Commission approves Boy Scout Sea Base The...

Commission approves Boy Scout Sea Base

The California Coastal Commission on Wednesday approved a

rewritten staff report that approves a new Boy Scout Sea Base in

Newport Beach.

The commission had approved the base about a year ago, but because

the decision disagreed with the staff recommendation, the report had

to be redrawn.

The commission supported the $4.5-million sea base, 7 to 1, over

the objections of a staff analyst.

Wednesday’s action was essentially a formality of bookkeeping.

Construction began on the base in October for a new two-story,

22,060-square-foot building.

Summer reading programs available

Gearing up for a summer filled with reading, the Newport Beach

Public Library is encouraging readers of all ages to sign up for one

of the many summer reading programs its offering this year.

For toddlers through sixth-graders, children can participate in

the “It’s a Jungle Out There” program.

This program will include a read-to-me club for those children not

yet reading, as well as a readers’ club for independent readers. In

both clubs, members will earn prizes for their reading efforts.

For those teenagers entering seventh grade and above seeking some

summer reading, the library will offer a “Get Wild ... Read” program.

Adults can join in by signing up for the library’s “Branch Out --

Read” program, which will be held at the Balboa, Corona del Mar or

Mariners branch.

Signups for all clubs will continue through Aug. 16. For more

information, call (949) 717-3816 or visit www.newportbeachlibrary.org.

Interactive event kicks off reading program

The Newport Beach Central Library will host the “Storytelling

Safari” for children entering first through sixth grades at 10:30

a.m. June 30. The program will be repeated at 3 p.m. July 2 at the

Mariners Branch and at 10:30 a.m. July 3 at the Balboa Branch.

Professional storyteller Jim Cogan will present the interactive

program, which will launch the Newport Beach Public Library’s 2003

children’s summer and reading program, “It’s a Jungle Out There.”

Cogan has been an actor, teacher, journalist, a Yosemite National

Park naturalist, and lifelong member of the National Storytelling

Assn.

Wells Fargo to donate money to schools

Wells Fargo will lend a hand to public education through Aug. 31

as part of its community-based program Team Up for Our Schools.

The company will donate up to $20 to the school district closest

to the branch for every new checking account opened through Aug. 31.

The bank will donate $10 to the district when the account is

opened and $10 when new and existing customers sign up and use Wells

Fargo Bill Pay, a service to pay bills online.

The 83 Wells Fargo offices in Orange County will also adopt an

elementary school and will sponsor supply drives and coloring

contests.

Each office will also have teachers’ wish lists and supply bins to

collect items needed in the classrooms. That will start July 1.

-- Kris O’Donnell