Many local participants at the 2002...

Many local participants at the 2002 Orange County Fair went home

with awards in various categories. Joe Lavers, a 14-year-old resident

of Newport Beach, won the best-of-show award in the teen woodworking

category for his wood bowl.... The Violet P. Woodhouse Law Firm in

Newport Beach announced last month that family law, personal injury

and civil defense attorney Chandra L. Moss would join the firm. Moss’

responsibilities will focus on family law matters, including marital

dissolution, child custody, child and spousal support, property

division and paternity.... Retired Orange Coast College English

professor Rich Linder has published his first novel, “Two Men Tall,”

which is available in bookstores. Linder taught English for 29 years

and retired from teaching at OCC in 1995. He started writing his

novel shortly afterward and completed it nearly two years ago....

Navy Seaman Jeremiah D. Cleveland of Costa Mesa graduated from the

Gun Computer System and Optical Sight System and Operation and

Maintenance Course. The 1998 Costa Mesa High School graduate was

assigned to the Fleet Combat Training Center, Atlantic, in Virginia

Beach, Va. During the 12-week course, Cleveland learned to operate

and maintain various systems used to control the firing of the gun

mount on Arleigh Burke class destroyers.... The Newport Auto Center

Team received an award last month for its involvement with Heritage

House and the Orangewood Children’s Home. Kevin Smith, general sales

manager, and Tim Tauber, general manager of the center, which is part

of the AutoNation Inc. dealerships, were chosen to receive the

Community Star Award.... Lacy Bryant, a 15-year-old Newport Beach

resident, completed two weeks as a Landmark Volunteer with the

Glimmerglass Opera. Bryant, daughter of Mary Buckingham, helped at

the opera complex by doing projects such as ground maintenance,

painting clapboard buildings, setting up tables and assisting guests

at a gala weekend, and ushering at opera events. Bryant will enter

her sophomore year at Santa Catalina School and participates in many

community and school-related programs .... Marvin Neben of Corona del

Mar and Blossom Siegel and Jerry Werksman of Newport Beach were

honored at the 36th annual Jewish Federation of Orange County meeting

on June 26. Neben served as president from 1978 to 1980. Siegel

served from 1993 to 1996. And Werksman served from 1996 to 1997. The

Jewish Federation supports Jewish community services in Orange

County, Israel and around the world.

* NEIGHBORS spotlights achievements in the community. Please

direct noteworthy information to Christine Carrillo via fax at (949)

646-4170, or send e-mail to christine.carrillo@latimes.com.