Airport sees a 4.1% rise in passengers...

Airport sees a 4.1% rise in passengers in June

Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport increased in June

compared to the same time last year, airport officials said.

Last month, 745,140 passengers traveled from and to Orange

County’s airport, a 4.1% increase from 2002.

Commercial carrier flights decreased 5.9% while air taxi

operations showed an increase of 162.2% compared to last year.

Total aircraft operations decreased this year 8.8%.

Fashion Island Concert Series begins today

The Fashion Island Summer Concert series begins at 7 p.m. today

with ‘80s pop icon Taylor Dayne. The annual event, which began in

1967, has been known to draw as many as 10,000 people. The series

will continue every Wednesday through Aug. 13 and will feature

artists Juice Newton, The Motels, The Association, Loverboy and

Poncho Sanchez. The free shows take place in the Bloomingdale’s

Courtyard with preferred seating available for $20. For tickets or

additional information, contact the Fashion Island concierge at (949)

721-2000.

New programs offered at Back Bay Fitness

Back Bay Fitness is presenting three new fitness programs designed

to cater to the schedule of the busy professional.

Breakfast Club is a 45-minute cycling class held Mondays,

Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 6 a.m. and features a

complimentary breakfast after class.

Lunch Buster is a 45-minute cycling class on Mondays and

Wednesdays beginning at noon and allows participants to order a lunch

to be taken back to the office after class.

The Fat Burner Series is a 6-week cardiovascular/weight program

beginning Aug. 6. The program is restricted to four people and will

run on Wednesdays.

For more information, contact (949) 631-5587.

Corona del Mar will host safety meeting

The Corona Del Mar community is invited to a pedestrian safety

forum hosted by the city of Newport Beach on July 24.

Information gleaned from the meeting will be used in finalizing

the new median plans for Corona del Mar village as well as the

proposed Vision 2004 plan.

For more information, contact Rich Edmonston at (949) 644-3311.

Dean fund-raiser will be held in Costa Mesa

Orange County for Dean is hosting a fund-raiser to help elect

former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean for the Democratic nominee in the

2004 presidential elections. The event takes place at 6 p.m. Tuesday

at the Shark Club in Costa Mesa.

Happy hour prices on well drinks, beer, wine and appetizers will

continue through 7 p.m. with free pool for the duration of the event.

For more information about Dean, visit www.deanforamerica.com.

South Coast Plaza begins Center display

South Coast Plaza is presenting a display featuring floor plans,

models, architectural renderings and videos of the Orange County

Performing Arts Center’s expansion project that began on Monday.

The project includes the 2,000-seat Renee and Henry Segerstrom

Concert Hall, the new home for Orange County’s Pacific Symphony and

Pacific Chorale, as well as the 500 seat Samueli Theater. The display

is in the Jewel Court and will run through July 21.

For more information, contact (714) 556-ARTS.

-- Tom Forquer