It’s child’s play at South Coast Plaza

It’s the first annual Festival of Children at South Coast Plaza

this weekend. The retail giant is teaming up with Children’s Hospital

of Orange County to present the month-long celebration. Some 50 local

children’s charities will be working together to present a multitude

of activities that begin today with a special Disney presentation at

Carousal Court at 11 a.m.

Orange County Supervisor Tom Wilson will emcee the morning of

activities that will also star NBC weatherman Christopher Nance. At 2

p.m., Macys will host a Back-to-School Fashion Show in the Garden

Terrace with Radio Disney also broadcasting live from Macy’s all

afternoon. Special activities for children are planned throughout the

day.

Other activities throughout the month of September include a

meet-and-greet with Ben Thompson, who is the creator of the Harry

Potter trading cards; actor Dom DeLouise will be doing storytelling

for the children; Sponge Bob Square Pants will be on hand for a photo

op; and the Costa Mesa Police Department will sponsor a special 911

Safety Kids/ DARE program at month’s end. For more information, call

Kristin or Janice at (949) 261-2216

A remarkable $125,000 was raised and announced at a recent

scholarship fund-raising drive for the ARCS Foundation (Achievement

Rewards for College Scientists). Barbara Keller and a team of

dedicated volunteers were responsible for the fund-raising effort,

which will be celebrated at an upcoming reception and dinner to be

held Oct. 11 at UC Irvine’s University Club. Chancellor Ralph

Cicerone will be on hand for the presentation of awards to eight

scholarship recipients, along with Pat Beckman, founding president of

the Orange County ARCS Chapter. Beckman, the daughter of the

legendary scientist Arnold Beckman, is also the co-creator of the

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. She will join the current

president of ARCS Mary Lou Furnas and other supporters, including Ann

Rowe of Corona del Mar, Mary Cesario, Margaret Sprague, and

Linda-White Peters, at the event. Francisco Ayala, recipient of the

National Medal of Science, the highest scientific honor in the United

States, will serve as keynote speaker. Ayala, a UCI professor, is a

specialist in the field of genetic research on the origins of

species. His theories on evolutionary biology have attracted

worldwide attention. For tickets to the event, call Eve Thompson at

(714) 969-0415.

The community will honor Jill and Pat Ortiz on Sept. 21 at the

sixth annual Taller San Jose “Light Up A Life” dinner and auction to

be held at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Major support for the dinner

event is coming from Newport’s Hoag Memorial Hospital, Paradise

Design, and Guaranty Chevrolet. The car company is donating a new

Chevrolet Avalanche as a opportunity prize for the $150 per person

dinner. Funds raised go to support the Taller San Jose organization,

a Catholic charity run by local sisters, the purpose of which is to

create educational and job training skills for needy local youth who

might otherwise be indoctrinated into the gang lifestyle. The success

of the program attracted the attention of the Bush White House. In

his recent visit to Orange County, the president spent time with the

sisters of Taller San Jose, offering encouragement on their fine

endeavors. For information and to reserve tickets, call (714)

543-5105.

The premiere Cinema Guild, a support group of the Newport Beach

Film Festival, is putting the finishing touches on a third annual

gala set for Sept. 21 at Sports Club Irvine. Organizers are planning

an evening “Under The Skyy,” which will be a movie and martini night

featuring a special screening of “A Best of the Best Film Shorts”

from the 2002 Film Festival. Skyy Vodka will sponsor with additional

support from a long list of local donors. The rock band “Madison

Paige” will entertain. For ticket information, call the Premiere

Cinema Guild at (949) 253-2880.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.