COMMUNITY & CLUBS:National Day of Prayer brings faiths together in Newport Beach

Nearly 140 people from more than 25 congregations attended the 10th annual National Day of Prayer breakfast sponsored by the Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council on Thursday at the Balboa Bay Club. Dignitaries in attendance included Newport Beach Mayor Steve Rosansky; Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle; Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau; Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley; Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustees David Brooks, Michael Collier and Karen Yelsey; and Coast Community College District trustee Mary Hornbuckle.

Participating in the program were event Chairwoman the Rev. Julie Elkins of the First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa; Beth Nakao and Trevor Watkins of the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church; Dennis Short, pastor of Harbor Christian Church; Richard Nyberg, family counselor; Vitoria Dendiger of Our Lady Queen of Angels; Rabbi Marc Rubenstein of Temple Isaiah; Moustafa al-Qazwini, Islamic Education Center of Orange County; Susan Munsell, Family Federation for World Peace; Jaimie Day, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and keynote speaker Peter Vidmar.

“I enjoyed the entire program and found Peter Vidmar to be a very entertaining and motivational speaker,” stated Trustee Karen Yelsey said. “What a great way to start the day!” She added.

LIONS MOURN FORMER PRESIDENT

Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club members are mourning the passing in April of past President Paul Brecht, a 36-year member.

Brecht is survived by his wife, Jane, who for years had supported Paul Brecht with all his endeavors. “They both opened their home and heart to us on many occasions,” fellow Lion Lee Gibbs said in the club newsletter, the Lions Tale.

“As a past president myself, I often recall when I was president they opened up their Orchid Gardens to host the Lions Christmas party. It was a party that we have remembered the beauty of the setting. I will be forever grateful for the friendship and service to us the Lions in all his years in our community,” added Gibbs.

Brecht was a life member of the Newport Harbor Orchid Society, member of the Costa Mesa Historical Society and the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce. My condolences to his family and friends.

EXCHANGE CLUB HONORS LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS

Thanks to the efforts of Jack Wilder and Rich Witesman, the Exchange Club of Corona del Mar presented four awards to deserving members of the Orange County Fire Authority at a recent meeting. Daniel Hansen received the reserve firefighter of the year award; Jim Cash, the dispatcher of the year award; Jon Schibsted, the professional staff employee of the year award; and Steve Klein, the manager of the year award.

LIONS TO JOIN VISION WALK

Harbor Mesa Lions Club members will participate in the 5K Vision Walk on June 3 to raise money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. The walk will take place at 10 a.m. in Hicks Canyon Community Park in Irvine, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Funds raised at this event will be used to help find a cure for blinding retinal diseases. For further information about the walk, call (310) 207-2089. To sponsor the Harbor Mesa Lions team, call (714) 962-0265.