Neighbors

Sid Shah, a management consultant with Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP of

Costa Mesa, was appointed to the board of directors for Habitat for

Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to ending poverty housing.

Shah received specialized training through the Board Connection Program,

offered by the Volunteer Center of Orange County. . . . Navy Seaman

Apprentice Jason A. Ready, son of Deborah A. Ready of Costa Mesa, has

completed basic training with honors at Recruit Training Command in Great

Lakes, Ill. Ready completed exercises in first aid, fighting fires,

shipboard and aircraft safety, and also received instruction on their

military performance and personal conduct. . . . Sarah Brown, daughter of

John and Kay Brown of Newport Beach, was named to the dean’s list at

Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, during the 2001 spring semester for

having a grade-point average of 3.5 or better. Brown is an Estancia High

School graduate. She is a psychology major. . . . Playmates Toys Inc. of

Costa Mesa appointed Lou Novak as president. Novak has had management

positions with Galoob, Mattel and Coleco. Novak will oversee all business

aspects of the company’s U.S.-based operations. Novak previously served

as chief executive of Mainframe Entertainment Inc., an award-winning

computer animation studio. . . . Corona del Mar resident Sydney Buck will

be honored with a Distinguished Service Award during Ohio University’s

homecoming this weekend. Buck graduated from the university in 1957 and

has been a significant fund-raiser for the Ohio University Foundation and

is a member of the university’s National Advisory Council. He is a

certified public accountant and is vice president of The Koll Co., a real

estate management business in Newport Beach. Buck and his wife, Sonya

Donlan, live in Corona del Mar. . . . Yard House Restaurants LLC

announced the appointment of chief financial officer Jeff Uttz. Uttz was

most recently the vice president of finance for CKE Restaurants Inc., the

parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. He will oversee all financial

aspects of the company. Yard House has restaurants in Costa Mesa, Long

Beach and Irvine, with plans to open a fourth restaurant in Rancho Mirage

on Dec. 7. . . . Richard McCloskey, the chief executive of Tax and

Financial Group, a general agency for the Newport Beach-based

full-service financial planning firm Minnesota Life, will be a 2002

inductee into the Management Hall of Fame. The award is presented

annually by GAMA International to a leader in the insurance and financial

services industry. McCloskey will receive his honor at the March national

convention and was chosen for his dedication to industry activities and

community affairs. He founded the company he leads today in 1970. Tax and

Financial Group has placed first or second every year since 1986 in

first-year commissions with Minnesota Life.

* NEIGHBORS spotlights achievements in the community. Please direct

noteworthy information to Bryce Alderton via fax at (949) 646-4170, or

send e-mail too7 bryce.alderton@latimes.comf7 .