Councilman Monahan is Irish honoree While St....

Councilman Monahan is Irish honoree

While St. Patrick’s Day has special significance for Gary Monahan,

the Costa Mesa City Councilman was beaming with Irish pride a few

days earlier this year.

Monahan was named as an Irish honoree in early March. The honor

was bestowed by the Irish American Foundation of Southern California.

Monahan is one of 10 Americans of Irish heritage who have contributed

greatly in government, to the community or to Irish events, or

demonstrated religious leadership.

Honorees were invited to receive an award and proclamation from

the Los Angeles City Council on Friday, but Monahan was unable to

attend.

Ursini family gets Mayor’s Award

Fran and John Ursini are the latest recipients of the Costa Mesa

Mayor’s Award. The Ursini family owns and operates the Newport Rib

Co. In 15 years, more than $200,000 has been raised for AYSO and

Kiwanis charities through AYSO pancake breakfasts that father and son

Fran and John Ursini have chaired.

Mayor Karen Robinson selected Fran and John Ursini for their

generosity, diverse volunteer efforts and years of service. They will

be honored at the April 7 City Council meeting.

Costa Mesa Visitor Bureau earns awards

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Assn. Intl. has recognized the

Costa Mesa Conference and Visitor Bureau with two awards in the 2002

Adrian Advertising Intl. Travel Awards Competition. The bureau earned

the only Gold Award presented in the Direct Mail-Travel Trade

competition, as well as a Silver Merit Award in the Rooms/Travel

Sales category.

This year’s contest attracted more than 1,500 entries from 45

countries and destinations around the world, with entries judged by

teams of experts from all sectors of the industry.

OCTA info center offers more hours

The Orange County Transportation Authority’s Customer Information

Center has extended its hours.

The center is open 21 more hours each week, opening earlier and

closing later to provide bus and other transit information to the

authority’s 210,000 daily customers.

The extended hours are part of the transportation authority’s

“Putting Customers First” initiative.

The new hours are: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m.

to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. holidays.

English and Spanish-speaking customers can get fare information or

help with trip planning.