Around Town: Party opens Festival of Children

The Festival of Children’s opening-night party drew 450 political, business and community leaders and representatives of more than 75 children’s charities on Sept. 2 at South Coast Plaza’s Garden Terrace in Costa Mesa.

“Our opening-night event is my way of thanking all the extraordinary nonprofit organizations doing great work on behalf of children,” Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, founder and executive director of the Festival of Children Foundation, said in a statement.

The party kicked off the 14th annual Festival of Children, a charity outreach event in conjunction with National Child Awareness Month, that is offering free events every weekend in September at South Coast Plaza.

For a complete festival schedule, visit festivalofchildren.org.

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New sculptures to be unveiled Saturday

The city of Newport Beach will hold a grand-opening celebration from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday for 10 new sculptures at Civic Center Park.

Several artists will be at the event to speak about their works, and visitors will be able to take a walking tour of the sculptures led by members of the Newport Beach Art Foundation.

The Civic Center Park exhibition opened in September 2014 with 10 original sculptures scattered throughout the park. In 2016, the original pieces will be taken out of the park for 10 new sculptures.

Art activities on Saturday will introduce children to three-dimensional design inspired by the new sculptures.

A short program will be held in the Community Room at City Hall beginning at 3 p.m. There also will be refreshments and live music.

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‘Meet the Mayor’ Sunday in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa’s next “Meet the Mayor” event is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Mayor Steve Mensinger and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer will be on hand to answer questions and hear concerns from residents.

The event is in the mayor’s office on the fifth floor of City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.

Separate meetings with Mensinger can be arranged by calling Sharon Rodelius at (714) 754-5107.

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Kids Jeopardy raises $1,000 for Irvine schools

Fourth- through eighth-graders got a chance to show their love of trivia at the second annual Kids Jeopardy tournament presented by the Irvine Pakistani Parents Association to benefit the Irvine Public Schools Foundation.

The Aug. 22 event at Alderwood Elementary School in Irvine raised $1,000 for the foundation as the young contestants demonstrated their knowledge of math, English, geography, history, pop culture and other categories.

The Irvine Pakistani Parents Association promotes Pakistani culture and encourages parental leadership at Irvine schools.

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Adolescent substance abuse topic of event

Simple Recovery, a chemical dependency treatment center in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach, will present a free community event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday titled “Substance Use and Treatment Interventions for Adolescents.”

The event at the Simple Recovery Schoolhouse, 1901 Newport Blvd., is part of the center’s series of educational presentations about addiction.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit eventbrite.com and search for “Simple Recovery.”

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Ex-SEAL commander to speak in Newport

The Orange County chapter of the Risk Management Association will present “Forging of No-Fail Teams: Lessons Learned through Service with U.S. Navy SEALS,” featuring Capt. Dan’l Steward, former commander of Navy SEAL Team 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at The Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach.

Steward retired from naval service in 1994 and voluntarily returned in 2004 with Naval Special Warfare Command, the SEAL headquarters. He was then asked to head the Naval Special Warfare Strategic Concepts Directorate, during which time he was deployed to Afghanistan. He is now a special operations expert for the Office of Naval Research.

Admission to the event is $65 by Friday and $75 afterward. Register at rmaoc.org or call Vicki Phillipy at (714) 267-5281.

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Balboa Bay Resort to host Big Brothers Big Sisters dinner

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County will hold its 51st annual gourmet dinner fundraiser Thursday at the Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach

A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., with dinner and a live auction starting at 7 p.m.

Peter Desforges, president of Newport Beach-based Wohl Investment Co., will receive the Joel K. Rubenstein Award, the agency’s highest honor.

Admission to the black-tie event is $750 per person. For tickets or more information, visit bigbrooc.org and look under “Events.”

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Working Wardrobes expands

Working Wardrobes, a Costa Mesa-based nonprofit that provides career assistance for people trying to recover from substance abuse, domestic violence, incarceration, homelessness and other challenges, recently opened its sixth shop.

The outlet clothing store at 23016 Lake Forest Drive in Laguna Hills is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

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Costa Mesa schools receive funding

The Costa Mesa High School Foundation recently awarded more than $100,000 in grants for academic programs, instruction, supplies and technology to Costa Mesa High and Middle schools. Most of the funds comes from the Segerstrom Family Foundation, according to a news release.

The awards included $42,000 toward a full-time college specialist to support students, $20,000 for a music accompanist for vocal music, $20,000 for a string instrument consultant and $15,000 to support the Business Academy’s trip to a national competition in New York.

The foundation is looking to raise an additional $150,000 this school year and will be reaching out to 5,000 Costa Mesa families, business leaders and community activists.

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The Chronicle name stays

The newsletter of the Costa Mesa Senior Center, The Chronicle, will not be changing its name.

Based on a recent survey, the center’s commission voted Tuesday to keep the monthly publication’s name intact.

Earlier this year, city staff suggested renaming the newsletter “The Buzz on 19th Street,” in reference to the center’s West 19th Street address. The name didn’t fare well, so the commission created a contest for new names.

Voting took place in August. Of the 42 votes cast, 22 supported keeping The Chronicle name as is. The runner-up name, “Senior Chronicle,” got 13 votes.

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Bank of America gives grants

Bank of America recently gave grants to several Orange County nonprofits.

In Irvine, Jamboree Housing Corp. received $40,000 for low-income housing services, the Kennedy Commission received $10,000 to increase affordable housing opportunities, and the Orange County Education and Research Institute received $30,000 for its workforce housing initiative.

In Costa Mesa, South Coast Repertory received $40,000 for education and outreach programs.