You asked for it — updates on previous columns
In my TV cooking show days of “At Home on the Range,” I used to start every show by reading viewer mail.
It was always interesting to see what folks had to say about the comedy — chef John Crean’s cooking, as well as my antics in the kitchen.
These days I start my days with reader emails and their comments on my weekly columns.
And as you can imagine, they’re equally as interesting.
Many share opinions, while others want to know more about what happened next regarding the people and issues I’ve written about.
A good number wondered how the Tranzon Asset Strategies auction turned out on Oct. 8. Items belonging to Michael Vincent Petronella and his wife, Devon Lynn Kile — who were convicted of the largest worker’s compensation insurance fraud case in California history back in 2010 — were auctioned off at the Wyndham Irvine-Orange County Airport.
Tiffeny Cook, vice president of Tranzon Asset Strategies, called it a “very successful auction, with over 100 bidders from around the country.”
She said it exceeded expectations.
“The auction went on until about 11 p.m., and we had active bidding right up to the end,” Cook said.
Readers may remember Cook’s company also was responsible for the auction of the Village Crean back in 2013.
Which leads me to another question I’m consistently asked: What happened with the estate after it was sold to Jim Glidewell for $10.6 million?
The home where Crean lived with his wife, Donna, and the cooking show was taped, is being remodeled, Glidewell tells me, for his family.
“I can’t believe what a big project John Crean built here,” he said.
The estate is now called Mesa Manor, and Glidewell occasionally stops construction to hold special events on the grounds, as he will Nov. 18 when Glidewell and others will host a fundraising reception and dinner for Sen. Marc Rubio.
“There is a strong possibility that after the dust settles Marco Rubio will be the Republican candidate for the presidency,” Glidwell said in an email to supporters. “This will be a onetime opportunity to meet with, and hear him speak on the issues, the man who just may be the next president.”
Supporters will need to open their wallets. VIP photo reception tickets are $2,700 per individual, and $5,400 per couple. General reception tickets are $1,000 per person. For additional information, or to RSVP, contact Stacy Davis at (949) 474-6930.
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Property-tax initiative frustrates
Another column that garnered much interest was the one last month about the initiative coming out of Sacramento called, “Lifting Children and Families out of Poverty Act.” The proposed referendum suggests fighting poverty by making those who own property assessed at $3 million or more pay more in taxes.
Folks were outraged, and understandably so, since it includes residential and commercial property.
Local Realtor Maggie LeFave brought up a good point, which I hadn’t touched on in the column, discussing the far-reaching consequences.
She said as property values increase over the next 25 years, the number of properties that will double in value — and will easily be qualifying for these taxes — is large, and that “owners may not be from rich families with money to spare.”
Good point, Maggie, and I will continue to follow the progress of this proposition, if and when it gathers enough signatures to make it onto the 2016 ballot.
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Ride free on Veterans Day
And for readers who enthusiastically wrote in about my story on the upcoming Veterans Labor, Partners in Service Veterans Day event that will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 11 at the OC Fair & Event Center, I have some additional information.
There will also be a motorcycle run organized by the Teamsters Horsemen Motorcycle Assn. Chapter 42.
I didn’t have enough space in the original column to mention this, but it is open to the public. Those interested in riding can meet at 10:30 a.m. at the O.C. Labor Federation, 309 N. Rampart St., Orange. Motorcyclists will travel 13 miles to the fairgrounds heading down the 5 and 55 freeways.
The ride starts at 11 a.m. And there will be a special viewing area for Veterans Day event-goers to view the motorcycles once they arrive.
Activities include the unveiling of the U.S. Postal Service’s Vietnam War Medal of Honor Stamp, along with a special tribute to Vietnam veterans, live music, entertainment, free hot dogs, historic military vehicles, food drive, children’s activities, the distribution of free wheelchairs to disabled veterans, and a resource fair connecting veterans with service providers and job access.
Well, that’s the updates for now. Keep those emails coming!
I always appreciate when readers take the time to check in.
BARBARA VENEZIA lives in Newport Beach. She can be reached at [email protected]. Listen to her weekly radio segment on “Sunday Brunch with Tom and Lynn” from 11 a.m. to noon on KOCI/101.5 FM or online at kociradio.com