Around Town: Pacific Marine Mammal Center temporarily closes public yard
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Officials with the Laguna Beach nonprofit Pacific Marine Mammal Center announced Tuesday the organization would temporary close its visitor yard to the public through Jan. 16 as Orange County coronavirus cases continue to increase.
The decision to postpone visits to the center, located on Laguna Canyon Road, was made to protect not only visitors and volunteers but to protect those who oversee animal care operations from potential exposure, which would impact PMMC’s ability to provide animal care, members announced in an email to the community Tuesday.
The organization will continue to operate, and residents who may see a stranded animal are still encouraged to call (949) 494-3050.
Foley presents $13K to Costa Mesa’s Wilson Street Learning Center
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley Wednesday presented a $13,298 check in nutrition services funds to Costa Mesa’s Wilson Street Learning Center, which provides after-school programs to youth, to expand an on-site community garden.
“At a time when food costs are rising and more than 400,000 Orange County residents struggle to get enough to eat, the Wilson Street Learning Center supports local families through after-school tutoring and healthy lifestyle programming, including their nutrition services and community garden,” Foley said in a statement Wednesday.
The funds come from the federal American Rescue Plan for COVID-19 relief and will be used by the local nonprofit to also plant fruit trees and create opportunities for neighborhood residents to grow fruits and vegetables for healthy, low-cost living.
Foley presented the check in a ceremony at the Wilson Street Learning Center alongside Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens and council members Manuel Chavez and Arlis Reynolds.
Newport-Mesa Unified School District to present virtual parent ed series
Staff from NMUSD’s Educational Technology Department will present an evening session for parents to learn about how to keep children safe in an online environment, as the district hosts a Jan. 19 parent ed series installation “Raising Responsible Digital Citizens.”
The virtual event takes place from 6 to 7 p.m., and participants will be able to listen in or ask questions of Ed Tech Team members ahead of the session, by registering online. Details can be found on the district’s home page, at nmusd.us.
Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa seeks volunteers
Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, which provides daily nutritional meals to seniors, children, unhoused individuals, the unemployed and under-employed, working families in need and those with mental and physical challenges is in immediate need of volunteers.
Anyone who can work a three-hour shift is encouraged to come by the organization, at 720 W. 19th St., in Costa Mesa, and prepare meals. Organizers said the facility is experiencing a shortage of help during the post-holiday period.
The kitchen is well-ventilated, and all volunteers and employees are masked. Volunteers are needed to work from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. For more details, call (949) 548-8861.
Annual Mayor’s Dinner in Newport Beach postponed due to coronavirus surge
Speak Up Newport announced Friday that its 40th annual Mayor’s Dinner has been postponed to an uncertain date due to the extension of the indoor mask requirement by California state officials and the growth of the Omicron variant in Orange County.
The dinner was initially scheduled to be held on Feb. 10 at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa.
The event traditionally honors the incoming mayor of Newport Beach and the mayor’s state of the city address. The Speak Up Newport Board of Directors have postponed the dinner to sometime in April or May.
The dinner was canceled last year due to COVID-19.
Huntington Beach Fire Department on the hunt for lifeguards
The Huntington Beach Fire Department is seeking ocean lifeguards for the city’s beaches.
Duties include ocean rescues, performing preventative action and providing medical aid as needed. Pay is $18.65 an hour, with an additional 5% for bilingual or EMT-certified applicants.
The application deadline is Jan. 27, with tryouts on Jan. 29 and interviews on Jan. 30.
For more information, visit governmentjobs.com/careers/huntingtonbeach or call (714) 374-1752.
Huntington Beach Public Library suspends in-person programming
Due to spiking COVID-19 numbers, the Huntington Beach Public Library has suspended in-person programming, including story times.
The Central Library and the four library branches are maintaining their hours of operation.
Third Mobi-Mat coming to Huntington Beach
The city of Huntington Beach will soon be installing a third Mobi-Mat.
The city announced that Jami and Beau Marseilles of nonprofit Warriors of Hope have donated $10,000 toward a third Mobi-Mat, which allows a firm surface for individuals with disabilities to get across the sand and access the ocean more easily.
In 2021, Surf City installed Mobi-Mats near Pacific Coast Highway and 6th Street, as well as PCH at Huntington Street.
4 new members join Hoag’s foundation board
The Hoag Hospital Foundation Board announced Tuesday that it appointed four new members to its board of directors and executive committee for 2022. The board will now have 24 members, including newcomers Irving Chase, Diane Connelly, Paul Lin and Devon Martin.
Departing members include Kathleen Armstrong, James Buckingham, Andrew Fimiano and Diana Sun.
“It is always inspiring and exciting when new members join our board,” said Flynn Andrizzi, board president. “They are people with proven dedication to the community and we look forward to how they will impact Hoag for years to come.”
The Hoag Hospital Foundation oversees campaigns and fundraisers for the hospital.
Beyond Blindness adds three to its board
Three business executives have joined the board of directors at Beyond Blindness, an Orange County-based nonprofit that helps children with visual impairments and other disabilities with early intervention, education and enrichment, and family support services.
The newly appointed board members include Geoffrey P. Kissel of Pacific Life; Surindra Mann of STAAR Surgical; and John M. Sorich of PIB Law.
“We are thrilled to expand our board and extend a warm welcome to Geoffrey, Surindra and John, who bring decades of industry experience and a passion for service to our organization,” says Angie Rowe, president and executive director of Beyond Blindness.
Suarez, Van Dorne named to board of Girls Inc. of Orange County
Girls Inc. of Orange County, the local affiliate of the national nonprofit whose mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, has announced the addition of Dr. Angelica Loera Suarez and Renee Van Dorne to its board of directors.
Suarez has served as the president of Orange Coast College since 2019 and has more than 20 years of experience as an educational leader. Van Dorne is director of quality compliance at Edwards Lifesciences.
—Daily Pilot Staff
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