Newport Beach resident Nancy Ronga won...

Newport Beach resident Nancy Ronga won the top award in the Best

Patriotic Song category at the second annual “Car”aoke Contest held

at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in August. Ronga sung a

rendition of “God Bless America” at the event, which was held in

conjunction with the third annual Endless Summer Car Show and Elvis

Fest. Ronga was presented with her award, which included $20 in cash,

various gift certificates and a rosette ribbon, from Elvis Presley

impersonator, Kirk Wall....The Peterson Group announced the

appointment of Mike Slone to senior graphic designer in August.

Slone, has worked as a professional illustrator, art director and Web

site creator since 1990, and will not be responsible for creating

design solutions for client marketing programs. The Peterson Group is

an 11-year-old full-service marketing communications agency

headquartered in Newport Beach....JBZ Architecture + Planning in

Newport Beach announced that Janet Caprario received the trade

designation SDA/C from the Society of Design Administration last

month. Caprario, director of finance for JBZ, received the

designation after successfully demonstrating outstanding achievement,

professional expertise and displaying the necessary experience in her

field along with the proper education background. JBZ is a

full-service architectural and planning firm specializing in

modernization and new construction services to school districts

throughout California....Zachary Zarnow of Costa Mesa, was recently

accepted into Brandeis University in Boston, Mass. and will attend

the university in the fall. Brandeis is one of the oldest research

universities in the United States and is recognized for its solid

liberal arts focus.

* 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.