BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

Newport Beach Lifeguard tryouts will take place at 8:30 a.m. March 11

at Lifeguard Headquarters at the Newport Beach Pier. Applications are due

by 6 p.m. March 7.

Applicants must be 16 by April 1 and submit to medical and background

checks, as well as the seasonal ocean lifeguard test March 11. The

lifeguard test will consist of a 1,000 meter ocean swim and a 1,000 meter

ocean run-swim-run.

Those who pass will be eligible to take the training classes, which

will take place March 30 through May 19. Trainees will be compensated

with minimum wage during training. Once hired, pay ranges from $11.83 to

$17.41 per hour.

For more information, call (949) 644-3049, Ext. 0; visit the Lifeguard

Headquarters from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit the web site at

http//www.newportlifeguard.org.

Study shows rise in OCC transfer rate

More students at Orange Coast College are transferring to four-year

colleges and universities and are younger than in past years, a recent

study by the college’s Admissions and Records Office shows.

Over the past five years, the number of students who are under the age

of 21 has increased by more than 30%. This year, 38.7% are 20 years old

or younger, the study says.

For the spring semester, 59.4% of students listed “transferring to a

four-year institution” as their primary academic goal at OCC, an increase

of 5.3% since 1996, according to the study.

There has also been an increase in the number of students taking both

day and night classes. According to the college, in the 1970s, few

students crossed that boundary. Now 35% are enrolled in both kinds of

classes.

Central Library to display Grace’s art

“Within Still Life and Landscape,” an exhibition of acrylics and other

media by Kathleen Grace, will be on display March 1-31 from 9 a.m. to 9

p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and

from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Newport Beach Central Library.

Grace uses a variety of techniques, working in layers and scrubbing

off paint to reveal the layers beneath, to create still life and

landscape paintings.

The library is located at 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. Admission

is free. Information: (949) 717-3800.

Fairgrounds to host cat show

The Malibu Cat Club will sponsor a cat show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Feb. 24 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Orange County

Fairgrounds, Building 12, 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa.

In addition to clothing for cats, cat trees, toys, food and grooming

supplies, 350 cats from around the country will compete for national

awards.

Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors and children. Parking is

free. Information: (909) 372-9079.