IN BRIEF

Costa Mesa offers a chance to get involved

Citizens wishing to influence how the city addresses redevelopment issues

including housing, street improvement, helping the homeless and economic

development are asked to participate in community planning workshops

scheduled for next month.

The city will hold workshops Nov. 9 and Nov. 10 for residents to comment

on the city’s Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development.

The five-year plan is required by the federal department of Housing and

Urban Development.

Last year, the city received more than $2.3 million in federal funding.

Workshop participants will be asked to comment on how to best use those

funds, which include Community Development Block Grants.

The Nov. 9 meeting will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Neighborhood

Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue. The Nov. 10 meeting will be from noon

to 1:30 p.m. in Council chambers at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.

For more information call, the Costa Mesa Consolidated Plan Hotline at

(714) 754-4892.

Irish eyes will be smiling

Riverdance-style entertainment, local band the Fenians and an Irish

Christmas shopping bazaar are some of the highlights of an Irish fair

offered this weekend at the Fairgrounds.

This is the first Great American Irish Fair and Music Festival. The event

is a spinoff from an Irish Fair held in Los Angeles County.

Costa Mesa Mayor Gary Monahan, who is of Irish ancestry, will be part of

a parade Sunday and plans to issue a “fun” declaration for the fair.

The event also features a Leprechaun Kingdom for children, re-creations

of medieval Irish villages, and appearances by headliner Hal Roach, the

Irish King of Blarney.

Admission is $12 adults, $10 for senior citizens. Admission is free for

children under 12.

Market Place to have special holiday schedule

The Orange County Market Place will operate on a special schedule during

the holiday season.

To offer extended shopping hours for customers, the Market Place at 88

Fair Drive, will be open

- Nov. 26, the Friday after Thanksgiving from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

- Nov. 27 and 28, Thanksgiving Weekend, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

-Tuesday, December 21 through Thursday, Dec. 23, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Market Place will close for the holidays the weekends of Dec. 25 and

Jan. 1. It will reopen the weekend of Jan. 8.