Cuddly cats and lovable dogs at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center got a recent visit from a group of local Girl Scouts who opened their hearts to the rescued animals waiting for loving homes.

Members of Girl Scout Troop #2275 from Laguna Niguel donated their time to make blankets to keep the shelter’s dogs and cats warm. On a recent day, the nine girls met the special animals and received a “behind the scenes” tour of the facility on Hillcrest. The girls learned about pet care and wildlife concerns. The fruits of their generous labor earned them an animal care badge. 

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is grateful to the troop members for their hard work and dedication to some very special animals waiting to be adopted. For more information, call 949-470-3045 or visit cmvas.org.

Mission Viejo’s Cultural Arts Committee is sponsoring a unique public participation exhibit now on display at the Mission Viejo Library.

The collection includes 50 amateur photos by local residents – with a majority of those photos captured on cell phones. Many of them are remarkable with titles that leave viewers in awe or laughter. The exhibit will be on display for six weeks. Six members of the community have contributed to the pilot exhibit, which encompasses the long hallway between the library entrance and the children’s section.

The committee plans to sponsor a new display each spring and fall to give more members of the community an opportunity to participate.

“It’s our hope to have another 50 photographs in the fall, but to have them from 50 different amateur photographers,” said Committee Chair Claudia Divito. “You see so many people in this community taking cell phone and digital photos. Most are storing hundreds in their cameras. Everyone loves to look at photos. This will give us a way to advance the arts in our community and the residents a way to share their talent in amateur photography.”

Information regarding contacting the photographers for copies is also available. Proceeds from copy sales ($10 each) during the six-week display will benefit the Cultural Arts Committee. For more information, call 949-470-8440.

The Laguna Viejo Auto Service has joined forces with Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County in the “Put the Brakes on Hunger” program.

Through this month, the Mission Viejo-based business is offering customers a free brake inspection, brake pads or shoes (most cars) and free installation of the pads or shoes for bringing in a bag of non-perishable food items or non-food items to help the community.

Food items needed include canned goods; pasta and spaghetti sauce; hot and cold cereals; rice, beans; macaroni and cheese; and juices. Non-food items include bath, dish or laundry soap; toilet paper; paper towels; disposable diapers; sanitary products; tooth brushes; toothpaste and school supplies.

More detailed information about the services Laguna Viejo Auto Service is offering during this program is available by calling 949-582-7262. The business is located at 25752 El Paseo Suite A (next to Krispy Kreme Donuts in the Mission Viejo Freeway Center).

 The City’s spring Leisure Time publication is available online, offering detailed information about upcoming special events, programs and classes that benefit the community.

The publication, available at www.cityofmissionviejo.org, features information on an array of spring activities and events such as the Earth Day Festival and spring planting; Arts Alive and Street Painting Festival; Bunny Days; and so much more. It includes community excursions for the young at heart, youth and teen programs, fitness and sports programs and classes that cater to all ages and tastes.

Readers will also find information about the Tee it Up Fore Marines Annual Headquarters Battalion Benefit Golf Tournament in March, event information and opportunities and senior programs.

For more information, visit the homepage of the City’s website at www.cityofmissionviejo.org and click on the Leisure Time link.

Since the City launched the new “Improve Don’t Move” program last month, it has already saved homeowners more than $22,000 in helping them to improve their most valuable assets. So far, the City has processed 131 projects with a total fee waiver of $22,752.52.

The “Improve Don’t Move” program, brought forth by Mayor Frank Ury, is designed to waive all building permit fees for Mission Viejo homeowners for the period of January 1, 2012 to July 4, 2012.

The program evolved from the City’s diligence in trimming its expenses over the past few years while maintaining services. Those proactive measures resulted in surplus money that was placed in reserves during the last budget year. The Improve Don’t Move program returns a portion of that savings back to the taxpaying homeowners of Mission Viejo by removing barriers that may be in place for folks to improve their homes. This program not only allows for homeowner savings, but is assisting in creating job opportunities for numerous local area contractors.

The policy also allows homeowners who have unpermitted improvements to have their improvements permitted and inspected without penalty. Certain provisions apply, and detailed information is available at www.cityofmissionviejo.org or by calling 949-470-3053.

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center has adorable animals – like Rudolph – ready for adoption.

Rudolph is a neutered male orange tabby, who is too sweet and handsome to have been abandoned! The first few days Rudolph was at the shelter, he was terrified and would hide under his blankets.  But with a little love and attention, Rudolph is now one of the first cats to always greet people who come in. He is a very social cat, but is happiest on your lap or on a cat tree soaking up the sun.  He is about three years old, but has an old soul. You can tell he’s dreaming about his forever home and counting down the days until his new family walks into the shelter and falls in love with him.

You can see Rudolph and the other adorable, loving animals wanting for their forever homes at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center at 28095 Hillcrest or online at www.cmvas.org. For more information, call 949-470-3045.

Save the date for ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf” puppet show on Saturday, February 25 at City Hall, 200 Civic Center. The fun-filled show, presented by the Friends of the Mission Viejo Library, will take place in 2 one-hour performances at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in City Hall’s Saddleback Room.

Presented by Puppet Art Theater Co., the free show is an updated, zany, audience-participation version of a classic tale.  The show centers around a boy who is bored watching his lamb and decides to make things more exciting by turning on his dad’s wolf alarm, the “Wolf Alert 3000.” Tricking his dad is all fun and games until a real wolf shows up. Will the audience help the boy escape from the wolf? Find out in “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”

This free puppet show is appropriate for ages 3 and older. For more information, call the Youth Reference Desk at 949-830-7100, ext. 5107.

The “Breakfast with Gary and Kelly” radio for TV broadcast on February 11 will feature chart-topping trumpeter Rick Braun. The Saturday morning radio show will broadcast live starting at 9:00 a.m. from the City’s Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way.

A studio audience will be welcomed in for the 10 a.m. to noon show; doors will open at 9:45 a.m. with the final hour being videotaped for later broadcast. The program airs on the City of Mission Viejo’s MVTV Channel 30 every Tuesday through Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. and also airs on Saddleback College’s SCTV Channel 39 each Friday and Sunday morning at 11 a.m. The audience will be admitted for free but seating is limited. Reservations are available at www.ksbr.org.

Rick Braun’s debut solo release – “Intimate Secrets” – immediately established him as one of the leading voices of contemporary jazz. His popularity in smooth-jazz circles continued to snowball with albums like “Night Walk”; and “Body and Soul.” In 2000, Braun and saxophonist Boney James collaborated on “Shake It Up.” and later made his Warner Bros. debut with “Kisses in the Rain.” His work has continued to grow in subsequent years and Braun reveals an engaging talent that captivates audiences worldwide. Produced by Philippe Saisse, Sings With Strings places Braun in the pantheon of jazz trumpeters who exhibited impressive pipes along with considerable instrumental prowess—a club including the likes of Chet Baker, Jack Sheldon, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Hot Lips Page, Kermit Ruffins and the greatest of them all, Louis Armstrong.

Past guests on “Breakfast with Gary & Kelly” have included Debbie Reynolds, Linda Evans, Peter White, Diane Schuur, Bobby Caldwell, Paul Brown, Warren Hill, Bill Cantos and more.

For more information on the Radio on TV monthly series and how to become part of the audience for the February 11 show, tune to 88.5 KSBR or visit their website at www.KSBR.org.

The Mission Viejo Farmers Market on Friday, February 3 will feature live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and gourmet food trucks tempting foodies and music lovers of all ages.

The Aloha Ukulele Strummers, a 25-member band, will delight patrons with the soothing sounds of traditional Hawaiian music and other classics done with a Hawaiian flair.

Two gourmet food trucks – Crepes Bonapart www.crepesbonaparte.com and Taco Maria www.tacomaria.com – will be on hand serving up a delectable selection of fresh fare prepared on site. Different food trucks will appear at the market once a month so the market always has something unique and fun to offer.

The Mission Viejo farmers Market is open every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Civic Center Courtyard at 200 Civic Center. Live entertainment is featured the first Friday of each month.

For more information, visit http://cityofmissionviejo.org/farmersmarket.

A special episode of “Coaches Corner” with Paul J. Higgins that begins airing tonight will feature a travel team of amputee war veterans, whose strength, determination and spirit knows no bounds.

These American heroes, the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team, recently  took on Orange County Veterans & First Responders Softball team at Mission Viejo’s Alicia Park to show that it’s not who wins or loses the game, but how it’s played.

“Coaches Corner,” the popular half-hour weekly TV show highlights local sports activity and newsmakers in Mission Viejo. The City launched “Coaches Corner” with Paul Higgins – a longtime sports anchor/producer – on its MVTV Channel 30 late last year.

The on-location episode includes interviews with Wounded Warriors team members and the team’s founder David Van Sleet along with Roy Gleason from the L.A. Dodgers and others.  Get a glimpse of the show at youtube.com/user/MissionViejoCA.

“Coaches Corner” airs tonight through next week (except for Monday) at 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Episodes from each previous week broadcast at 3:30 p.m. on the station.

MVTV is transmitted on Cox Cable Channel 30 in Mission Viejo. For more information, visit cityofmissionviejo.org/MVTV.