Coke looking for people to bear Olympic...

Coke looking for people to bear Olympic torch

Coca-Cola is looking for local people to bear the 2004 Olympic

torch in the Los Angeles area.

Those interested in nominating themselves or others can go to a

participating Albertsons grocery store between now and Dec. 31, pick

up a nomination form and write a 100-word essay about the nominee.

Coca-Cola will select 30 people from the Los Angeles area to carry

the flame. The nominations will be read by a panel of judges. All

torch bearers will carry the torch about 300 to 500 meters and will

pass the flame from torch to torch at designated exchange points

along the route in each city.

The Olympic flame will be traditionally lighted by the sun’s rays

in Olympia on March 25. It will travel the world for 35 days,

visiting 34 cities in 26 countries before returning to Greece for the

start of the games in Athens.

Trash collection delayed for New Year’s

Newport Beach’s General Services Department will not collect trash

on New Year’s Day. Instead, the trash will be collected Jan. 2. In

areas regularly scheduled for Friday collection, trash will be picked

up Jan. 3.

Also, there will no street sweeping in the city on Jan. 1.

For more information, call the General Services Department Monday

through Friday between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at (949) 644-3055.

Parent Help holiday dance on Thursday

Parent Help USA, a nonprofit organization that aims to prevent

child abuse, will have a holiday dinner dance benefit on Thursday at

the Balboa Bay Club.

The event, which will take place during the Newport Harbor

Christmas Boat Parade, will feature dinner, carolers, dancing,

prizes, an auction and a performance by the Colony of Performing Arts

Children.

The program is from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Admission costs $100 per

person. Tickets are free for sponsors who place program

advertisements. For more information, call (949) 650-3461 or visit

https://www.parenthelpusa.org.

Monday will be biggest mailing day of the year

Postal officials said that Monday will be the biggest mailing day

of the year.

To handle the anticipated 61 million pieces of mail in Southern

California, the U. S. Postal Service has increased air cargo lift by

40% and hired additional holiday help, officials said.

The public is urged to send out holiday packages by Dec. 22 within

California and by Dec. 20 if mailing out of state.

Blizzard of fun at Christ Lutheran Church today

A blizzard of wintertime fun is expected to strike Newport Harbor

Lutheran Church today from 4 to 9 p.m., when the church hosts a free

event featuring a live petting manger, train rides, strolling

musicians, international foods and, a Southern California rarity, 30

tons of snow.

“It’s going to be a winter wonderland,” church office manager

Leann Granger said. The church is sponsoring the event with the help

of local businesses as a holiday gesture of fellowship, she said.

“We’re just doing it so the community can come together and

experience winter,” she said. “Since we have perfect weather all year

long, everyone sort of misses a white Christmas now and then.”

In addition to the snow, the event will feature a tree lighting at

6 p.m., sled runs for children and adults, and a variety of foods,

including Greek, Italian, Chinese and American. Tickets cost $1.

Granger said if the weather remains cold, the snow could last

another day or two. She is expecting between 500 and 1,000 people to

attend. The Newport Harbor Lutheran Church is at 798 Dover Drive in

Newport Beach.

Water district offering low-flush toilets

Mesa Consolidated Water District is offering another

ultra-low-flush toilet distribution event on Saturday.

Water customers may be eligible to receive up to two water-saving

toilets for free. Customers must be replacing toilets that are 3.5

gallons per flush or greater (before 1992) and new toilets must be

installed at the address indicated on the water bill. Old toilets

must be returned for recycling on Jan. 10.

The distribution will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Estancia

High School, 2323 Placentia Ave. Participants need to provide a

current water bill and valid photo identification. For more

information, call (949) 631-1205.