, Newark, DE

Captain Lawrence Daniel Getzfred, 57, Elgin, NE

Ronald John Hemenway, 37, Shawnee, KS

Lt. Michael Scott Lamana, 31, Baton Rouge, LA

Nehamon Lyons IV, 30, Mobile, AL

Brian Anthony Moss, 34, Sperry, OK

Lt. Commander Patrick Jude Murphy, 38,  IL

Michael Allen Noeth, 30, Jackson Heights, N.Y.

Lt. Jonas Martin Panik, 26, Mingoville, PA

Lt. J.G. Darin Howard Pontell, 26, Columbia, MD

Joseph John Pycior Jr., 39, Carlstadt, N. J.

Marsha Dianah Ratchford, 34, Prichard, AL

Commander Robert Allan Schlegel, 38, Gray, ME

Commander Dan Frederic Shanower, 40,  IL

Gregg Harold Smallwood, 44, Overland Park, KS

Lt. Commander Otis Vincent Tolbert, 38, CA

Lt. Commander Ronald James Vauk, 37, ID

Lt. Commander David Lucian Williams, 32, OR

Kevin Wayne Yokum, 27, Lake Charles, LA

Donald McArthur Young, 41, Roanoke, VA

Angela Houtz, 27, La Plata, MD

Brady Howell, 26, Arlington, VA

Judith Jones, 53, Woodbridge, VA

James Lynch, 55, Manassas, VA

Retired Capt. Jack Punches, 51, Clifton, VA

Julian Cooper, 39, Springdale, MD

Jerry Moran, 39, Upper Marlboro, MD

Khang Nguyen, 41, Fairfax, VA

Marvin Woods, 58, Great Mills, MD

Donna Bowen, 42, Verizon Communications

Allen Boyle, 30, Fredericksburg, VA

Rosa Maria Rosemary Chapa, 55, Springfield, VA

Gerald Fisher, 57, Booz-Allen Inc.

Sandra N. Foster, 41, Clinton, MD

Herbert Homer, Milford, MA

Robert J. Hymel, 55, Woodbridge, VA

Terrance Lynch, 55, Booz-Allen Inc.

Shelley A. Marshall, 37, Marbury, MD

Patricia E. (Patti) Mickley, 41, Springfield, VA

Scott Powell, 35, BTG Inc.

Charles E. Sabin, 54, Burke, VA

Karl W. Teepe, 57, Centreville, VA

Ernest Willcher, 62, Booz-Allen Inc.

Edmond Young, 22, BTG Inc.

Samantha Allen, Hillside, MD

Craig Amundson, 28, KS

Melissa Rose Barnes, 27, Redlands, CA

Retired Master Sgt. Max Beilke, 69, Laurel, MD

Carrie Blagburn, 48, Temple Hills, MD

Angelene Carter, 51, Forestville, MD

Sharon Carver, 38, MD

John Chada, 55, Manassas, VA

Ada Davis, 57, Camp Springs, MD

Amelia Fields, 36, Dumfries, VA

Cortz Ghee, 54, Reisterstown, MD

Brenda Gibson, 59, Falls Church, VA

Ron Golinski, 60. Columbia, MD

Carolyn Halmon, 48, Washington, D.C.

Sheila Hein, 51, University Park, MD

Jimmie Holley, 54, Lanham, MD

Peggie Hurt, 51, Crewe, VA

Brenda Kegler, 49, Washington, D.C.

David Laychak, 40, Manassas, VA

Teresa Martin, 45, Stafford, VA

Ada Mason, 50, Springfield, VA

Robert Maxwell, 53, Manassas, VA

Molly McKenzie, 38, Dale City, VA

Diane Hale McKinzy, Alexandria, VA

Odessa Morris, 54, Upper Marlboro, MD

Ted Moy, 48, Silver Spring, MD

Diana Padro, Woodbridge, VA

Debbie Ramsaur, 45, Annandale, VA

Rhonda Rasmussen,  44, Woodbridge, VA

Martha Reszke, 56, Stafford, VA

Cecelia Richard, 41, Fort Washington, MD

Edward Rowenhorst, 32, Fredricksburg, VA

Judy Rowlett, 44, Woodbridge, VA

Robert Russell, 52, Oxen Hill, MD

Marjorie Salamone, 53, Springfield, VA

Janice Scott, 46, Springfield, VA

Michael Selves, 53, Fairfax, VA

Marion Serva, 37, Stafford, VA

Don Simmons, Dumfries, VA

Cheryle Sincock, 53, Dale City, VA

Retired Lt. Col. Gary Smith, 55, Alexandria, VA

Pat Statz, 41, Tacoma Park, MD

Edna Stephens, 53, Washington, D.C.

Sandra Taylor, A51, lexandria, VA

Willie Troy, 51, Aberdeen, MD

Meta Waller, 60, Alexandria, VA

Sandra White, 44, Dumfries, VA

Lisa Young, 36, Germantown, MD

Flight 93 (Shanksville, Pennsylvania)

Crew:

Jason Dahl, 43, Littleton, CO

LeRoy Homer, Jr., 36, Marlton, N. J.

Lorraine Bay, 58, East Windsor, N. J.

Sandra Bradshaw, 38, Greensboro, NC

Cee Cee Lyles, 33, Fort Pierce, FL

Wanda Green, 49, Oakland, CA

Deborah Anne Jacobs Welsh, 49, New York, N.Y.

Passengers:

Christian Adams, 37, Biebelsheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Todd Beamer, 32, Cranbury, N. J.

Alan Beaven, 48, Oakland, CA

Mark Bingham, 31, San Francisco, CA

Deora Bodley, 20, San Diego, CA

Marion Britton, 53, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Thomas E. Burnett Jr., Bloomington, MN

Willam Cashman, 50, West New York, N. J.

Georgine Rose Corrigan, 55, Honolulu, HI

Patricia Cushing, 69, Bayonne, N. J.

Joseph DeLuca, 52, Succasunna, N. J.

Patrick “Joe” Driscoll, 70, Manalapan, N. J.

Edward Porter Felt, 41, Matawan, N. J.

Jane Folger, 73, Bayonne, N. J.

Colleen L. Fraser, 51, Elizabeth, N. J.

Andrew Garcia, 62, Portola Valley, CA

Jeremy Glick, 31, Hewitt, N. J.

Lauren Grandcolas, 38, San Rafael, CA

Donald F. Greene, 52, Greenwich, CT

Linda Gronlund, 46, Greenwood Lake, N.Y.

Richard Guadagno, 38, Eureka, CA/Trenton, N. J.

Toshiya Kuge, 20, Osaka, Japan

Hilda Marcin, 79, Mount Olive, N. J.

Waleska Martinez, 37, Jersey City, N. J.

Nicole Miller, 21, San Jose, CA

Louis J. Nacke II, 42, New Hope, PA

Donald Peterson, 66, Spring Lake, N. J.

Jean Peterson, 55, Spring Lake, N. J.

Mark “Mickey” Rothenberg, 52, Scotch Plains, N. J.

Christine Snyder, 32, Kailua, HI

John Talignani, 74, Staten Island, N.Y.

Honor Elizabeth Wainio, 27, Baltimore, MD

Kristin Gould White, 65, Somerset County, PA

 

by

July 4th: The Truths We Hold

DeclarationIndependence.01 (2)

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident,

that all Men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights

that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

— That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men,

deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed,

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States, that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

    —  The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.

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Ceremony to Honor 84 Airmen and Marines Killed in 1965 MCAS El Toro Crash this Sat., June 27, in Hanger 244 in the Great Park

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Fifty years ago, on June 25, 1965, at 0135, an Air Force C-135A Stratolifter took off in fog and light drizzle from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro (in what in now Irvine’s Great Park) and headed for Okinawa. Aboard were 12 U.S. Air Force crew members and 72 U.S. Marines on their way to join the fight in Vietnam. MCAS_ElToro

At 0146, about 4 miles from the control tower, the jet disappeared from radar.

For reasons still unknown, the plane did not (or could not) make a planned left turn and instead flew directly into Loma Ridge.  The plane was destroyed on impact, killing all 84 people on board.

It was the worst air disaster in California history.

At the time of the crash, a Marine officer said if the plane lacked power and went into its bank “it might have wiped out a part of [the City of] Orange.”  He speculated that the pilot might have acted to avert an even worse disaster by keeping the plane on a straight course.

This Saturday, June 27, 2015, in MCAS El Toro’s historic Hanger 244 in the Great Park, there will be a Dedication Ceremony of a  Memorial Kiosk designed by local Eagle Scout Jordan Fourcher honoring the United States Airmen and Marines who perished in the Loma Ridge crash.

Map showing location of where U.S. Air Force C-135 aircraft crashed after leaving El Toro Marine Corps Air Station killing all 84 on board. This graphic was published in the June 26, 1965 Los Angeles Times.

Map showing location of where U.S. Air Force C-135 aircraft crashed after leaving El Toro Marine Corps Air Station killing all 84 on board. This graphic was published in the June 26, 1965 Los Angeles Times.

The Memorial Dedication Ceremony will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

There will be a Missing Man formation flyover with WWII aircraft.

Relatives of the men who lost their lives in the crash and many veterans who served with them will be in attendance.

You can find a map and directions here.

Please dress business casual. The U.S. Marine Corps and Boy Scout Honor and Color Guard will be in Full Dress Uniforms.

Pictures and memories of the 84 Airmen and Marines who perished can be found at the 1965 El Toro Marine Crash Memorial Page.

This is another opportunity to learn more about Irvine’s proud military heritage and why the former MCAS El Toro continues to hold such tremendous significance for area veterans.

As the daughter of a combat veteran and as an Irvine resident, I believe that a portion of the Great Park in Irvine, once the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, is the perfect location for a Veterans Cemetery and Memorial and a fitting commemoration of Irvine’s proud military heritage. I strongly support the veterans who are now insisting that the Irvine City Council keep its promise.

The men who perished were:

United States Air Force Flight Crew:

Pilot: Capt. William F. Cordell, Jr., 27, GA
Copilot: First Lt. John A Zietke, Jr., 27, MI
Copilot: First Lt. Gary M. Rigsbee, 23, CA
Navigator: Capt. Jacques G. Senecal, 32, CA
Navigator: First Lt. Robert H. K. Shannon, 29
Flight Engineer: S/Sgt James E. Burns, 29, IL
Load Master: S/Sgt Bobby L. Calhoun, 28
Flight Engineer: M/Sgt William H. Meredith, 34, KY
Flight Engineer: T/Sgt Marlin W. Tatom, 41, MI
Load Master: Airman 3/C Elwood C. Van Nole, Jr., 19
Flight Traffic Specialist: Airman 1/C Charles A. Reives, 23
Cadet Gary L. Zimmerman, 20, class of 1967, Air Force Academy

United States Marine Corps:

PFC Dwight L. Aldridge, 18, AR
PFC Russell J. Babcock, JR., 19, Tomkins Cove, NY
PFC Roger J. Beiter, 18, W. Seneca, N. Y.
Lance Cpl William B. Breen, 20, Bellefonte, Penn.
Cpl James Harold Brock, 25, Birmingham, Ohio.
Cpl Emerson K. Brown, 24, Kent, Wash.
Lance Cpl Jimmie E. Brown, 24.
Lance Cpl John G. Brusso, Jr., 22, Ontario, N. Y.
Cpl George C. Burrow, 20, Norman, Ark.
Cpl Tucker Ross Burt, 24, Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
Cpl Phillip V. Caraccio, 24
Cpl Paul T. Chapin, 21, Coronado, Calif.
Cpl George E. College, 21, Davisburg, Mich.
Cpl Donald A. Davidson, 19, MI
Lance Cpl Douglas D. Everett, 19, Allentown, Pa.
PFC Rosco Ford, 24, Miami, Fla.
Capt Victor M. Girodengo, 28, San Diego, Calif.
Cpl Thomas Barton Gladstone, 25, Largo, Fla.
PFC Dickie L. Glover, 32, Muskegon, Mich.
PFC Gerald Griffith, 18, Jackson, Miss.
PFC Henry D Grimm, 18
Lance Cpl Howard D. Hall, 18, Winfield, Kan.
Lance Cpl Gail K. Haning, 23, Albany, Ohio.
Cpl Charles Harmon, 21, Estill, S. C.
Lance Cpl Robert E. Harvey, 18, Upland, Calif.
PFC Harry R. Hawk, 20, Oberlin, Penn.
PFC Gerald G. Hawkins, 18, Mableton, Ga.
PFC Kenneth J Haywood, 21
Lance Cpl Danny E. Holder, 18, Nashville, Tenn.
Lance Cpl Joseph M Kelly, 18
PFC James T. Kitchens, 19, Madleton, Ga.
Cpl William R. Kittel, 28, Suisun City, Calif.
Sgt James E. Lee, 28, Compton, Calif.
Sgt Richard W Leeman, 19
Lance Cpl Robert C Lisicki, 23
Cpl Michael J. Mando, JR., 22, Tayler, Pa.
Lance Cpl Brian Elvin Martin, 20, Minersville, Pa.
Cpl James V. Matruski, 23, Johnson City, N. Y.
Cpl Henry B McKine, 18, CA
PFC James D Meade, 21
PFC Joseph D Mogelinski, 18, Greenfield, Mass.
Capt Edward M. Morehead, 27, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sgt James C. Moultrie, 18, Moza City, Okinawa.
Cpl Anthony E. Nelson, 22, Wilmington, Calif.
PFC Franklin Newman, 20, Loomis, N. J.
Cpl Rich G. Pacheco, 20, Portland, Ore.
Lance Cpl Enrique Danny Padilla, 20, Santa Rosa, N. M.
Cpl Michael A. Palmieri, 28, Elmira, N. Y.
Lance Cpl Alfred Eugene Peterson, 20, Littleton Commons, Mass.
Cpl Edward P. Ray, 23,
PFC Robert J. Rhodes, 19, Patterson, N. J.
PFC Ronald Richard Richert, 18, Pontiac, Mich.
Cpl Lawrence O. Rohde, 22, Las Vegas, NV
PFC Gerald W. Ross, 19
Pvt. Robert S. Shedis, 22, Calumet Park, Ill.
PFC Joseph B. Sheppard, 18, Philadelphia, Pa.
Sgt Jackson Sinyard, Jr., 33
Sgt Gerald Skidmore, 18, Cincinnati, Ohio.
PFC Arthur Slaughter, 23, Pittsburgh, Pa.
PFC Quinton Smith, 22
Cpl Theodore Eugene Stark, 24, Louisville, KY
Lance Cpl Charles L. Stevens, 18, Cambridge, Ohio.
Lance Cpl Jimmie I. Swink, 26
Lance Cpl James C. Tischer, 20, Hannibal, Mo.
Cpl Timothy M. Treweek, 24, Los Angeles
PFC Lawrence R. Vanness, 19, Rochester, N. Y.
Cpl Elwood C Vannote, 19
Cpl Harrison Wallace, 25, Clemens, Ala.
Cpl David E. Walsh, 18
PFC Ralph E White, 23, IN
Cpl James R. Wilson, 24, IN
Sgt William J Wilson, 29, MO

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Honoring Irvine’s Military Heritage: Reception in Hanger 244 in the Great Park on Sat., June 20th

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From 1942 to 1999, the Irvine area was home to Marine Air Station El Toro, the largest Marine Corps Air Station on the West Coast.

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MCAS El Toro patch designed by Walt Disney in 1944.

During World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War, thousands of United States Marines, as well as airmen, sailors and soldiers, departed for war from MCAS El Toro.

Many never returned.

In July 2014 the Irvine City Council voted to approve 125 acres in what was once MCAS El Toro and is now the Great Park as a Veterans Cemetery and Memorial.

As the daughter of a combat veteran and as an Irvine resident, I believe that a portion of the Great Park in Irvine, once the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, is the perfect location for a Veterans Cemetery and a fitting memorial to Irvine’s proud military heritage.

I strongly support the veterans who are now insisting that the City Council keep its promise.

This Saturday, June 20, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., the Great Park’s historic Hanger 244 will host an opening reception for the Heritage and Aviation Exhibition, featuring images, displays and artifacts that tell the story of the Great Park’s role as Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.

The exhibition includes:

  • World War II Airplanes – N3N Canary and SNJ-5 Texan
  • Air Force C-135A Stratolifter Memorial – in honor of the 84 United States Marines and Airmen who perished in the tragic Loma Ridge crash 50 years ago on June 25, 1965.

The exhibition will remain open until 4:00 p.m. following the reception.  Regular exhibition hours will be Thursdays and Fridays from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The reception and the exhibit are free and open to the public.

You can find a map and directions here.

The exhibit is a terrific opportunity to learn more about Irvine’s proud military heritage and why the former MCAS El Toro continues to hold such tremendous significance for area veterans.

I hope to see you there!

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Join Me in the Ride of Silence, Tonight, Weds., May 20, to Honor Cyclists Killed or Injured and Promote Sharing the Road

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Join us tonight as we once again meet at Irvine City Hall to remember and honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

rideofsilence.01We ride tonight to promote sharing the road, and provide awareness of the rights and safety of bicyclists.  Our silent ride also commemorates those who have been killed or injured doing what each of us has a right to do – a right that, far too often, motorists fail to recognize, sometimes with deadly consequences.

Irvine is a wonderful city for biking, whether for commuting, exercising, or just enjoying the outdoors. We have 301 miles of on-street bike lanes and 54 miles of off-street bikeways.  Our bicycle trails are some of the most beautiful, and peaceful, places in Irvine.

Yet in Irvine, as everywhere else, motorists must learn to better share the road safely with cyclists; that cyclists have the same rights to the road as motorists; and that cyclists are the most vulnerable users of the roadways.

Since last year’s ride, 13 bicyclists have been killed in Orange County.  That is far too many. These individuals were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, co-workers, as well as cyclists.  We have no idea of the impact they may have had in this world because their lives was taken by a motorist.

Tonight’s Ride of Silence is part of a larger, international movement to commemorate cyclists killed or injured while riding on public roads and to raise awareness among motorists of the dangers they pose to cyclists.

As a bicyclist myself, as the mother of a bicyclist, as an Irvine resident and Community Services Commissioner, as an advocate for more active transportation as a way to cut pollution and our reliance on fossil fuels, I am honored to ride with you.

The Ride of Silence asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. There are no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured.

When: Wednesday, May 20. Gather at 6 PM. Assemble at 6:30 PM. Ride at 7 PM.

Where: Irvine Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza (near the flag poles in front of the Police Department).

The Irvine Police Department has been invited to participate and provide support in escorting again for the ride.

More information, click here for the Orange County Bicycle Coalition or click here for Ride of Silence Orange County.

You can also learn more, and show your support, on the Ride of Silence – Irvine Facebook page and the Ride of Silence – National Facebook page.

In Memoriam  –  Bicyclists killed in Orange County since last year’s Ride of Silence:

Jordan Ames, 21 (May 30, 2014, Santa Ana)
John Colvin, 55 (June 17, Laguna Beach)
Rafael Correa, 19 (July 5, Fullerton)
Artemio Ortiz, 56 (August 1, Orange)
Michael Bastien, 55 (September 1, Huntington Beach)
William Rowland, 61 (September 5, Huntington Beach)
Shaun Eagleson, 30 ( October 19, Newport Coast)
Daniella Palacios, 44 (November 1, Anaheim)
Cesar Labastida, 74 (November 15, Laguna Woods)
Hassan Davoodiara, 69 (November 15, Santa Ana)
Vihn Tran, 36 (December 27, Fountain Valley)
Timothy Binau, 41 (April 1, 2015, Anaheim)
Robert Horton, 62 (May 4, 2015, Santa Ana)

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Swimming Pool Safety: Simple Steps Save Young Lives

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A five-year-old boy in Irvine is in critical condition after being found in the family’s backyard swimming pool.  According to the Orange County Fire Authority, drowning accidents are the leading cause of injury/deaths among children under 5.  More than 80 percent of the drownings occur in residential backyard pools or spas.  It can happen quickly, without warning, without a splash and without a cry for help.

pool safety.01Recently, there has been an increase in pool drownings in Orange County. O.C. Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said that “We need to stop this trend before it gets worse. We’re not even into our summer months and we’re already into our 16th drowning call of the year, eight of those have been fatal.”

To make our swimming pools as safe as possible, please practice Irvine’s suggested pool safety guidelines, learn CPR, and teach your children how to swim.

Here are Irvine’s Swimming Pool Safety guidelines:

SECURE THE POOL AREA

Professionally install a pool fence that is five feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings. Tables, chairs, tree branches or other protrusions should be moved away from the fence to prevent a young child from getting over, under or through the fence.

Gates should be self-closing and self-latching, opening outward, away from the pool. The gate latch should be placed at the top of the gate and be inaccessible from the outside by small children.

All doors and windows leading to the pool should always be secured and locked at all times.

Additional “layers of protection” include safety covers, alarms on doors and motion-detection devices.

Safety equipment, such as a ring buoy and shepherd’s crook, should always be available.

ALWAYS HAVE ADULT SUPERVISION

Swim lessons, flotation devices and safety equipment should never be substitutes for proper adult supervision at all times. Twenty-five percent of all drowning victims have had swimming lessons.

NEVER leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.

Assign an adult Water Watcher to supervise the pool/spa area, especially during social gatherings.

Babysitters and guardians should always be instructed about potential hazards in and around the pool.

If a child is missing, check the pool first.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Set water safety rules for the whole family before entering the water, including:

a. Always enter the water feet first and look before you leap.
b. Swim with a buddy in a supervised area. Never swim alone.
c. Avoid entrapment: suction from pool and spa drains can trap a swimmer under water.
d. Do not use a pool or spa if there are broken or missing drain covers.
e. Do not let children sit or play on pool drains.

Keep toys away from the pool, when not in use, to prevent young children from falling in after a toy.

Keep a telephone outside the pool area. Post the 9-1-1 emergency number on the telephone.

Another great place to find swimming pool safety tips is here.

Orange County Red Cross aquatics safety classes and training can be found here.

Orange County Red Cross first aid and CPR classes and training be found here.

Swimming is fun and healthy, and we’re blessed here in Irvine with terrific weather for swimming much of the year.  Now let’s do everything we can to protect our children and enjoy our swimming pools safely. Taking a few simple steps will save young lives.

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Join the Irvine Police Department this Saturday, May 9, for “Push-Ups for Charity” to Benefit U.S. Military Veterans and their Families

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Join the men and women of the Irvine Police Department this Saturday, May 9, 2015, for the 5th Annual Irvine Police Department Push-Ups For Charity event!

Push-Ups for Charity is an annual event that raises awareness of the challenges military service members and veterans face, and raises money to support their unique needs.

IPD Patch New (Layered)Push-Ups for Charity participants can collect donations from friends and family with the promise to perform as many push-ups as possible in 90 seconds.

It doesn’t matter how many pushups you can do, everyone can do their part to support America’s heroes. Big and small, near and far, we need YOU to get involved.

Each pushup completed raises much-needed funds for the Boot Campaign, a national nonprofit that promotes patriotism, raises awareness and provides vital assistance for our nation’s heroes and their families.

push ups for charity.01

Come out to support the competition this Saturday at 9;00 am between SWAT teams from police departments around Orange County, members of the Orange County Fire Authority, military veterans, high school students, and many others!

Do you want to compete? You can sign up as an individual or with a team here:

Anyone interested in participating but not competing can join the open session, which eliminates the pressures of competition. This fun event is open to everyone!

This year, we’ll open the event at 7:30 am with the 2nd annual 5K Fun Run/Walk. This is a great $35 alternative for those who want to get involved, but are not interested in the push up challenge!

Click here to register as a Host for $125 (includes training, marketing materials, and 10 official PUC 2015 t-shirts) or a Participant for $25 (includes an official PUC 2015 t-shirt. Choose your size upon checkout.).

What: Push-Ups for Charity (benefits United States military veterans.and their families).

Where: Irvine Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606-5207.

When: Saturday, May 9, 2015. 7:30 am for the 5K Fun Run/Walk and 9:00 am for Push-Ups for Charity.

Help the Irvine Police Department make a difference in the lives of America’s veterans!

Get Fit, Have Fun and Make a Difference!

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Come to the Irvine Animal Care Center’s 2015 Super Pet Adoption Event, Sunday, June 7!

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Be sure not to miss Irvine’s Ninth Annual Super Pet Adoption event on Sunday, June 7 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

More than 50 pet rescue groups and animal shelters will bring more than 800 homeless dogs, cats, rabbits and small animals for adoption.

The event will also feature vendors, refreshments, free veterinarian and trainer advice, low-cost microchips and a silent auction of more than 40 items.

Admission is only $1.00 per person and parking is free.

Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox and Scout Fox at the Annual Super Pet Adoption Event in 2014.

Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox and Scout Fox at the Annual Super Pet Adoption Event in 2014.

Leashed and vaccinated dogs are welcome.

The event will take place at the Irvine Animal Care Center’s facility located at 6443 Oak Canyon Road, Irvine, CA 92618.

To volunteer, click here.

To apply as a vendor, rescue or shelter, click here.

To become a sponsor, click here.

To see the event rules and regulations, click here.

The Animal Care Center still needs items for the silent auction and opportunity drawing. Sought items include pet items, restaurant gift cards, theme park tickets, electronics and gift baskets. Items are tax-deductible. Please mail or drop off your items by May 22.

If you have additional questions, contact the Irvine Animal Care Center here.

See you there!

What: Irvine’s Ninth Annual Super Pet Adoption Event

When: Sunday, June 7 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. 

Where: Irvine Animal Care Center’s facility located at 6443 Oak Canyon Road, Irvine, CA 92618.

 

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Let’s Welcome Home Irvine’s 2/11 Marines!

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Let’s Welcome Home our 2/11 Marines!

The City of Irvine, in partnership with the Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee, is collecting personal items for “Welcome Home” packages for the City’s adopted 2/11 Marine Battalion returning home from overseas deployment.

2bn11thmarItems donated will provide Welcome Home packages for single Marines, many of whom return home to empty barracks without the comfort of family.

The collection drive runs through Friday, May 29, 2015.

Suggested donation items include:

  • Towels/washcloths
  • Men’s body wash/shower gel (Axe or Dove are preferred brands)
  • Individually wrapped snacks (Granola bars, beef jerky or protein bars)
  • Single-serve drink powder mix packets (Gatorade, Propel or Hawaiian Punch)

Female Marines are provided Welcome Home packages specifically for women from the 2/11 Adoption Committee.

Donation bins are located at the Irvine Civic Center, Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Great Park Visitors Center. For more information, please call 949-724-6655.

About 2d Battalion, 11th Marines (2/11), 1st Marine Division

The 1st Marine Division is oldest, largest and most decorated division in the United States Marine Corps. The 2d Battalion, 11th Marines (2/11) is a 155mm howitzer battalion based at Camp Pendleton, California. Its primary mission is to provide artillery support to the 5th Marine Regiment in time of conflict. At any time, the command has roughly 750 Marines and Sailors assigned to it.

The battalion’s exemplary service ranges from France in World War I to the Battles of Guadalcanal and Okinawa in the Pacific in World War II to Inchon and the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War to Hue and Phu Bai in Vietnam to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Gulf War to Operation Enduring Freedom in Kuwait to the more recent and still-ongoing campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

About the Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee

The 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division (2/11) from Camp Pendleton, was officially “adopted” by the City of Irvine at the Irvine Civic Center on September 15, 2007.  The City of Irvine and the 2/11 Marines made a pledge to encourage mutually beneficial interactions between the community and the battalion.

The Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, encourages the community to support our adopted Battalion by participating and donating to a variety of activities, including charitable and educational activities and support, such as holiday and pre-deployment events, care packages, toy drives and more. for the benefit and welfare of the United States Marines and their families.

 

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Remembering the Anniversary of Black April and Honoring Those Who Fled to Freedom

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April 30th is the anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.  It is a time to remember and honor our more than 58,000 fallen and missing soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, our half a million Vietnam War veterans, and a million and a half South Vietnamese allies, as well as our allies from Australia, South Korea, Thailand, New Zealand and the Philippines, who fought and died in the pursuit of freedom and democracy.

We must never forget their sacrifice.

Rescued refugees fly the flag of the Republic of Vietnam, 1980.

This anniversary is also a time to recognize and celebrate the tremendous contributions that Vietnamese Americans have made to our nation and to our shared American way of life.

We must also use this anniversary to renew our commitment to ensure that human rights and freedom are one day respected in Vietnam.

Like many people in Orange County, I have been moved to tears by the heartbreaking stories of the suffering of many of my Vietnamese friends and their families — stories of their tremendous struggles and their remarkable strength in coming to this country as refugees in one of the largest mass migrations in modern history.

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Honored to stand with our Vietnamese friends and the Vietnamese community at Black April ceremony in Westminster.

We must never forget the incredible hardships they endured and never cease to admire their courageous determination to live in freedom.

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Come Listen to a Free Jazz Concert and Support Woodbridge Village Center this Thursday, April 30

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Come listen to a free jazz concert and support Irvine’s Woodbridge Village Center this Thursday, April 30!

The Irvine Public Schools Foundation and The Irvine Company are sponsoring a jazz band performance by Irvine High School from 6:00-7:00 pm.  There will also be in-store specials and drawings.

Enjoy a meal with family and friends in the beautiful outdoor courtyard while listening to the musical talents of Irvine High School’s Jazz Band.

There is also a contest drawing and discounts from participating Woodbridge Village Center merchants.

It’s fun for the whole family!

When Woodbridge opened on Father’s Day in 1975, it was Irvine’s premier master planned community, showcasing Irvine’s commitment to creating villages of single family homes and townhouses, with parks, greenbelts, bicycle trails, interconnecting pathways, open space, and neighborhood shopping.

Now, forty successful years later, Woodbridge Village Center remains an integral part of Irvine, connected to both lakes, Woodbridge high school and walking trails, literally in the center of Irvine.

Please join your neighbors this Thursday, April 30, to support your Woodbridge Village Center and local businesses!

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Irvine Should Ban E-Cigarettes and Vaping in Our City Parks

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Today’s New York Times has more bad news about teenagers and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).

The Times reports a “sharp rise in the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers.”  E-cigarette use among middle- and high school students “tripled from 2013 to 2014 . . bringing the share of high school students who use them to 13 percent — more than smoke traditional cigarettes. The sharp rise, together with a substantial increase in the use of hookah pipes, led to 400,000 additional young people using a tobacco product in 2014, the first increase in years . . .”

Last year, the Times cited a similar report of the Center for Disease Control of a sharp rise in e-cigarette use among previously nicotine-free youth.

And who are the major marketers and lobbyists for e-cigarettes?  The very same big tobacco companies that still sell cigarettes and that told us for years that there was no harm in cigarette smoking.

Last March, the Irvine City Council rejected a resolution to prohibit electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in city parks and recreational facilities.  Mayor Steven Choi and Council Members Jeffrey Lalloway and Christina Shea voted against the ban.

Evidence is mounting that e-cigarettes are detrimental to one’s health. Their use is opposed by the American Lung Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. UC Irvine and the entire University of California system bans their use in all indoor and outdoor areas of a UC campus.

The American Lung Association says they are “very concerned about the potential health consequences of electronic cigarettes, as well as the unproven claims that they can be used to help smokers quit. There is presently no government oversight of these products and absent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation, there is no way for the public health, medical community or consumers to know what chemicals are contained in e-cigarettes or what the short and long term health implications might be. . . Also unknown is what the potential harm may be to people exposed to secondhand emissions from e-cigarettes. Two initial studies have found formaldehyde, benzene and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (a carcinogen) coming from those secondhand emissions. Other studies have shown that chemicals exhaled by users also contain formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and other potential irritants. While there is a great deal more to learn about these products, it is clear that there is much to be concerned about, especially in the absence of FDA oversight.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that recent scientific data “confirms pediatricians’ concerns about e-cigarettes and their liquid nicotine refills: they are poisoning children at an alarming rate. . . These new statistics should compel our nation’s leaders to act now to protect children from these dangerous products.”

The conservative editorial page of the San Diego Union Tribune has called for the regulation of e-cigarettes just like tobacco, “prohibiting their use in restaurants, bars and other public places where smoking is barred,” calling such regulations  “common sense for all of California.”

Council Member Lalloway celebrated the Council’s decision in favor of e-cigarettes by saying he had confidence in “individuals and their ability to make their own [health] choices.”

For me, what’s at issue is our freedom  to enjoy Irvine’s parks and recreational facilities without breathing air polluted with second-hand e-cigarette chemicals.

I have no problem with adults smoking e-cigarettes in their own homes or on their own property or on the property of people who say it’s okay with them.

But I don’t want members of my family or yours — especially children — to be forced to inhale second-hand e-cigarette chemicals when they come to enjoy Irvine’s beautiful public parks and recreational facilities.

That’s where we should draw the line.

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Help Irvine Win the Wyland Foundation’s National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation

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Help Irvine win the Fourth Annual National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, sponsored by the Wyland Foundation.

My Water Pledge is a friendly competition between cities across the US to see who can be the most “water-wise.”  Mayors nationwide challenge their residents to conserve water, energy and other natural resources on behalf of their city through a series of informative, easy-to-use pledges online.  Cities with the highest percentage of residents who take the challenge in their population category win.  Participants in the winning cities are eligible to win hundreds of prizes.

“Whether it’s drought conditions in the West or the high costs of energy related to water use in the East, saving water has become one of the most talked about issues facing the nation today,” said the artist Wyland, president and founder of the Wyland Foundation. “This contest gives city leaders a way to supplement their awareness efforts in a friendly, spirited way.”

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Your own city’s mayor does not have to participate for your city to win.

Unfortunately, Irvine Mayor Steven Choi has decided not to be a participating mayor – but you and I can still make a difference!

Last year, the challenge awarded more than $50,000 in prizes to nearly 1,000 residents in U.S. cities.

Last year, residents from over 3,600 cities in all 50 U.S. states pledged to reduce their annual consumption of freshwater by 1.4 billion gallons, reduce waste sent to landfills by 36 million pounds, prevent more than 179,000 pounds of hazardous waste from entering our watersheds, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5.3 billion pounds. Participants have included mayors from Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Honolulu, San Diego, San Francisco, Long Beach and Miami.

Currently, Irvine is not in the top 10 cities in our population size in water-saving pledges.  We can fix that – and save water.

And maybe win some prizes, too.

Take the Water Conservation Challenge pledge here.

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Come to the Kitten and Puppy Shower at the Irvine Animal Care Center on Saturday, April 25

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Come to the Kitten and Puppy Shower at the Irvine Animal Care Center on Saturday, April 25 from from 1:00-4:00 PM.

Help us “shower” our new puppies and kittens with needed supplies and learn about the Irvine Animal Care Center’s operations, facilities, and professional and volunteer staff.

animal shower

The Open House will include the accepting of donations, toy sales, and general information about the Irvine Animal Care Center facility.

The Irvine Animal Care Center is a progressive and innovative municipal animal shelter that continually strives to strengthen the human-animal bond and improve the welfare of animals by promoting their humane care and treatment.

The Center’s 3.73 acre, park-like facility cares for thousands of homeless, neglected and abused animals every year. All animals in their care receive veterinary care, high-quality food, soft bedding and daily socialization.

Your support helps the Center fulfill its mission of placing all adoptable animals into permanent, loving, responsible pet homes and reuniting owner-identified animals with their owners; providing a safe, clean, caring and enriching environment that meets the high standards of our community and provides the community a resource of trained and knowledgeable staff and volunteers; and promoting human responsibility for companion animals.

Click here to download the event flyer.

Click here to see the Wish List.

Click here to learn more about the Center’s adoption program and to see the dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals that are currently looking for new forever homes.

We are so fortunate to have the Irvine Animal Center in our community!  Please consider contributing and/or volunteering.  Making donations to the Irvine Animal Care Center is easy and available online.

Irvine Animal Care Center’s Hours of Operation:

Weekdays: Noon to 7:00 PM

Weekends: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Closed Tuesdays and Holidays.

Adoptions stop one hour prior to closing.

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Irvine Unified Presents Free Public Concert Series!

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The Irvine Unified School District, in partnership with the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, presents the Music Series, which features four free performances by two Irvine high schools.

University High School’s string quartet and Irvine High School’s jazz band will perform on the following dates:

April 9, 6-7 p.m. – Quail Hill Shopping Center (University High School String Quartet).

April 16, 6-7 p.m. – University Center (Irvine High School Jazz Band 1).

April 23, 6-7 p.m. – Orchard Hills Village Center (University High School String Quartet).

April 30, 6-7 p.m. – Woodbridge Village (Irvine High School Jazz Band 1).

Bring your family and friends to enjoy a fun-filled evening of music!

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Thank You and Happy Thanksgiving

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As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude to this great nation and to those whose sacrifices have ensured our freedoms, including the right to vote and choose our representatives.  I also want to express my gratitude to those who joined me in my campaign for Irvine City Council.  I am blessed to have you as my friends and to have worked with you for a better future for our City.  I know that you will join me in congratulating the victors and in wishing the very best for our Mayor and City Council in their new terms of office.

This was an extremely close and hard-fought election and many harsh things were said by both sides.  For my part, I promise to put aside the caustic rhetoric of the past and to work together with all persons of good will for a better Irvine.

In particular, I will work to help our Mayor and City Council achieve their own campaign promises: to defend our master plan and preserve the character of our communities, including preservation of the Woodbridge Village Center; to take effective steps to alleviate traffic congestion and school over-crowding;  to ensure that future growth is supported by careful planning and adequate infrastructure; to build a Veterans Cemetery and Memorial in the Great Park; to make sure that the promise of the Great Park is fulfilled for all of the residents of Irvine and Orange County; to preserve Irvine’s public safety record by providing our Police Department with the best personnel, training, and equipment; to support the continued success of the Irvine Barclay Theatre; and to embrace and celebrate our growing cultural diversity.

Thank You, and Happy Thanksgiving.

Melissa

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Planning Commission Decision Dooms Irvine University Center Farmers’ Market

We were excited to report last June that Irvine, which has long has two certified farmers’ markets, was getting two more.

Now it appears that soon there may be one less.

The farmers’ market at University Town Center, which has been serving the University area and all of Irvine for nearly 20 years, is scrambling to find a new location.

The reason?

In January 2014, the Irvine Planning Commission, by a close vote of 3-2, approved the development of another drive-through fast-food restaurant at the University Town Center, including the removal of 58 parking spaces.

Voting in favor of the fast-food drive-through restaurant development and the removal of the parking spaces was Jeffrey Lalloway appointee Lynn Schott, now seeking her own seat on the City Council.

The loss of these parking spaces is what is now causing the University Town Center farmers’ market to struggle to find another location.

I certainly hope that the farmers’ market at University Town Center finds a new location in time for a 20th anniversary celebration and continues to serve Irvine for another 20 years.

Fast-food and too fast growth.

Bad planning has bad consequences.

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Important Message from Seven-Year-Old Amin, My Favorite Campaign Volunteer!

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Here is a message to all Irvine voters from seven-year-old Amin, my favorite campaign volunteer.

As Amin says: “I am seven-years-old. I can not vote, but YOU CAN! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote Vote!”

Listen to Amin: 

Click here to visit Melissa’s campaign website.

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Listen to Melissa Fox’s Interview on KUCI’s ‘Ask a Leader’

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Here is the interview I did on October 14 with Claudia Shambaugh on the program Ask a Leader on KUCI-FM about my campaign for Irvine City Council and the future of the City of Irvine.

We discussed development and over-development, traffic congestion, infrastructure, protecting Irvine’s villages and local businesses, the Irvine Barclay Theatre, improving our bikeways and the iShuttle,  environmental issues, losing one of farmers’ markets, my Irvine Food Tours, the OCTA’s irresponsible toll road decision, and more.

I hope you’ll listen and let me know what you think!

 

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Traffic Congestion Causes Irvine to Drop to 14th Place in America’s Best Places to Live

Irvine’s national standing as one of America’s best places to live has declined sharply in the last few years, from 4th place in 2008, to 6th place in 2012, and now a precipitous drop out of the Top Ten to 14th place in Money Magazine’s recent “Best Places to Live 2014.”

The problem: while Irvine still receives raves for its “more than 54 miles of bike paths and 20,000 acres of parks and preserves” as well as for our master plan, “median home prices top $650,000, and traffic can be a brute during rush hour.”

What this means is that Irvine’s terrible – and increasing – traffic congestion problem is no longer our own little secret.

The rest of the country has noticed, and is re-evaluating the desirability of living in Irvine accordingly.

In the short run, Irvine’s drop to 14th best place to live – slotted between Centennial, Colorado, and Newton, Massachusetts – will primarily impact our civic pride.

But in the middle and longer run, the decline in Irvine’s reputation because of traffic congestion – and the serious underlying problem of over-development without adequate planning – could have far more dire, and costly, consequences.

Our real estate market could be adversely affected, as well as our ability to attract companies and business that are looking for the best quality of life for their executives and employees.

Most important, Irvine’s fall to 14th place in Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live” is the canary in the coal mine, warning us of worse to come, as the rest of the world notices our rapid over-development without proper planning or infrastructure and our increasingly over-crowded schools.

We should take heed now, while we still can, and return to the principles of planning and measured , smart growth that not very long ago made Irvine Number One.

We want Irvine to be America’s “Best Place to Live” now and in the future, not just in the past.

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Saving the Irvine Barclay Theatre is Up to You

One of the first things that Mayor Steven Choi and Councilmember Jeffrey Lalloway did when they captured the majority on the Irvine City Council was attempt to slash the City’s funding for the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

Choi and Lalloway asserted that the City’s contribution to the Irvine Barclay Theatre is “wasteful spending” and proposed to cut it by more than half, from $925,000 to $425,000.

Doug Rankin, president of the Irvine Barclay, warned that if the City’s contribution to the Barclay was cut as Choi and Lalloway wanted, the impact on the Barclay would be  “Somewhere between completely adverse and catastrophic.”

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World Famous Diavolo Dance Theatre performing at the Irvine Barclay Theatre

Founded in 1990, the Irvine Barclay Theatre is a unique collaboration among the City of Irvine, the University of California, Irvine, and the private sector.  The Barclay has earned “a reputation for wide-ranging programming in the fields of contemporary dance, music, and theater arts . . .  The Barclay’s 750-seat Cheng Hall is now virtually in constant use.  The Irvine Barclay Theatre has gained a national reputation for its great acoustics, intimate feel, and the high quality of its production facilities. Among artists, it is a venue of choice when performing in southern California.”

Choi’s and Lalloway’s attempt to impose “catastrophic” cuts in the Barclay’s funding failed when dozens of citizens – from across the political spectrum – including former Irvine Mayor Sally Anne Sheridan, UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts Dean Joseph Lewis, Bluestone Communities President Michael Kerr, Arts Orange County Executive Director Richard Stein, and Philharmonic Society of Orange County President Dean Corey – showed up at the City Council chambers to protest.

Republican Councilmember Christina Shea then voted with Democratic Councilmembers Beth Krom and Larry Agran to restore the Barclay’s funding – to much audience applause.

Angry over losing the vote and undeterred by the overwhelming popular sentiment in favor of restoring the Barclay’s funding, Lalloway responded by publicly insulting Councilmember Christina Shea, saying she had deceived the voters when she claimed to be ‘fiscally responsible.”

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China National Opera and Dance Company performing this month at the Irvine Barclay Theatre

Now, the Barclay is again in danger.

If Choi and Lalloway are re-elected this November, they will again try to inflict catastrophic cuts in the City’s funding for the Barclay Theatre.

The result would be, in Doug Rankin’s words, “catastrophic” for the Barclay, as well as many other City of Irvine programs.

In contrast, if I am elected to the Irvine City Council, I will ensure that the City continues to support the Irvine Barclay Theatre – where I have seen numerous wonderful performances from both UC Irvine students and touring professionals from around the globe, most recently last week’s performance of the China National Opera and Dance Drama Company – so that it continues to be Irvine’s most treasured cultural center for at least another 25 years.

The fate of the Irvine Barclay Theatre depends on who the voters elect this coming November.

Whether the Barclay survives for another 25 wonderful years – and more – is up to you.

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Join Me at Irvine’s Global Village Festival 2014!

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My favorite Irvine cultural event of the year is almost here!

This Saturday, September 27, 2014, is the Irvine Global Village Festival!

In Irvine, we are proud of saying that our City is not only among the most diverse cities in the nation, it is also the most fully integrated. There are no ethnic, linguistic, religious, or cultural enclaves in Irvine: every neighborhood reflects Irvine’s harmonious ethnic, linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity.

Commissioner Melissa Fox at Irvine Global Village Festival 2013

Commissioner Melissa Fox at Irvine Global Village Festival 2013

How diverse is Irvine?  A non-English language is spoken in a remarkable 58% of Irvine homes, with more than 70 different languages spoken in residences throughout Irvine.  Nearly 40 % of Irvine’s public school students have a primary language other than English.  Irvine is also home to more than 80 different churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship, serving Irvine’s wonderful cultural and religious diversity.

This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Irvine Global Village Festival – Irvine’s largest and most attended community event.  Founded in 1998 by a group of Irvine residents to help promote understanding and build harmony within Irvine’s many diverse cultures, the Global Village Festival is now Irvine’s signature event, featuring more than 100 performances on five stages; international cuisine and food from more than 50 restaurants; an international marketplace filled with unique crafts and textiles; interactive, educational and entertaining cultural displays, demonstrations, and performances; an international village just for kids; and a world religions area, providing an opportunity to explore and interact with many of the numerous faith-based organizations in the Irvine area.

Globalvillage03Among the groups whose members have been integral in organizing the Irvine Global Village Festival are the Algerian Cultural Society of Southern California, the Asian American Senior Citizen Service Center, EKTAA Indian Cultural Center, First Drops Interfaith Group, Friends of Outreach (for Irvine seniors), Hindu Swayam Sevak Sangh, Humanity United, the Irvine Chinese School, the Irvine Evergreen Chinese Senior Association, the Irvine Iranian Parents Association, the Irvine Multicultural Association, the Irvine Thai Arts & Culture, the Orange County Jewish Community Center, NEDA Iranian Senior Group, Network of Arab American Professionals, Orange County Chinese Artists Association, Orange County Veterans Employment Committee, South Coast Chinese Cultural Association, and TTIYA Foundation.

Among the performers scheduled to appear at the Irvine Global Village Festival are Benjamin Ordaz, Lan Nartthasin, Caporales San Simon, Nicholson Pipes and Drums, Adaa Dance, It’s Samba Showtime, Hato Paora, Kapa Haka, Meliza and the Jewels That Raq!, Naked Rhythm, Mexikas, Upstream, Caribbean Jems, La Sirena y Mar de Ashe, Lisa Haley and the Zyedkats, Sneha Krish, JJ & the Habibis, Hozan Murat, Galaxy Youth Ensemble, KANANEA, Ava Dance Studio, IKPA Samulnori Team, Southern Young Tigers, Calistoga Falls,
Mei-Ling Lee Chinese Dance, Sueda, Kerry and the Surftones, Kutturan Chamoru Foundation, Brian Young and the Blues Station, UK Beat, Mahoor Ensemble led by Alireza Khademi, Orange County Friendship Choir, AACCP-Orange County Dance Group, International Peace Choir, Korean Line Dancers, Lithikhaa Mageswaran, Adaa Dance Academy, South Coast Chinese Cultural Association/Irvine Chinese School, SUR Academy Irvine SANAD Foundation, Khayyam Persian School Foundation, Haven Belly Dance Collective, Yakshaloka,  Phernandho, Bolivia Internaciona, Goporum Dance, R3Play – Chinese Folk Dance, Naoki Atkins, Halau Hawaii OCUdita Academy, and Udita Academy

What an incredible array of world and American music, dance, and performance!

I’m looking forward to celebrating the many facets of Irvine’s diversity at the Global Village Festival – and I look forward to seeing you there!

Here are some important Festival details:

What: Irvine Global Village Festival

When: Saturday, September 27, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where: Bill Barber Park, 4 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA

Cost: Admission is FREE! Food tasting tickets are available for purchase at the event. Tickets are $1 each; with tasting prices ranging from 1 to 3 tickets per item. Cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover are accepted at designated ticket booth locations. Prices for sample sized items range from $1 to $3; it is recommended to purchase $10 per person. Tickets are non-refundable. For your convenience, a Schools First automatic teller machine (ATM) is located at the Irvine Civic Center, adjacent to the Irvine Police Department entrance.

Parking: There is no on-site parking at the event. While parking is not available at the event site, FREE shuttle buses will be in service to transport guests to and from the Festival’s satellite parking locations at Main and Jamboree and Woodbridge Community Park. Shuttles will be running from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Disabled Person Parking will be available at the San Juan or Civic Center parking lots adjacent to Bill Barber Park. Please have the appropriate placard visible when entering the parking lot.

Bike to the Festival – that’s how I’m getting there!  By far the easiest way to get to the Festival is by bike. The City of Irvine has an extensive system of bike trails to get you to and from the event, and once inside, riders can safely and securely store their bikes at the Festival’s free Bike Valet area, hosted by the Bicycle Club of Irvine and the Orange County Bicycle Coalition. Use the City’s Interactive Bike Map to plan your trip. Enter the destination address as “4 Civic Center”. Or Click here to download the City of Irvine Bikeways Map for the Global Village.

Pets: Dogs are welcome at the Irvine Global Village Festival! However, owners must be responsible for their pets; dogs must be on leash, interact well in a large crowd and remain in the charge of a person competent to restrain them.

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Irvine Needs a Permanent Veterans Advisory Committee Comprised Solely of Veterans

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Irvine is home to thousands of military veterans and members of the active military returning from deployment overseas. These veterans should be represented within Irvine’s city government by a Veterans Advisory Committee expressly dedicated to the unique needs and interests of the men and women who have served and are currently serving in our nation’s armed forces.

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Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox with her father, Korean War US Air Force combat veteran Stan Kay, at Memorial Day ceremony at Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park

One of the key lessons of the fight for the Irvine City Council’s approval of a Veterans Cemetery and Memorial in the Great Park is that Irvine needs a permanent Veterans Committee, composed solely of Irvine veterans, to advocate for veterans and advise the City and the Council on veterans’ issues.

The Ad Hoc (temporary) Veterans Cemetery Committee established by the current Council majority of Mayor Steven Choi and Councilmembers Jeffrey Lalloway and Christina Shea during the fight for approval of the Veterans Cemetery was anything but an advocate for veterans.

It all began in March, when Councilmember Larry Agran, himself a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Reserve, introduced a resolution supporting AB 1453 (creating a state Veterans Cemetery in Orange County) and, more importantly, expressing the City Council’s strong interest in locating the Veterans Cemetery in the Great Park (formerly the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro).

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Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox urging the City Council to set aside land in the Great Park as a final resting place for Orange County veterans in March 2014.

The resolution passed, over the objection of Mayor Choi, who made clear his opposition to a Veterans Cemetery in the Great Park because a big developer – FivePoint Communities – thought it might affect the prices of the homes it plans to sell in the area.

The Council then set up an Ad Hoc Committee, supposedly to identify a specific site for a Veterans Cemetery in the Great Park.

However, it soon became apparent the real purpose of the Ad Hoc Committee created by the Council majority was to delay and obstruct the search for a site in the Great Park, and at the same time to try to find a site somewhere else – anywhere else – in Orange County, in order to please the developer.

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Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox with veterans’ advocate, USMC veteran and VFW Chaplain Bill Cook

The Council majority appointed Mayor Choi as the Ad Hoc Committee vice chair – despite his publically announced opposition to a Veterans Cemetery in the Great Park because of FivePoint’s objections.

They appointed Councilmember Jeffrey Lalloway as the Committee Chair, who then insisted on placing nearly every one of his local political cronies on the Ad Hoc Committee, not one of whom is a veteran.

The only U.S. military veteran on the Irvine City Council – Councilmember Larry Agran, who was also the author of the resolution and a strong advocate for locating the Veterans Cemetery in the Great Park – was deliberately not placed on the Ad Hoc Committee.

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Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox speaking to the City Council on behalf of a Veterans Cemetery in the Great Park in April 2014

After excluding the only U.S. military veteran on the Council from the Ad Hoc committee, Choi, Lalloway and Shea insisted that a Five Point representative be included on the committee.

Only one Orange County veteran (USMC veteran and VFW Chaplain Bill Cook) and one long time veterans advocate (Isabelle Krasney) were made part of the Ad Hoc committee.

By late April, the Ad Hoc Committee created by the Irvine City Council majority had not met and had not conducted any business.  Veterans groups were becoming increasingly concerned that the Ad Hoc Committee was not interested in finding a location for a Veterans Cemetery in the Great Park, and that the Committee was a sham, set up only for show, not to take action.

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Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox with USMC veteran and veterans’ adocate Bill Sandlin

In response to the Ad Hoc Committee’s inaction, Orange County Veterans Memorial Park group (OCVMP), along with many leaders of Orange County veterans’ groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans, issued a “Call to Action” to attend the next Irvine City Council meeting, where I, among others, called on the Council to fulfill its promise to create an Orange County Veterans Cemetery in the Great Park without delay.

In mid-May, we learned that the Ad Hoc Committee still had not met because, supposedly, many of the politicians who were added by Jeff Lalloway as Ad Hoc Committee members, including Irvine Mayor Steven Choi, could not find the time for a Committee meeting in their schedules. In addition, the Ad Hoc committee refused to provide a progress report (or, rather, a lack-of-progress report).

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Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox speaks to City Council on behalf of OC veterans, urging the City Council to set aside land in the Great Park as a final resting place for Orange County veterans

I spoke to the City Council, saying that “the addition of so many players [to the ad hoc committee] seemed to me a way to hamstring the committee, to actually prevent it from reaching its stated goal, which was to find a suitable location for a Veterans Cemetery in Irvine.  This concern is exacerbated by the rancor I’ve witnessed here this evening at the mere mention of a request for a progress report. I hope that my fears are not realized and that this isn’t a way to ground the ball and run out the clock. When I last addressed the Council, I was here with my father, and when the veterans were asked to stand, he could barely stand because he had just had chemotherapy.  His passion was to come here and talk to you.  He isn’t physically able to do that for himself, so I am his voice . . . Please don’t ground the ball.  Don’t let time run out.”

Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council,votemelissafox, votemelissafox.com, veterans, Orange County veteransMy comments, as well as the comments and questions raised by numerous veterans about the seriousness of Irvine’s commitment to an Orange County Veterans Cemetery, were met with stone cold silence from the Irvine City Council majority of Choi, Lalloway and Shea.

By late July, AB1453 has sailed through the Assembly and was going through the final phases of the legislative process. Senator Lou Correa’s Senate Veterans Affairs Committee had passed the bill on June 24th and sent it to Senate Appropriations Committee with the recommendation to approve it.  The only thing missing to make an Orange County Veterans Cemetery a reality was a decision by the Irvine City Council to make a portion of the Great Park available as its location.

Yet the developer-beholden Ad Hoc Committee had done nothing since its inception in March except delay, obstruct, and attempt to prevent the cemetery from being located in the Great Park

Here is what the only two real veterans’ advocates on the Committee (Bill Cook and Isabelle Krasney) had to say in a message from the Orange County Veterans Memorial Park group:

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“We on the committee have reason to believe that our concerns as a group may be tied up in a mishmash of parliamentary procedures and legal manipulation by some members on the Ad Hoc Committee who have expressed no interest in seeing their charge through to completion. . . Unfortunately, [some] members of the Ad Hoc Committee seem to be doing their utmost to drag the process out until a target date of August 1 has come and passed. OCVMP Committee Chair Bill Cook had put a motion on the floor to present both viable site options to the Irvine City Council. Bill’s motion was ruled out of order as it was Ad Hoc Chairman Jeff Lalloway’s opinion that we had moved on to discussing the agenda items for the next Ad Hoc meeting. This undue action took the audience by surprise and resulted in a great deal of disappointment and distrust in the Ad Hoc Committee’s leadership (bear in mind that the Ad Hoc Committee Chairman is Irvine City Councilman Jeff Lalloway, the Vice-Chairman is Irvine City Mayor Steven Choi, and a third member is a representative from the Five Points Communities).  There has been too much work done and too much time spent to let the whole concept get hijacked by those who were predisposed to prevent a cemetery from being built at the outset.”

The message from the OCVMP led to the Council chamber being packed with veterans and their supporters.  Councilmember Agran then proposed a resolution designating a specific 125-acre parcel of the Great Park for future conveyance to the State of California for “purposes of establishing a Veterans Memorial Park and Cemetery”

When speaker after speaker after speaker, including Bill Cook, the only veteran on the Ad Hoc Committee, then spoke in favor of the resolution, the Council majority was forced to concede that they had been licked, that their strategy of using the Ad Hoc Committee as a means of delay and obstruction had failed.  They then voted in favor of the resolution.

What this experience teaches me is that Irvine’s veterans need a strong, permanent voice of their own in city government, not adulterated by developers or by politicians whose interests may well conflict with those of the veterans they supposedly serve.

It’s the right thing to do.

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Save Woodbridge

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Woodbridge residents are gravely concerned that new development will soon add unwanted housing and traffic congestion to Woodbridge and forever change the character of their beautiful community – without their input or consent.

Here is what the group Friends of WVC (Woodbridge Village Center) recently said in an email: “Big changes are in the works for the Woodbridge Village Center. The Irvine Company is presently evaluating options to replace the Village Center with either a residential development (most likely condominiums), or with a standard shopping center. Regardless of the option selected, the current Village Center will most likely be destroyed.”

Melissa and her son, Max, bicycling in Woodbridge.

Bicycling with my son, Max, in Woodbridge.

When Woodbridge opened on Father’s Day in 1975, it was Irvine’s premier master planned community, showcasing Irvine’s commitment to creating villages of single family homes and townhouses, with parks, greenbelts, bicycle trails, interconnecting pathways, open space, and neighborhood shopping.

By any measure, Woodbridge has been a fantastic success.

Community spirit has been,and continues to be tremendously high. Sure, there are a few problems and some things that people would like to see changed or improved.  For example, many people would like to see a new anchor store in the Village Center and new coffee houses and restaurants.

And, like most of Irvine, the WVC could use more ample and more secure bicycle parking, especially since Woodbridge has some of the most used and beautiful bikeways in the City.

But these few problems and suggested minor changes are very small in comparison to the great sense of community belonging and community pride shared by the residents of Woodbridge. Woodbridge remains one of Irvine’s most walkable, bikeable, and beautiful communities.

And, as someone wrote in OC Housing News, “the Woodbridge Center is an integral part of Irvine, connected to both lakes, Woodbridge high school and walking trails, literally in the center of Irvine.”

With Woodbridge Village Center business owner Bob Bibee at Pedego Electric Bikes Irvine.

After 40 years of success, the people of Woodbridge love their community, and they love their Woodbridge Village Center.

That’s why people are so upset by the prospect that their Village Center will be destroyed and replaced with high density apartments and condos or office buildings

What people may not realize is that the City Council has the full legal power to tell the developer that it can’t do whatever it wants to the Woodbridge Village Center, and specifically that it can’t unilaterally change the fundamental character of the community.

In fact, I believe it is the obligation of the City Council to ensure that the public interest – in preventing over-crowding, increased crime and congestion, and in preserving the character of our communities – comes before the private interests of developers, no matter how big and powerful those developers may be.

As another Woodbridge resident put it in OC Housing News, “The great recession is behind us. Time to dial back to measured growth and masterful planning such as the community was built on.”

I could not agree more.

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Questions and Answers with Irvine City Council Candidate Melissa Fox

Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox

Irvine Community Services Commissioner and City Council candidate Melissa Fox

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Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council

 

Q. What are the three things people should know about Melissa Fox?

I’m a wife, mother and daughter. I’m an attorney and I run my own law firm in Irvine. And I’m Irvine’s most enthusiastic cheerleader.

Q. What kind of law do you practice?

I’m a litigator – a lawyer who actually goes to court. My clients are usually businesses, large and small, as well as individuals who have business and contract issues. I’m also a specialist in fighting fraud – preventing bad guys from stealing, scheming or taking advantage of people through deceit and misrepresentation.

Q. Why do you choose to live in Irvine?

I was born in Orange County and first came to Irvine when I was 16 years old as a freshman at UCI. I moved away to finish school at Brandeis University in Boston and then Tulane Law School in New Orleans. I moved back to Irvine with my husband Michael when he was selected to be among the first Ph.D. students in the UCI School of the Arts. Irvine’s great schools and stellar public safety record were major factors in choosing to live here. And we loved the commitment to open spaces and parks and amazing cultural diversity. Our neighborhood is composed of people from all over the world. Irvine truly is a global village.

Q. How do you like being an Irvine Community Services Commissioner?

I love being an Irvine Community Services Commissioner! I was brought up to believe in public service. My father was in the United States Air Force flying bombers in the Korean War. Afterwards, he became a police officer and then an inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. My mother was a nurse and then a librarian. My parents instilled in me a strong belief in public service. I’ve been an Orange County Reserve Park Ranger, a volunteer with Cub Scouts and Sea Scouts, and a board member of Beckman High School Football and Wrestling Boosters. I’m an active member of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce, where I love celebrating new business openings. So when I had the opportunity to become an Irvine Community Services Commissioner, I jumped at the chance.

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Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox welcoming OC Blues FC to Irvine

As a Commissioner, I’ve been able to make sure that new developments provide ample open space and park facilities for both children and adults. I’ve also been able to work with community leaders on planning and getting the go-ahead for a new Adventure Playground. Plus, I really love supporting Irvine’s community events — from the Irvine Korean Festival to the Diwali (Indian) celebration to New Year’s at the Irvine Chinese School to the Memorial Day ceremonies at Bill Barber Park and the Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial. I have the privilege of representing our City at many of these events.

Q. Tell us about the “Irvine Food Tours” you’ve led as a Commissioner.

Irvine is home to scores of remarkable locally-owned restaurants featuring cuisine as diverse as Irvine’s population. But many people who live in Irvine aren’t aware of the great restaurants we have, or perhaps they’re a little uncertain about trying food they haven’t eaten before. So UCI Professor Catherine Liu and I decided to create the Irvine Food Tour, where we visit a local restaurant and the owner or chef selects the menu and explains the food as it is brought to us. So far, we’ve done Food Tours to Japanese, Chinese, Hawaiian, and Middle Eastern restaurants. The Irvine Food Tour is also a great way to support local businesses and to connect local business owners with the community. I definitely plan to continue with the Irvine Food Tour after I’m elected to the City Council.

Q. You were very active in the movement to create a Veterans Cemetery in the Great Park. Why does that cause matter so much to you?

rvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox with her father, Korean War veteran Stan Kay, at Memorial Day ceremony at Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park

Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox with her father, Korean War veteran Stan Kay, at Memorial Day ceremony at Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park

As the daughter of a combat veteran, I know what veterans have sacrificed for our nation. Orange County veterans do not have their own official military cemetery and those who want to visit a veteran’s grave in a veterans cemetery must travel to Riverside, San Diego or Los Angeles. When a bill introduced in the Assembly to remedy this problem by creating a Veterans Cemetery in Orange County, I decided to do whatever I could to make it a reality. It’s time that Orange County offered its veterans a final resting place close to their families and loved ones. And, as an Irvine resident, I strongly believe that a portion of the Great Park in Irvine, which was once the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, is the perfect location for a Veterans Cemetery and a fitting memorial to Irvine’s proud military heritage.

I spoke to the City Council in support of a Veterans Cemetery in March, April and May, and attended the subcommittee meetings. It often seemed to me that the Council majority cared more about developers’ desire for more profit than about the veterans. I was thrilled when the City Council in July voted 5-0 to approve 125 acres in the Great Park as a military cemetery. Our veterans won a great victory, but the battle isn’t over. The developer still will not allow a Veterans Cemetery to be located in the Great Park unless the pressure from the veterans continues and the Council backs the veterans. That’s not going happen with the current pro-developer Council majority. So we need to stay vigilant and we need to make our support for a Veterans Cemetery clear with our vote in November.

We also need to do more for our veterans across-the-board. Irvine is home to thousands of military veterans. They should be represented within Irvine’s city government by an advisory committee expressly dedicated to the unique needs and perspective of the men and women who have served and are serving in our nation’s armed forces. That’s why one of the very first things I’ll do once I’m elected to the City Council is create a permanent Irvine Veterans Advisory Council to provide advocacy for veterans and to advise the Council on issues of importance to veterans and their families.

Q. Why are you running for Irvine City Council?

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Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council

As a business owner, attorney and City Commissioner, I understand the relationship between strong, pro-resident leadership and our Irvine quality of life. Runaway development is negatively impacting our schools, traffic flow, public safety, and our quality of life – all the reasons we choose to make Irvine our home.  We need smarter growth that protects and preserves what has made Irvine such a special place to live, work and raise our families.

I also want to safeguard Irvine’s standing as a world-class city in education and public safety. I want to ensure every public dollar is wisely budgeted and accounted for, using my skills as a business attorney specializing in fighting fraud. I want to promote Irvine businesses, large and small.

And, finally, I’m going to make very sure that a Veterans Memorial Park and Cemetery is actually created in the Great Park.

I will keep my eyes focused on Irvine’s future – creating opportunities, solving real problems, and producing concrete results.

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UCI Sets “Green” Example for City of Irvine

UCI aerial.01

Congratulations to the Univerisity of California, Irvine, on its selection as the 2014 “Greenest School in the Nation,” according to the Sierra Club’s magazine. The Sierra Club is the nation’s largest and oldest environmental organization.

The decision was based on a survey of America’s four-year degree-granting undergraduate colleges conducted by four organizations: the Sierra Club, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI), and the Princeton Review.

President Obama speaking at UC Irvine 2014

UCI came in first out of the 173 colleges that completed the survey by scoring 813.51 out of a possible total of 1000 points.

According to the Sierra Club Magazine, “In 2008, UC Irvine vowed to improve its energy efficiency by 20 percent by 2020, then hit that target seven years early, making it the first U.S. school to achieve that goal. Then administrators doubled down by pledging an additional 20 percent energy reduction by 2020. Helping the matter: three on-site solar power projects and a 19-megawatt cogeneration plant with turbines powered by combustion and steam. The school’s water-recycling program saves more than 210 million gallons per year.”

This recent recognition by the Sierra Club comes just a few weeks after President Obama, at his UCI Commencement Address, lauded UC Irvine for “set[ing] up the first Earth System Science Department in America. A UC Irvine professor-student team won the Nobel Prize for discovering that CFCs destroy the ozone layer.  A UC Irvine glaciologist’s work led to one of last month’s report showing one of the world’s major ice sheets in irreversible retreat. Students and professors are in the field working to predict changing weather patterns, fire seasons, and water tables – working to understand how shifting seasons affect global ecosystems; to get zero-emission vehicles on the road faster; to help coastal communities adapt to rising seas. And when I challenge colleges to reduce their energy use to 20 percent by 2020, UC Irvine went ahead and did it last year.  Done.  So UC Irvine is ahead of the curve. All of you are ahead of the curve.”

To me, one of UCI’s most impressive “green” achievements is ZotWheels, an  innovative bike sharing system.  As UCI explains, ZotWheels is “the first automated self-service bike share program in California . . .  Almost a pound of tailpipe emissions will be saved for every mile a member rides a bike instead of driving.  Bike sharing allows faculty, students, and staff an alternative to driving when making short-distance trips during the work and school day, as well as addressing important issues such as health and environmental sustainability, the future of transportation, and promoting community building on campus. Bike sharing already exists in many European cities, such as Paris and Barcelona. Take our bikes for a short ride around the inner ring, to the park, to a meeting, or to class.  ZotWheels are meant to be shared; so rent one, ride it, return it and repeat any time you want to bring a little fun to your day!”

Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox at 2013 Solar Decathlon

Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox at Solar Decathlon

The City of Irvine has a lot to learn from UC Irvine’s accomplishments.

The City of Irvine ought to be a leader in creating sustainable communities that incorporate smart growth principles, public transit and active transportation access to work, parks, shopping and recreation. Our heritage as a master planned community and our long-standing commitment to well-planned smart growth ought to make Irvine a natural leader in promoting green building practices and smart growth principles.

Unfortunately, in recent years we have set our environmental goals too low.  Nor is the current council majority committed to smart, green growth, instead approving frantic growth and development at any cost.

The result of the current council’s rubber-stamping of developers’ proposals has been runaway development of housing tracts and apartments causing terrible traffic and overcrowded schools – posing a clear and present danger to our quality of life.

Irvine is positioned to become a leader in renewable energy use.  Last year, the Solar Decathlon was held for first time outside of Washington, D.C. – at the Great Park, in Irvine. Despite a lukewarm, anti-environmentally conscious majority on the city council, the event was successful.  The 2015 Solar Decathlon will be held once again here in Irvine. And a team from Orange County, led by UC Irvine, will be in the competition.  This time, with an enthusiastic and committed city council and thoughtful promotion and planning, the event could have much more wide-ranging and economically beneficial impact for the city.  But before that can happen – and before Irvine can claim the title of the nation’s energy innovation capitol – we must elect a city council committed to making solar and renewable energy a far more significant energy source for Irvine’s city buildings, homes and businesses.

So congratulations UC Irvine!  You’ve shown us the direction that the City of Irvine should be taking.

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It’s Official! Melissa Fox Files for Irvine City Council

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It’s official!  Yesterday I filed the paperwork to qualify as a candidate for Irvine City Council.

Here is the press release we sent out:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jason Mills (714) 576-4303

Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox Files for Irvine City Council

Irvine Business-Owner and Attorney the Top Fundraiser Among Candidates

Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox announced her filing for Irvine City Council on Friday. Fox has also filed her campaign finance reports, showing her to be the top fundraiser among all candidates – even outpacing two council incumbents running for re-election.

“I’ve been tremendously encouraged by the support our campaign has received,” Fox said. “People in Irvine are responsive to a message that focuses on restoring smart growth and community-oriented planning. I’m very proud of the work we’ve done so far and excited about ramping up our campaign and focusing on the November election.”

An Irvine business-owner and attorney, Fox has also been holding neighborhood meet-and-greets across the city after opening up her campaign committee last year. In listening to residents from across the political spectrum, she has heard the same complaints about the direction of the city.

“People think that the current council is rubber-stamping too much development in the city. New housing tracts and apartment buildings are springing up over-night — they aren’t seeing the thought and planning that has made Irvine so special,” Melissa added. “People don’t move to Irvine to sit in traffic and send their kids to over-crowded schools. As a member of the City Council, I pledge to address the runaway development that’s threatening our quality of life.  I will be a strong pro-resident voice on the Council.”

Fox also pledges to ensure every public dollar is wisely budgeted and accounted for using her skills as a business attorney specializing in fighting fraud; promote Irvine businesses, large and small; and safeguard Irvine’s standing as a world-class city in education and public safety.

Melissa Fox is the daughter of a Korean War combat veteran and has been active in advocating for a Veterans Cemetery and Memorial Park in the Great Park.

Melissa Fox lives with her husband, Dr. Michael Fox, their son, Max, and their Siberian Husky, Scout, in the Northwood Park area of Irvine.

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A Magical Evening Aboard the USS Iowa

I had the pleasure this past weekend of attending the first Western Region Sea Scouts Bridge of Honor, held aboard the battleship USS Iowa in the Port of Los Angeles.

A Bridge of Honor recognizes advancement and other achievements earned by Sea Scouts – the co-ed, nautical program of the Boy Scouts of America.

At this Bridge of Honor, several Sea Scouts were recognized for achieving the Quartermaster Award (the highest award in Sea Scouts) and many more were recognized for achieving the ranks of Apprentice, Ordinary and Able.

I was in attendance because my son, Max, received his rank of Ordinary, and because my husband serves as Commodore for our area of the Western Region Sea Scouts.  I also serve as a Sea Scout adult volunteer for Sea Scout Ship 90 at the Newport Sea Base.

The early evening ceremony aboard the USS Iowa was breathe-taking. There could be no more majestic location than the deck of one of America’s mightiest battleships, which earned nine battle stars for World War Two service and two battle stars for Korean War service, and which carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Admiral D. William Leahy, General George C. Marshall, Admiral Ernest King, and General Henry “Hap” Arnold to the Tehran Conference in the midst of World War II.

Along with more than 100 Sea Scouts from across the West, National Sea Scout Executive Keith Christopher was present, as was the Sea Scouts National Commodore (and retired Coast Guard Vice Admiral) Charles D. Wurster.  I was tremendously proud when Admiral Wurster and Western Region Commodore Josh Gilliland congratulated Max.

I was also tremendously impressed by the enthusiasm, focus, patriotism, and camaraderie of these young Sea Scouts dressed in their best dress whites and dress blues — and by their love of the sea and adventure.

It was magical to watch them dancing in the twilight on the deck of the Iowa to the sounds of a live swing band.

Truly an amazing evening – with the USS Iowa to remind us of the greatness of our past and these young men and women of the Sea Scouts ready, eager and able to secure the greatness of our future.

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Call for Action: Support Our Veterans at the July 22 Irvine City Council Meeting and Urge the Irvine City Council to Designate a Portion of the Great Park for the Orange County Veterans Cemetery

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If you agree that our Orange County veterans deserve a final resting place close to their families and loved ones, and that a portion of the Great Park in Irvine, which was once Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, would be an altogether fitting and proper location for this Orange County Veterans Cemetery, as well as a lasting memorial to the Great Park’s military heritage, please attend the Irvine City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 22, beginning at 5:00 PM, make your voices heard!

This may be our last, best chance to create a veterans cemetery in a portion of the Great Park that was formerly the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro.

Orange County has a long and proud military tradition. More than two million veterans live in California – more than in any other state. This military tradition continues into the present, as nearly 7,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars live in Orange County.

Yet Orange County veterans do not have their own official military cemetery and those in Orange County who want to visit a veteran’s grave in a national cemetery must travel to Riverside, San Diego or Los Angeles counties. We are the state’s largest county with no dedicated burial ground for its combat veterans and other servicemen and women.

Last January, California Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silver introduced a bill (AB 1453) to right this wrong and create a state-owned and state-operated veterans’ cemetery in Orange County.

For several years, a group of Orange County veterans has urged that a veterans cemetery be located in the Great Park, on land which from 1942 to 1999 served as Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, and where an estimated 2 million men and women served this nation in peace and war.

When Assembly Member Quirk-Silva’s Orange County veterans cemetery bill was introduced, the Great Park in Irvine seemed to them – and to many others –  to be the perfect and most appropriate location.

The question was, would the City of Irvine – which owns and controls this land – make it available for a veterans cemetery?  This is still the question now.

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Melissa Fox in March 2014 addressing the Irvine City Council in support of locating an Orange County veterans cemetery in the Great Park (the former MCAS El Toro).

When the matter of the location of the veterans cemetery first come before the Irvine City Council in March, I wrote that “as the daughter of an Orange County Korean War combat veteran, I strongly support this bill [to create an Orange County veterans cemetery]. It is time that Orange County offered its veterans – who have sacrificed so much for us – a final resting place close to their families and loved ones.”

I also wrote that “as an Irvine resident, I believe that a portion of the Great Park in Irvine, which was once the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, would be an altogether fitting and proper location for this Orange County Veterans Cemetery, as well as a lasting memorial to the Great Park’s military heritage.”

In addition, I personally addressed the Irvine City Council and urged them to support AB 1453. I was also tremendously proud that my father joined with many other Orange County veterans and spoke to the Irvine City Council, urging them to support a veterans cemetery in a portion of the Great Park.

The Irvine City Council then narrowly voted 3-2 to support AB 1453 and call for the establishment of the Southern California Veterans Cemetery in Orange County, to express the City’s strong interest in providing at least 100 acres of land at the Orange County Great Park (formerly MCAS El Toro), and to form an ad hoc committee to see if a suitable location is feasible in and around the Great Park.

However, instead of creating a committee composed of council members and a few interested parties, at Council Member Jeff Lalloway’s insistence the committee was composed of numerous politicians, including Irvine Mayor Choi, who had opposed establishing a veterans cemetery at the Great Park because it might make it more difficult for a developer, FivePoint Communities, to sell homes in the area.  Council Member Larry Agran, who had proposed that Irvine make at least 100 acres of the Great Park available for an Orange County veterans cemetery, was left off the committee.

By April, it appeared that the committee created by the Irvine City Council was not actually interested in finding a location for a veterans cemetery in the Great Park. The veterans of the Orange County Veterans Memorial Park group, along with many leaders of Orange County veterans’ groups, issued a “Call to Action” to attend the Irvine City Council meeting.

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Melissa Fox in April 2014 addressing the Irvine City Council in support of locating an Orange County veterans cemetery in the Great Park (the former MCAS El Toro).

I again addressed the Irvine City Council, again urging them to provide Orange County veterans with a final resting place close to their families and loved ones, and to designate a portion of the Great Park in Irvine, which was once the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, as an altogether fitting and proper location for this Orange County Veterans Cemetery, as well as a lasting memorial to the Great Park’s military heritage.

In May, on learning that ad hoc committee set up by the Irvine City Council to establish an Orange County Veterans Cemetery had not even had its first meeting because some politicians who were added as committee members could not find the time in their schedules, I wrote that the Irvine City Council should fulfill its promise to create an Orange County veterans cemetery without any further delay.

I noted that there is now profound concern in the veteran community that the unnecessarily large committee formed by the Irvine City Council, based on Council Member Jeffrey Lalloway’s insistence on including numerous politicians, is a sham, set only up for show and delay, not to take action.

Speaking again to the City Council, I said that “the addition of so many players seemed to me a way to hamstring the committee, to actually prevent it from reaching its stated goal, which was to find a suitable location for a veterans cemetery in Irvine. This concern is exacerbated by the rancor I’ve witnessed here this evening at the mere mention of a request for a progress report. I hope that my fears are not realized and that this isn’t a way to ground the ball and run out the clock. When I last addressed the Council, I was here with my father, and when the veterans were asked to stand, he could barely stand because he had just had chemotherapy. His passion was to come here and talk to you. He isn’t physically able to do that for himself, so I am his voice . . . Please don’t ground the ball. Don’t let time run out.”

My comments, as well as the comments and questions raised by numerous veterans, about the seriousness of Irvine’s commitment to an Orange County veterans cemetery, were met with stone cold silence from the Irvine City Council.

We have now arrived at another crossroads.

AB1453 has sailed through the Assembly and is now going through the final phases of the legislative process. Senator Lou Correa’s Senate Veterans Affairs Committee passed the bill on June 24th and sent it to Senate Appropriations Committee with the recommendation to approve it. To date, there have been zero “no” votes on this bill.

Now, the only thing missing to make an Orange County veterans cemetery a reality is a decision by the Irvine City Council to make a portion of the Great Park  – the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro  – available as its location.

This Tuesday, July 22, Irvine City Council Member Larry Agran intends to propose a resolution designating a specific 125-acre parcel at the Great Park the Orange County veterans cemetery.  He has also prepared a Memorandum in support of this proposal and map of the proposed veterans cemetery site within the Great Park.

Once this resolution is adopted by the Irvine City Council, AB 1453 will likely pass through the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 4th with an appropriation of funds. Then, it’s on to the Governor’s desk for signature. The Orange County Veterans Cemetery — appropriately located in a portion of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro — would be a done deal.

But we have serious concerns that the same group of developer-beholden politicians who have thus far delayed and stymied the process will prevent the Great Park location from being selected — unless large numbers people show up on July 22 and tell the Irvine City Council that they must support the resolution to designating the 125-acre site in the Great Park as the Orange County veterans cemetery.

Here is what a leader of Orange County Veterans Memorial Park group has to say:

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“We need your help! Next Tuesday  – July 22  – the next Irvine City Council meeting will be held. The OCVMP committee is asking for all veterans and all of our supporters to attend this most important meeting as the issue of the Veterans Cemetery at the Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro promises to be the hot topic.

We on the committee have reason to believe that our concerns as a group may be tied up in a mishmash of parliamentary procedures and legal manipulation by some members on the Ad Hoc Committee who have expressed no interest in seeing their charge through to completion. . . Unfortunately, [some] members of the Ad Hoc Committee seem to be doing their utmost to drag the process out until a target date of August 1 has come and passed. OCVMP Committee Chair Bill Cook had put a motion on the floor to present both viable site options to the Irvine City Council. Bill’s motion was ruled out of order as it was Ad Hoc Chairman Jeff Lalloway’s opinion that we had moved on to discussing the agenda items for the next Ad Hoc meeting. This undue action took the audience by surprise and resulted in a great deal of disappointment and distrust in the Ad Hoc Committee’s leadership (bear in mind that the Ad Hoc Committee Chairman is Irvine City Councilman Jeff Lalloway, the Vice-Chairman is Irvine City Mayor Steven Choi, and a third member is a representative from the Five Points Communities). It is our hope and our goal that we can expedite the process and get the issue to the next level in the approval and funding process. Please join us in this worthwhile endeavor. There has been too much work done and too much time spent to let the whole concept get hijacked by those who were predisposed to prevent a cemetery from being built at the outset. We are YOUR veterans, and we need your support.”

This is not  – and should not be  – a partisan issue. I agree completely with blogger Jeff Gallagher that “the only ones who don’t think placing a veterans cemetery at the Great Park is appropriate are those who desperately want the income that would be lost by establishing one [and the politicians who are doing their bidding].”

“We think MCAS El Toro is the most appropriate location to honor our veterans. . . .Surely, the time has come to bring this dream to fruition. Every veterans organization from the Orange County Veterans Advisory Council to The American Legion, to the Veterans of Foreign Wars are actively involved with this project. More than 200 veterans and interested persons showed up to hear Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva’s update on AB1453 and efforts to put this plan together. Importantly, Quirk-Silva said AB1453 is just the beginning. Once the legislative authority has been granted, money still needs to be raised. Hope lies in the Feds who, although they won’t establish a cemetery here, will provide grant money to allow the state to establish and run one. Speaking as a veteran, I don’t really care one way or the other where the money comes from. The important thing is to honor our veterans by giving them a final resting place near their home. By rights, that resting place should be on, what The American Legion 29th District Commander, Bill Cook, called “Sacred Ground.”

The Irvine City Council needs to know that Orange County veterans and their families and supporters are not going to fade away.

Marine Corps veteran Nick Berardino, General Manager of the Orange County Employees’ Association, has has announced that the OCEA will be there with their hot dog cart from about 3:30 PM until the meeting starts around 5:00 PM. The OCEA is providing free hot dogs and condiments to all attendees as long as the hot dogs last.

What: Support an Orange County Veterans Cemetery in the Great Park (the former MCAS El Toro).
Where: The Irvine Civic Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606
When: The meeting will start at 5:00 pm. If you want a seat in the Council Chambers you may want to arrive earlier.

Please share this information with your Facebook friends and e-mail contacts.

See you there!

UPDATE 

We just received the following information from American Legion 29th District Chaplain Bill Cook:

• The Irvine City Council meeting starts at 4:00 pm with a closed session;  open session will start at 5:00 pm.  We expect the cemetery vote around 6:00 pm.

• Overflow parking, with shuttle service, will be provided from Creekside High School at Harvard/Barranca.

• Water will be provided in the courtyard to go with the great OCEA hot dogs

• Extra motorcycle parking area will be provided.

• Video connections will be provided in the conference room and lobby for overflow, if the chambers get full.

• Plenty of speaker cards will be available, and all speakers will be accommodated. Wanna speak? Fill out a speaker card!

• Spread the word!

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How to Inspire Millions More Americans to Ride Bicycles

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[Traffic congestion is increasing in Irvine. This article by Jay Walljasper, originally posted by PeopleforBikes, looks at ways that other cities have found to reduce traffic congestion by taking steps that encourage and increase bicycle ridership. It is re-posted here with the author’s permission.  I’m proud that Irvine has been rated as a “Silver” bicycle-friendly city by League of American Bicyclists, but we can do better. As a member of the Irvine City Council,  I will work to cut traffic congestion,  increase our active transportation options, encourage bicycle riding for commuting and recreation, and improve safety for drivers, bike riders and pedestrians. — Melissa]

Washington, D.C.

You can see big changes happening across America as communities from Fairbanks to St. Petersburg transform their streets into appealing places for people, not just cars and trucks.

“Over the past five years we’re seeing an infrastructure revolution, a rethinking of our streets to accommodate more users — busways, public plazas, space for pedestrians and, of course, bike lanes,” says David Vega-Barachowitz of the National Association of City Transportation Officials. “More protected bike lanes is one of the most important parts of this.”

Protected bike lanes separate people on bikes from rushing traffic with concrete curbs, plastic bollards or other means — and sometimes offer additional safety measures such as special bike traffic lights and painted crossing lanes at intersections. Protected bike lanes help riders feel less exposed to danger, and are also appreciated by drivers and pedestrians, who know where to expect bicycles. Streets work better when everyone has a clearly defined space.

The continuing evolution of bicycling

Protected bike lanes are standard practice in the Netherlands, where 27 percent of all trips throughout the country are made on bicycles. That’s because more women, kids and seniors along with out-of-shape, inexperienced riders feel comfortable biking on the streets. Dutch bike ridership has doubled since the 1980s, when protected bike lanes began to be built in large numbers.

Chicago

American communities, by contrast, paint bike lanes on the street, often squeezed between parked cars and busy traffic. With just a white line dividing bicyclists from vehicles, it’s no surprise that only a small percentage of Americans currently bike for transportation.

“Conventional bike lanes have not worked well to get new people on bikes — they serve mostly those already biking,” says Martha Roskowski, vice president of local innovation for PeopleForBikes. “It’s time to evolve the bike lane.”

Nearly two-thirds of Americans would bicycle more if they felt safer on the streets, reports the Federal Highway Administration. Protected bike lanes, along with public bike share systems, are two of the best ways to get more people out on bikes, according to a growing chorus of transportation leaders.

Protected lanes have recently popped up in more than 30 communities across the U.S. from Munhall, Pennsylvania, to Temple City, California, with many additional projects set to open later this year.

Bicycling Goes Mainstream

Montreal is North America’s pioneer in protected lanes. Inspired by Dutch, Danish and German examples, the city established a network of protected lanes that now covers more than 30 miles. The idea began to stir Americans’ imaginations in 2007 when New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan launched plans to tame the city’s mean streets. New York has since built 43 miles of protected lanes, with measurable results in safer streets and rising bike ridership.

New York’s first protected lanes provoked fierce opposition from a few people, but Paul White of the local bike and pedestrian advocacy group Transportation Alternative says the public debate has now shifted to “Where’s mine? How come that neighborhood has safe streets and we don’t — don’t my kids matter as much as theirs?”

Washington, D.C.

Chicago aims to catch up with New York, and has recently opened 23 miles of protected lanes. San Francisco has built 12 miles so far. “Wherever we can, we try to put in protected bike lanes,” stresses Seleta Reynolds, former Section Leader of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency who oversaw the installation of many of San Francisco’s protected bike lanes. Reynolds was recently tapped by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to head the City’s Department of Transportation.

Other leaders in the field are Austin with 9 miles and Washington, DC with 7 miles, including a highly visible route down Pennsylvania Avenue leading to the U.S. Capitol, which has tripled the number of people riding bikes on the street. More protected bike lanes are planned or under construction in all of these cities.

This year more than 100 cities submitted proposals to PeopleForBikes to be part of the Green Lane Project, a competitive fellowship which offers cities financial, strategic and technical assistance valued at $250,000 per city to build or expand protected bike networks during a two-year period. Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Seattle were selected in March to be the second round of Green Lane Project cities.

Just-released research on protected bike lanes in five of the first-round Green Lane Project cities (Chicago, San Francisco, Austin, Washington D.C. and Portland) shows why so many communities are eager to follow their lead. The federal Department of Transportation-funded study found an increase of ridership from 21 to 142 percent on streets featuring protected lanes in the first year, with an average increase of 75 percent. Meanwhile evaluation of protected bike lanes by the city of New York found that traffic injuries declined for all road users (not just bicyclists) by an average of forty percent.

Beyond the white stripe

What about the conventional bike lanes painted on the pavement — that simple white stripe we’ve grown used to? “They are the camel’s nose in the tent for growing bike use,” because they legitimize bicycling as transportation in the eyes of prospective riders and remind motorists to share the road, says Randy Neufeld, director of the SRAM Cycling Fund.

San Francisco

“Conventional bike lanes can work very well on a two-lane street with light traffic and slow speeds,” notes Roskowski. “But they are not enough for busy streets and fast traffic, which need an extra degree of separation between bicycles and motor vehicles.”

That’s the logic embraced by Dutch traffic engineers, which has doubled the number of bicyclists in the Netherlands. According to the Dutch Design Manual for Bicycle Traffic, physical separation of bicyclists from motor vehicles is recommended for any urban street with more than two lanes or where the speed limit exceeds 50 km per hour (31 mph).

One problem with conventional bike lanes is that they raise expectations beyond what they can deliver. “Cities all over the country painted stripes on busy streets, and when these lanes attract only a modest increase in bicyclists, city officials conclude there is only limited interest in bicycling,” notes PeopleForBikes president Tim Blumenthal. “A lot of people just won’t venture out on busy roads without a greater level of protection from traffic. That’s where protected bike lanes come in.”

Protected bike lanes benefit everyone, not just people riding bikes

“We are at a turning point in how we think about bikes,” notes Martha Roskowksi. “This change is being driven by cities preparing for the future. Mayors, elected officials, business leaders and citizens want their cities to be resilient, sustainable and attractive, and they realize bikes and protected bike lanes can help achieve that. These new bike lanes make the streets safer for everyone and improve city life for people who will never even get on a bike.”

Irvine

Here are some of the benefits of protected bike lanes enjoyed by the entire community:

Attract and Keep a Talented Workforce: Richard Florida, originator of the Creative Class strategy for urban prosperity, contends that safe, convenient bike lanes are important to communities that want to attract entrepreneurs and sought-after workers in creative fields — not just young hipsters, but those with kids too. “Traffic-free bike paths become especially important to them,” Florida said about young families in the New York Daily News.

Expand Economic Opportunities: Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel promised to build 100 miles of protected bike lanes in his first term as part of a strategy to attract high-tech firms to the city. In Austin, Texas, Cirrus Logic, a computer company, moved from the suburbs to downtown two years ago because the area’s bike trails and plans for protected lanes made the firm “more attractive as an employer,” explains PR director Bill Schnell. “We can’t just pluck anybody for our jobs. The people we want are mostly younger, and biking is part of the equation for them.”

Boost Local Businesses: A study of protected bike lanes on 9th Avenue in New York City showed a 49 percent increase in retail sales at businesses on the street. Another study in San Francisco found 65 percent of merchants on Valencia Street reporting that protected bike lanes were good for business. A study done in Portland shows that customers arriving on bike buy 24 percent more at local businesses than those who drive.

Irvine

Make the Streets Safer for Everyone: Not only are fewer bicyclists involved in accidents on streets with protected lanes, but pedestrians and motorists are safer too. A study of Columbus Avenue in New York City after protected bike lanes were added found a 34 percent decline in overall crashes.

Save Municipalities Money: Building protected bike lanes to move more people is “dirt cheap to build compared to road projects,” says Gabe Klein, former transportation commissioner in Chicago and Washington, D.C. Cities of all sizes find that protected lanes can serve more people using existing infrastructure without the economic and environmental costs of widening streets.

Reduce Tension Between Bicyclists and Motorists: “If you actually give bicyclists a designated place in the road, they behave in a way that’s more conducive for everyone getting along,” explains Jim Merrell, campaign manager for the Chicago’s Active Transportation Alliance. He points to recent findings that bicyclists stop for red lights 161 percent more often at special bike signals on the city’s new Dearborn Avenue protected lanes. And a study of protected lanes on Chicago’s Kinzie Street shows that half of cyclists report improved motorist behavior on the street.

Ease Traffic Congestion: Chad Crager, interim Bicycling Program Manager in Austin, calculated that the city’s ambitious network of protected lanes will create significantly more street capacity downtown if only 15 percent of commuters living within three miles of downtown switch from cars to bikes and just seven percent of those living three-to-nine miles.

Decrease Pollution & Curb Climate Change: A person traveling four miles to work and four miles back on a bike every day instead of a car means 2000 pounds less carbon (which translates to a five percent reduction downsizing the average Americans’ carbon footprint) and reductions in other pollutants fouling our air, according the Worldwatch Institute.

[Don’t forget — we can talk about increasing bicycle ridership and cutting traffic congestion in Irvine (or about something entirely different) at our up-coming Irvine “Wine & Dine” Bike Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox! on Friday, July 18th at 6:00 PM when we’ll meet for dinner, e-biking, and wine tasting at Pedego Irvine.  Click here for details!]

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Join Us on an Irvine “Wine & Dine” Bike Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox!

pedego-junction-electricJoin us on Friday, July 18th, at 6:00 PM for a terrific summer evening starting with a light dinner before we ride into the sunset on an electric bike tour of some of Irvine’s most picturesque bikeways!

It’s the Irvine “Wine & Dine” Bike Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox!

First, we’ll meet at Pedego Irvine, at 4624 Barranca Parkway, Irvine 92604

melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council

Irvine Community Services Commissioner Melissa Fox with Irvine Pedego owner Bob Bibee.

Then, we’ll have a light catered dinner.

Next, we’ll ride our Pedego Electric Bicycles on a sunset tour of Irvine’s bikeways.

Lastly, we’ll return to Pedego Irvine for a wine tasting provided by a boutique winery!

Cost is only $30 for a Mediterranean wrap, salad and hummus, electric bike rental, and wine tasting!

Please RSVP for dinner to Farrah at 323-428-3611.

We hope to see you there!

Did you know that Irvine has 301 miles of on-street bike lanes and 54 miles of off-street bikeways. Our bicycle trails are some of the most beautiful and peaceful places in Irvine.

Also, Irvine been rated as “Silver” Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.  This makes Irvine the most bicycle-friendly city in Southern California — and we can do ever better!

Electric bicycles provided by Pedego Irvine. Pedego Electric Bicycles are made right here in Irvine!

What: Irvine “Wine & Dine” Bike Tour with Commissioner Melissa Fox!

Co-Hosted by UCI Professor Catherine Liu.

When: Friday, July 18th at 6:00 PM

Where: Meet-up at Pedego Irvine, 4624 Barranca Parkway, Irvine 92604

Cost: $30 for dinner, electric bike rental, and wine tasting!

 

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July 4th: The Truths We Hold

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“We hold these Truths to be self-evident

that all Men are created equal

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights

that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men

deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

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Irvine’s Farmers’ Markets Keep Growing: Two New Markets Join Old Favorites — with Update on Fast Food and Fast Growth at University Town Center

Melissa Fox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.com, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox blog, Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council

I love farmers’ markets.

I love buying fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, and bread for my family.  I love talking to the vendors, especially those from nearby farms.  I love talking to other shoppers about recipes, about what’s in season, what’s really organic, what’s local, and what’s going on in our community.

Melissa Fox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.com, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox blog, Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council Orange County Farm Bureau certified farmers’ markets are guaranteed to be the real thing – places where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts and vegetables directly to the public.  Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure he/she actually grows the produce being sold.

The California Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets has some great tips for farmers’ market shoppers (like “When you first arrive, walk through the entire market and look at all the offerings before you buy. There are many differences in prices for the same produce type and quality” and “If the farmer is not too busy, do not hesitate to ask questions about recipes or growing methods. You might even get to know each other’s names.”) Check out these shopping tips here.

We are fortunate in Irvine to have had several excellent certified farmers’ markets for many years – and now we have two more!

Melissa Fox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.com, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox blog, Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council The two farmers markets in Irvine that have been around for quite a while are:

Certified Farmers’ Market at University Town Center at the corner of Bridge and Campus, Irvine 92612 (across from UCI).

Day and Time: Saturdays, 8:00 AM – 12:00 Noon (rain or shine).

Orange County Farm Bureau Certified: Yes.

Contact: Manager: Trish Harrison. Tel: 714-573-0374. Email: ocfb@sbcglobal.net.

Melissa Fox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.com, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox blog, Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council

Shoppers at the Great Park Farmers’ Market, open Sundays 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

We used to shop at the farmers’ market at University Town Center all the time when my husband was studying for his Ph.D. at UC Irvine.

Certified Farmers’ Market at the Great Park, Irvine 92618 (Marine Way off Sand Canyon).

[Note: Access to the Great Park via Marine Way is now closed off until at least July 27, 2014, and visitors need to use an alternative route, entering via Trabuco Road at Sand Canyon Avenue].

Melissa Fox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.com, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox blog, Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council

Day and Time: Sundays, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (rain or shine).

Orange County Farm Bureau Certified: Yes.

Contact: Manager Mary Senske. Tel: 949-724-7403. Email: ocgpfm@verizon.net.

The Great Park Farmers’ Market is now our family’s main farmers’ market.  We love being able to bring our Siberian Husky, Scout, eat a lunch we’ve bought from the vendors or one of many food trucks, and listen to live music.

Melissa Fox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.com, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox blog, Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council

The two new farmers’ markets in Irvine (which we have not yet personally visited) are:

Irvine Crossroads Certified Farmers’ Market at 3750 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine 92606 (between Culver and Harvard).

Day and Time: Sundays, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (rain or shine).

Orange County Farm Bureau Certified: Yes.

Contact: Managers Melissa Farwell and Katie Rogers. Tel: 818-591-8161. Email: info@rawinspiration.org.

Update: I have now visited the Irvine Crossroads Farmers’ Market.  Although it is not large, the produce is fresh and the vendors are friendly.  Recommended!

Irvine Square Certified Farmers’ Market at 17901 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine 92614 (MacArthur and Main).

Day and Time: Sundays, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (rain or shine).

Orange County Farm Bureau Certified: Yes.

Contact: Managers Melissa Farwell and Katie Rogers. Tel: 818-591-8161. Email: info@rawinspiration.org.

According to the Irvine Company, at the new farmers’ markets you will be able to “Shop a variety of offerings from local purveyors including: locally grown fruits and vegetables; freshly baked artisanal breads and pastries; olive oil, hummus, tapenades, and garlic spreads; fresh fish, free-range/grass-fed beef, and grilled sausages; dried fruits and nuts; fresh cut flowers; and more.”

Sounds great!

If you see me at one of our Irvine farmers’ markets, please say hello!

Photos of the Great Park Farmers’ Market by (c) Geoff Fox.

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President Obama’s UCI Speech on Climate Change Highlights Irvine’s Role as a Leader in Energy Innovation

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“And I’m here to tell you, don’t believe the cynicism. Guard against it. Don’t buy into it. Today, I want to use one case study to show you that progress is possible and perseverance is critical. I want to show you how badly we need you — both your individual voices and your collective efforts — to give you the chance you seek to change the world, and maybe even save it.”  — President Barack Obama, UC Irvine Graduation, 2014.

When President Obama spoke to our 2014 UC Irvine graduates last week, he chose to focus what he called “one of the most significant long-term challenges that our country and our planet faces:  the growing threat of a rapidly changing climate.”

Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council, Obama UCI, Obama UC Irvine, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox,

It is worth repeating his words here, and worth committing ourselves to use more clean energy and waste less energy overall. It is also especially significant that President Obama chose to address our energy future at a graduation for UC Irvine — the home campus of the 2015 Solar Decathlon, the international competition — to be held at the Great Park in Irvine — that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive.

The president’s speech highlighted the fact that our City of Irvine is poised to become an international leader in the science, engineering, and entrepreneurship of energy innovation and new, clean sources of power.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Hello, Anteaters!  (Applause.)  That is something I never thought I’d say.  (Laughter.)  Please, please take a seat.

To President Napolitano — which is a nice step up from Secretary; to Fred Ruiz, Vice Chair of the University of California Regents; Chancellor Drake; Representatives Loretta Sanchez and Alan Lowenthal; to the trustees and faculty — thank you for this honor.  And congratulations to the Class of 2014!  (Applause.)

Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council, Obama UCI, Obama UC Irvine, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox,

Now, let me begin my saying all of you had the inside track in getting me here — because my personal assistant, Ferial, is a proud Anteater.  (Applause.)  Until today, I did not understand why she greets me every morning by shouting “Zot, Zot, Zot!”  (Laughter.)  It’s been a little weird.  But she explained it to me on the way here this morning, because she’s very proud to see her brother, Sina, graduate today as well.  (Applause.)  So, graduates, obviously we’re proud of you, but let’s give it up for your proud family and friends and professors, because this is their day, too.  (Applause.)

And even though he’s on the road this weekend, I also want to thank Angels centerfielder Mike Trout for letting me cover his turf for a while.  (Applause.)  He actually signed a bat for me, which is part of my retirement plan.  (Laughter.)  I will be keeping that.  And this is a very cool place to hold a commencement.  I know that UC Irvine’s baseball team opens College World Series play in Omaha right about now — (applause) — so let’s get this speech underway.  If the hot dog guy comes by, get me one.  (Laughter.)

Now, in additional to Ferial, graduates, I’m here for a simple reason:  You asked.  For those who don’t know, the UC Irvine community sent 10,000 postcards to the White House asking me to come speak today.  (Applause.)  Some tried to guilt me into coming.  I got one that said, “I went to your first inauguration, can you please come to my graduation?”  (Applause.)  Some tried bribery:  “I’ll support the Chicago Bulls.”  Another said today would be your birthday — so happy birthday, whoever you are.

My personal favorite — somebody wrote and said, “We are super underrated!”  (Laughter.)  I’m sure she was talking about this school.  But keep in mind, you’re not only the number-one university in America younger than 50 years old, you also hold the Guinness World Record for biggest water pistol fight.  (Applause.)  You’re pretty excited about that.  (Laughter.)

“We are super underrated.” This young lady could have just as well been talking, though, about this generation. I think this generation of young people is super underrated.

In your young lives, you’ve seen dizzying change, from terror attacks to economic turmoil; from Twitter to Tumblr.  Some of your families have known tough times during the course of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. You’re graduating into a still-healing job market, and some of you are carrying student loan debt that you’re concerned about. And yet, your generation — the most educated, the most diverse, the most tolerant, the most politically independent and the most digitally fluent in our history — is also on record as being the most optimistic about our future.

And I’m here to tell you that you are right to be optimistic.  (Applause.)  You are right to be optimistic.  Consider this:  Since the time most of you graduated from high school, fewer Americans are at war.  More have health insurance.  More are graduating from college.  Our businesses have added more than 9 million new jobs.  The number of states where you’re free to marry who you love has more than doubled.  (Applause.) And that’s just some of the progress that you’ve seen while you’ve been studying here at UC Irvine.

But we do face real challenges: Rebuilding the middle class and reversing inequality’s rise. Reining in college costs. Protecting voting rights. Welcoming the immigrants and young dreamers who keep this country vibrant. Stemming the tide of violence that guns inflict on our schools. We’ve got some big challenges. And if you’re fed a steady diet of cynicism that says nobody is trustworthy and nothing works, and there’s no way we can actually address these problems, then the temptation is too just go it alone, to look after yourself and not participate in the larger project of achieving our best vision of America.

Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council, Obama UCI, Obama UC Irvine, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox,

And I’m here to tell you, don’t believe the cynicism.  Guard against it. Don’t buy into it. Today, I want to use one case study to show you that progress is possible and perseverance is critical. I want to show you how badly we need you — both your individual voices and your collective efforts — to give you the chance you seek to change the world, and maybe even save it.

I’m going to talk about one of the most significant long-term challenges that our country and our planet faces:  the growing threat of a rapidly changing climate.

Now, this isn’t a policy speech.  I understand it’s a commencement, and I already delivered a long climate address last summer.  I remember because it was 95 degrees and my staff had me do it outside, and I was pouring with sweat — as a visual aid.  (Laughter.)  And since this is a very educated group, you already know the science. Burning fossil fuels release carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide traps heat. Levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere are higher than they’ve been in 800,000 years.

We know the trends. The 18 warmest years on record have all happened since you graduates were born.  We know what we see with our own eyes.  Out West, firefighters brave longer, harsher wildfire seasons; states have to budget for that. Mountain towns worry about what smaller snowpacks mean for tourism. Farmers and families at the bottom worry about what it will mean for their water.  In cities like Norfolk and Miami, streets now flood frequently at high tide. Shrinking icecaps have National Geographic making the biggest change in its atlas since the Soviet Union broke apart.

So the question is not whether we need to act. The overwhelming judgment of science, accumulated and measured and reviewed over decades, has put that question to rest. The question is whether we have the will to act before it’s too late.  For if we fail to protect the world we leave not just to my children, but to your children and your children’s children, we will fail one of our primary reasons for being on this world in the first place. And that is to leave the world a little bit better for the next generation.

Now, the good news is you already know all this.  UC Irvine set up the first Earth System Science Department in America.  (Applause.) A UC Irvine professor-student team won the Nobel Prize for discovering that CFCs destroy the ozone layer.  (Applause.) A UC Irvine glaciologist’s work led to one of last month’s report showing one of the world’s major ice sheets in irreversible retreat. Students and professors are in the field working to predict changing weather patterns, fire seasons, and water tables — working to understand how shifting seasons affect global ecosystems; to get zero-emission vehicles on the road faster; to help coastal communities adapt to rising seas. And when I challenge colleges to reduce their energy use to 20 percent by 2020, UC Irvine went ahead and did it last year. Done. (Applause.) So UC Irvine is ahead of the curve. All of you are ahead of the curve.

Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council, Obama UCI, Obama UC Irvine, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox,

Your generation reminds me of something President Wilson once said. He said, “Sometimes people call me an idealist.  Well, that is the way I know I am an American.” That’s who we are.

And if you need a reason to be optimistic about our future, then look around this stadium. Because today, in America, the largest single age group is 22 years ago. And you are going to do great things. And I want you to know that I’ve got your back — because one of the reasons I ran for this office was because I believed our dangerous addiction to foreign oil left our economy at risk and our planet in peril. So when I took office, we set out to use more clean energy and less dirty energy, and waste less energy overall.

And since then, we’ve doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas by the middle of the next decade.  We’ve tripled the electricity we harness from the wind, generating enough last year to power every home in California. We’ve multiplied the electricity we generate from the sun 10 times over. And this state, California, is so far ahead of the rest of the country in solar, that earlier this year solar power met 18 percent of your total power demand one day. (Applause.)

The bottom line is, America produces more renewable energy than ever, more natural gas than anyone. And for the first time in nearly two decades, we produce more oil here at home than we buy from other countries. And these advances have created jobs and grown our economy, and helped cut our carbon pollution to levels not seen in about 20 years. Since 2006, no country on Earth has reduced its total carbon pollution by as much as the United States of America. (Applause.)

So that’s all reason for optimism. Here’s the challenge: We’ve got to do more. What we’re doing is not enough. And that’s why, a couple weeks ago, America proposed new standards to limit the amount of harmful carbon pollution that power plants can dump into the air. And we also have to realize, as hundreds of scientists declared last month, that climate change is no longer a distant threat, but “has moved firmly into the present.”  That’s a quote. In some parts of the country, weather-related disasters like droughts, and fires, and storms, and floods are going to get harsher and they’re going to get costlier. And that’s why, today, I’m announcing a new $1 billion competitive fund to help communities prepare for the impacts of climate change and build more resilient infrastructure across the country. (Applause.)

So it’s a big problem. But progress, no matter how big the problem, is possible. That’s important to remember. Because no matter what you do in life, you’re going to run up against big problems — in your own personal life and in your communities and in your country. There’s going to be a stubborn status quo, and there are going to be people determined to stymie your efforts to bring about change. There are going to be people who say you can’t do something. There are going to be people who say you shouldn’t bother. I’ve got some experience in this myself. (Laughter.)

Now, part of what’s unique about climate change, though, is the nature of some of the opposition to action. It’s pretty rare that you’ll encounter somebody who says the problem you’re trying to solve simply doesn’t exist. When President Kennedy set us on a course for the moon, there were a number of people who made a serious case that it wouldn’t be worth it; it was going to be too expensive, it was going to be too hard, it would take too long.  But nobody ignored the science.  I don’t remember anybody saying that the moon wasn’t there or that it was made of cheese.  (Laughter.)

And today’s Congress, though, is full of folks who stubbornly and automatically reject the scientific evidence about climate change. They will tell you it is a hoax, or a fad. One member of Congress actually says the world is cooling. There was one member of Congress who mentioned a theory involving “dinosaur flatulence” — which I won’t get into. (Laughter.)

Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council, Obama UCI, Obama UC Irvine, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox,

Now, their view may be wrong — and a fairly serious threat to everybody’s future — but at least they have the brass to say what they actually think.  There are some who also duck the question. They say — when they’re asked about climate change, they say, “Hey, look, I’m not a scientist.”  And I’ll translate that for you. What that really means is, “I know that manmade climate change really is happening, but if I admit it, I’ll be run out of town by a radical fringe that thinks climate science is a liberal plot, so I’m not going to admit it.” (Applause.)

Now, I’m not a scientist either, but we’ve got some really good ones at NASA. I do know that the overwhelming majority of scientists who work on climate change, including some who once disputed the data, have put that debate to rest. The writer, Thomas Friedman, recently put it to me this way. He were talking, and he says, “Your kid is sick, you consult 100 doctors; 97 of them tell you to do this, three tell [you] to do that, and you want to go with the three?”

The fact is, this should not be a partisan issue. After all, it was Republicans who used to lead the way on new ideas to protect our environment. It was Teddy Roosevelt who first pushed for our magnificent national parks. It was Richard Nixon who signed the Clean Air Act and opened the EPA. George H.W. Bush — a wonderful man who at 90 just jumped out of a plane in a parachute — (laughter) — said that “human activities are changing the atmosphere in unexpected and unprecedented ways.”  John McCain and other Republicans publicly supported free market-based cap-and-trade bills to slow carbon pollution just a few years ago — before the Tea Party decided it was a massive threat to freedom and liberty.

These days, unfortunately, nothing is happening. Even minor energy efficiency bills are killed on the Senate floor. And the reason is because people are thinking about politics instead of thinking about what’s good for the next generation. What’s the point of public office if you’re not going to use your power to help solve problems? (Applause.)

And part of the challenge is that the media doesn’t spend a lot of time covering climate change and letting average Americans know how it could impact our future. Now, the broadcast networks’ nightly newscasts spend just a few minutes a month covering climate issues.  On cable, the debate is usually between political pundits, not scientists. When we introduced those new anti-pollution standards a couple weeks ago, the instant reaction from the Washington’s political press wasn’t about what it would mean for our planet; it was what would it mean for an election six months from now. And that kind of misses the point.  Of course, they’re not scientists, either.

Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council, Obama UCI, Obama UC Irvine, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox,

And I want to tell you all this not to discourage you. I’m telling you all this because I want to light a fire under you. As the generation getting shortchanged by inaction on this issue, I want all of you to understand you cannot accept that this is the way it has to be.

The climate change deniers suggest there’s still a debate over the science. There is not. The talking heads on cable news suggest public opinion is hopelessly deadlocked. It is not. Seven in ten Americans say global warming is a serious problem.  Seven in ten say the federal government should limit pollution from our power plants. And of all the issues in a recent poll asking Americans where we think we can make a difference, protecting the environment came out on top. (Applause.)

So we’ve got public opinion potentially on our side. We can do this. We can make a difference. You can make a difference. And the sooner you do, the better — not just for our climate, but for our economy.  There’s a reason that more than 700 businesses like Apple and Microsoft, and GM and Nike, Intel, Starbucks have declared that “tackling climate change is one of America’s greatest economic opportunities in the 21st century.” The country that seizes this opportunity first will lead the way. A low-carbon, clean energy economy can be an engine for growth and jobs for decades to come, and I want America to build that engine. Because if we do, others will follow. I want those jobs; I want those opportunities; I want those businesses right here in the United States of America. (Applause.)

Developing countries are using more and more energy, and tens of millions of people are entering the global middle class, and they want to buy cars and refrigerators.  So if we don’t deal with this problem soon, we’re going to be overwhelmed. These nations have some of the fastest-rising levels of carbon pollution. They’re going to have to take action to meet this challenge.  They’re more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than we are.  They’ve got even more to lose. But they’re waiting to see what does America do. That’s what the world does. It waits to watch us act.  And when we do, they move. And I’m convinced that on this issue, when America proves what’s possible, then they’re going to join us.

And America cannot meet this threat alone. Of course, the world cannot meet it without America. This is a fight that America must lead. So I’m going to keep doing my part for as long as I hold this office and as long as I’m a citizen once out of office.  But we’re going to need you, the next generation, to finish the job.

We need scientists to design new fuels. We need farmers to help grow them. We need engineers to invent new technologies.  We need entrepreneurs to sell those technologies. (Applause.) We need workers to operate assembly lines that hum with high-tech, zero-carbon components. We need builders to hammer into place the foundations for a clean energy age.  We need diplomats and businessmen and women, and Peace Corps volunteers to help developing nations skip past the dirty phase of development and transition to sustainable sources of energy.

In other words, we need you. (Applause.) We need you. And if you believe, like I do, that something has to be done on this, then you’re going to have to speak out. You’re going to have to learn more about these issues. Even if you’re not like Jessica and an expert, you’re going to have to work on this. You’re going to have to push those of us in power to do what this American moment demands. You’ve got to educate your classmates, and colleagues, and family members and fellow citizens, and tell them what’s at stake. You’ve got to push back against the misinformation, and speak out for facts, and organize others around your vision for the future.

You need to invest in what helps, and divest from what harms. And you’ve got to remind everyone who represents you, at every level of government, that doing something about climate change is a prerequisite for your vote.

It’s no accident that when President Kennedy needed to convince the nation that sending Americans into space was a worthy goal, he went to a university. That’s where he started. Because a challenge as big as that, as costly as that, as difficult as that, requires a spirit of youth.  It requires a spirit of adventure; a willingness to take risks. It requires optimism. It requires hope.  That day, a man told us we’d go to the moon within a decade. And despite all the naysayers, somehow we knew as a nation that we’d build a spaceship and we’d meet that goal.

That’s because we’re Americans — and that’s what we do. Even when our political system is consumed by small things, we are a people called to do big things. And progress on climate change is a big thing.  Progress won’t always be flashy; it will be measured in disasters averted, and lives saved, and a planet preserved — and days just like this one, 20 years from now, and 50 years from now, and 100 years from now. But can you imagine a more worthy goal — a more worthy legacy — than protecting the world we leave to our children?

So I ask your generation to help leave us that legacy. I ask you to believe in yourselves and in one another, and above all, when life gets you down or somebody tells you you can’t do something, to believe in something better.

Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council, Obama UCI, Obama UC Irvine, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox,

There are people here who know what it means to dream. When Mohamad Abedi was a boy, the suffering he saw in refugee camps in Lebanon didn’t drive him into despair — it inspired him to become a doctor. And when he came to America, he discovered a passion for engineering. So here, at UC Irvine, he became a biomedical engineer to study the human brain.  (Applause.)  And Mohamad said, “Had I never come to the United States, I would have never had the ability to do the work that I’m doing.” He’s now going to CalTech to keep doing that work.

Cinthia Flores is the daughter of a single mom who worked as a seamstress and a housekeeper.  (Applause.) The first in her family to graduate from high school. The first in her family to graduate from college. And in college, she says, “I learned about myself that I was good at advocating for others, and that I was argumentative — so maybe I should go to law school.”  And, today, Cinthia is now the first in her family to graduate from law school. And she plans to advocate for the rights of workers like her mom. (Applause.) She says, “I have the great privilege and opportunity to answer the call of my community.” “The bottom line,” she says, “is being of service.”

On 9/11, Aaron Anderson was a sophomore in college. Several months later, he was in training for Army Special Forces.  He fought in Afghanistan, and on February 28th, 2006, he was nearly killed by an IED. He endured dozens of surgeries to save his legs, months of recovery at Walter Reed. When he couldn’t physically return to active duty, he devoted his time to his brothers in arms, starting two businesses with fellow veterans, and a foundation to help fellow wounded Green Beret soldiers. And then he went back to school. And last December, he graduated summa cum laude from UC Irvine. And Aaron is here today, along with four soon-to-be commissioned ROTC cadets, and 65 other graduating veterans.  And I would ask them to stand and be recognized for their service. (Applause.)

The point is, you know how to dream. And you know how to work for your dreams. And, yes, sometimes you may be “super underrated.” But usually it’s the underrated, the underdogs, the dreamers, the idealists, the fighters, the argumentative — those are the folks who do the biggest things.

Melissa Fox for Irvine City Council, Obama UCI, Obama UC Irvine, melissafoxblog, Melissa Fox, melissajoifox, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox,

And this generation — this 9/11 generation of soldiers; this new generation of scientists and advocates and entrepreneurs and altruists — you’re the antidote to cynicism. It doesn’t mean you’re not going to get down sometimes. You will. You’ll know disillusionment. You’ll experience doubt. People will disappoint you by their actions. But that can’t discourage you.

Cynicism has never won a war, or cured a disease, or started a business, or fed a young mind, or sent men into space. Cynicism is a choice. Hope is a better choice. (Applause.)

Hope is what gave young soldiers the courage to storm a beach and liberate people they never met.

Hope is what gave young students the strength to sit in and stand up and march for women’s rights, and civil rights, and voting rights, and gay rights, and immigration rights.

Hope is the belief, against all evidence to the contrary, that there are better days ahead, and that together we can build up a middle class, and reshape our immigration system, and shield our children from gun violence, and shelter future generations from the ravages of climate change.

Hope is the fact that, today, the single largest age group in America is 22 years old who are all just itching to reshape this country and reshape the world. And I cannot wait to see what you do tomorrow.

Congratulations. (Applause.) Thank you, Class of 2014. God bless you. God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

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Make Your Voice Heard! Take the 2015-2019 Irvine Consolidated Plan Community Survey!

Irvine City Hall, Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.com

The City of Irvine is asking for input from residents and local community organizations in order to develop a plan that reflects the priorities of our community for the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan Community Survey.

City of Irvine, Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.comEvery five years, the City of Irvine prepares a Consolidated Plan to submit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This plan is required to receive federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds and will identify the City’s priorities for allocating these funds.

Public input is very important in helping the City plan for how CDBG and HOME funds will be used over the next five years. CDBG funds are designed to benefit low and moderate-income residents, prevent or eliminate slums or blight, and address community development needs. HOME funds are designed for the development and support of affordable housing.

Please help the City of Irvine determine its housing and community development needs by participating in this survey. If you need assistance or have any questions regarding this survey, please contact the City of Irvine Housing Division at (949) 724-7444.

We appreciate your time and assistance in helping us plan for the next five years!

Click for the 2015-2019 Consolidated Plan Community Survey.

You can read the 2010-2014 City of Irvine Consolidated Plan here.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey!

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Thank You Ebell Club of Irvine for Jeffrey Open Space Trail Botanical Signs!

Jeffrey Open Space Trail, Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.com

Thank you to the Ebell Club of Irvine for donating and installing botanical signs along the Jeffrey Open Space Trail!

Working in concert with the city of Irvine, the Ebell Club of Irvine recently installed nine additional botanical signs along the Jeffrey Open Space Trail – a landscaped, grassy area that currently runs along Jeffrey Road from Trabuco to Irvine Boulevard.

Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.com

Ebell Club of Irvine members Anne Schorr, Joann Coover, and Barbara Reynolds with botanical signs and the installers at the Jeffrey Open Space Trail.

Along the paved trail are periodic wide spots with plaques that chronicle the history of the Irvine Ranch. Plants native to the Irvine region have been planted throughout the park.

Shortly after the trail opened, the Ebell Club of Irvine began working with the city of Irvine to install botanical signs along the pathways.

To date, 33 signs have been installed in the park area between Trabuco Road and Irvine Boulevard.

The next portion of the trail, scheduled to open later this year, will reach from Trabuco Road to I-5. Club members are continuing to recycle aluminum cans in order to raise funds for additional signs. They are also inviting other Irvine service organizations and community members to become sign sponsors for the plants in the new portion.

Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog.com

Botanical marker placed on the Jeffrey Open Space Trail by the Ebell Club of Irvine.

A botanical sign costs about $50 to purchase and $30 to install. Each sponsor will be identified at the bottom of the sign.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a sign should contact Barbara Reynolds, conservation chairwoman, at 949-559-1545.

The Ebell Club of Irvine was organized on March 5, 1974, and is a proud member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.  Honoring the motto of Unity in Diversity, the Club comes together as unique individuals dedicated to community improvement through activities and fund-raising projects.  Their mission is to enhance the lives of others in Irvine through volunteer service.

Meeting are held on the first Tuesday of each month, September through June, at 6:30 PM.  For more information, call 714-832-0791.

The Jeffrey Open Space Trail (JOST) is a unique resource for the residents of the City of Irvine. This open space corridor constitutes an important element in the City’s overall Open Space system, linking the conservation and open space lands within the City. The trail will travel approximately five miles through Irvine, from just past Portola Parkway in the north to the Quail Hill open space in the south. Currently, the section from Trabuco to Irvine Blvd. (section 2) is completed. Construction of sections 1 and 3 is currently underway. The JOST provides a key linkage extending from the Pacific Ocean to the Santa Ana Mountains and Cleveland National Forest. The Jeffrey Open Space Trail Community Consensus Plan focuses specifically on the portion of the Spine extending from Interstate 5 to the Natural Communities Conservation Plan Lands north of Portola Parkway.

For more information about the Jeffrey Open Space Trail, see the Jeffrey Open Space Spine Community Consenus Plan (2003) (PDF).

Photo credits:

Top photo: Ellen Bell. Other photos: Anne Schorr. Used with permission.

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Celebrating Flag Day – Remembering Betsy Ross

Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine, melissajoifox, Melissa Fox blog, Irvine Commissioner Melissa Fox

The story goes that Betsy Ross, a young widow, made the first American flag in June 1776 after a visit from General George Washington.

Besty’s grandson was the first to tell this story in recollections published in 1873.  He claimed that in June 1776, George Washington, Robert Morris, and her husband’s uncle, George Ross, visited his grandmother in her shop in Philadelphia. The men had brought a rough sketch of a striped flag with thirteen stars in a blue field. The stars had six points. Having a better idea, Ross folded a piece of paper into neat triangles, and “with a single clip of the scissors” produced a five-pointed star. Within days, the story goes, Betsy Ross had completed the first American flag.

Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine, melissajoifox, Melissa Fox blog, Irvine Commissioner Melissa FoxToday most scholars agree that it was probably not Betsy Ross who made the first “Stars and Stripes” American flag. However, Betsy was without dispute a flag-maker who, records show, was paid by the Pennsylvania State Navy Board in 1777 for making “ship’s colours, &c.” Despite the lack of evidence for the story for which she is known, Betsy Ross was also certainly a patriot, as well as an example of what many women of her time audaciously and courageously endured, and her story and her life are stitched into the fabric of American history.

Born on January 1, 1752, Elizabeth Griscom, called Betsy, was the eighth of 17 children born into the Quaker family of Samuel and Rebecca Griscom. Her father was a successful carpenter, who moved his large family from their farmhouse in New Jersey to Philadelphia when Betsy was three years old.

After completing her formal education at a school for Quaker children, Betsy went on to apprentice to John Webster, a talented and popular Philadelphia upholsterer. She learned to make and repair curtains, bedcovers, tablecloths, rugs, umbrellas and Venetian blinds.

While apprenticing to Webster, Betsy fell in love with a fellow apprentice named John Ross, the son of the Assistant Rector of Christ Church. Betsy’s family did not approve of her relationship with an Anglican or marrying outside their Quaker faith. On November 4, 1773, Betsy and John eloped. Despite being cut off from Besty’s family, the newlyweds prospered, soon opening their own upholstery business.

Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine, melissajoifox, Melissa Fox blog, Irvine Commissioner Melissa FoxThey were married for just over two years when their union was tragically cut short. John Ross, a member of the local militia, passed away, leaving Betsy a widow at the age of 24. Betsy continued to run her upholstery business, making extra income by mending uniforms and making tents, blankets, cartridges, and, of course, flags for the Continental army.

On June 15, 1777, Betsy married her second husband, Joseph Ashburn. Joseph was a mariner and was often at sea, leaving Betsy, a new mother, alone in Philadelphia. In 1780 a British frigate captured Joseph’s ship. The crew was charged with treason and taken to Old Mill Prison in Plymouth, England. While Ashburn was imprisoned, his and Betsy’s first daughter died at only nine months old and their second daughter was born. Joseph died before the British released the American prisoners in 1782.

Later in 1782, still grieving from the death of her first child, Betsy was visited by an old acquaintance named John Claypoole. He was a fellow prisoner and close friend of Joseph Ashburn. John was there to bring Betsy the news of her second husband’s death. Betsy learned that she was once again a widow at the age of 30. John Claypoole and Betsy rekindled their old friendship and were married on May 8, 1783.

Betsy had a lengthy marriage to John Claypoole, but this relationship was not without its struggles and tragedies. The couple had five more daughters together, but only four of them lived to maturity. In 1793, Betsy’s mother, father, and sister died within days of each other from the yellow fever, leaving Betsy to raise her niece. In 1812, Betsy and John’s widowed daughter Clarissa moved into their home with her five young children and a sixth on the way. Once again, Betsy had a full house of children to care for. The children were not the only members of the household who needed Betsy’s attention. For nearly 20 years, John Claypoole was disabled as a result of his Revolutionary War injuries. He died after a lengthy illness in 1817.

Following John’s death, Betsy continued her successful upholstery and flag-making business with the help of her daughter Clarissa. After over fifty years in her trade, she retired at the age of 76.

By 1833, Betsy was completely blind. She spent the last three years of her life living with her daughter Jane’s family on Cherry Street in Philadelphia. With family present, Betsy Ross died peacefully in her sleep on January 30, 1836. She was 84 years old.

Even if Betsy did not make the first flag — even if the visit by George Washington never happened — Betsy Ross was an example of what many women of her time found as their reality in time of war and revolution: marriage, widowhood, single motherhood, managing her household and business, caring for infants and invalids, and a deep involvement in and commitment to her community and nation even while being denied many of the rights of citizenship, including the right to vote.

Her life represents a triumph of determination, optimism and patriotism during the formative years of our country.

On this Flag Day, she is a woman worth remembering and worth celebrating.

For more information, a great place to look is The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia.  A recent well-reviewed book about Betsy Ross is “Betsy Ross and the Making of America” by Marla R. Miller.

 

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Come to Irvine’s Emergency Communications Field Day!

IDEC.03

The Irvine Disaster Emergency Communications (IDEC) organization will demonstrate its ability to respond to major emergencies by participating in this year’s annual “Communications Field Day” on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, 2014, at Rattlesnake Reservoir in Irvine.

Melissa Fox, Melissa Fox for Irvine, melissajoifox, melissafoxblog

Melissa Fox touring Irvine’s Mobile Communications Center

IDEC is a volunteer organization of licensed Amateur Radio operators supporting the City of Irvine’s emergency preparedness plan and general public safety by providing a flexible, technical resource which is skilled in disaster response functions and emergency communications.

On Communications Field Day, IDEC’s amateur radio operators (also known as “HAMS”) will set up and operate a field command and communications center using only emergency generators and solar power.

Communications Field Day will also feature many activities and demonstrations of emergency operations and radio technology.

The public is invited to come to see and learn about amateur radio, solar power, packet radio, antennas and repeaters.

Bring a picnic lunch – there are numerous picnic tables on site!

Learn about HAM radio volunteer opportunities in Irvine!

Tour the IDEC and City of Irvine State-of-the-Art Communications Vehicles – including Irvine’s “Mobile Comm”!

Talk with HAM radio operators around the world!

Emergency Preparedness Demonstrations from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM!

IDEC Field Day is a free, fun event for the whole family!

What: Irvine Disaster Emergency Communications (IDEC) Communications Field Day

When: Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, 2014. 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Where: Rattlesnake Reservoir, 4705 Portola Pkwy, Irvine, CA (Between Jeffrey Road and Portola Hills. Follow the road next to Fire Station 55).

Cost: Free!

Sponsored by Irvine Disaster Emergency Communications (IDEC) and the Irvine Police Department.

For more information on Communications Field Day: email IDECFieldDay@gmail.com

Click here for more information on IDEC.

IDEC website: http://www.n6ipd.org/

See you there!