Third-graders to plant Arbor Day trees

JIM DE BOOM

Continuing a 35-year tradition, members of the Rotary Club of

Newport-Balboa will distribute more than 2,400 guercus agrifolia --

or coastal live oak -- seedlings to third graders attending public

and private schools in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach this coming week

to celebrate Arbor Day.

The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska in 1872, as an

effort to create windbreaks and reduce soil erosion, while providing

shade, fruit, fuel and beauty to the plains. The timing of the

celebration varies from state to state, but generally is determined

by the best tree planting time. In California, the date is chosen to

celebrate the birthday of noted horticulturist Luther Burbank, who

developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants in his

Northern California greenhouse.

Since its inception in Newport-Mesa, the Rotary Club has provided

more than 85,900 seedlings to generations of third-graders, according

to Rotarian Peter Smith, who chairs the club’s Arbor Day program.

Students are given planting and care tips, so their seedlings will

flourish in yards or containers.

In preparation for delivering the seedlings, dozens of Rotarians

will spend today at Hines Nursery in Irvine, trimming and pruning the

seedlings, making them ready for planting.

One other tradition that will continue is the dedication of a

large specimen tree to a school campus. This year’s tree will be

planted Thursday at 10 a.m. at Newport Coast Elementary. The tree,

provided by Chuck Working from West Coast Arborists, is a Raywood

ash, a quick-growing shade tree for a relatively new campus.

HARBOR MESA LIONS MEMBER HONORED

Harbor Mesa Lions Club member Arlene Schafer was honored at the

recent Lions Multiple District Convention in San Diego with an

International President’s Award for her outstanding service. Arlene

has held various positions at the club and district level and is the

region chairwoman in the Saddleback Region for 2004-2005.

Other members attending the convention were District 4-L4 Governor

Barbara Hayward, club President Sandi Scheafer and club First Vice

President Carol Van Holt. The Multiple District covers California and

Nevada.

DOTI FORECASTS 7% HOUSING PRICE DECLINE

James Doti, President of Chapman University, presented his 2005

economic forecast during the Rotary Club of Newport Irvine luncheon

meeting at the Newport Radisson Hotel, according to Rotarian Robert

Dunham, who sent along the following report of the forecast.

The headline was a sharp 7% decline in Orange County housing

prices in 2005. After witnessing several years of remarkable

increases, Doti anticipated a half-percent gain in mortgage rates

this summer, which will trigger a drop in housing demand.

The cost of housing will outstrip the ability of the average buyer

to meet the payments. Today, the ratio of housing prices to average

income is 8.6 in Orange County, compared to 3.4 nationally. This

trend cannot continue with increased mortgage interest rates, Doti

emphasized.

The national economy is expected to grow by 3.5% in 2005, down

from the 4.4% registered last year. The consumer price index will

edge up slightly to 2.9%, due primarily to a spike in energy prices.

The key to changes in economic activity will be Alan Greenspan,

chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank. By next summer, the series of

increases in short term interest rates is expected to end, reflecting

the easing of economic growth rates.

Overall, the prospects for 2005 are promising, with the

expectation of a drop in housing prices. No recession is in sight at

the present time, Doti noted

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for Today, provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport

Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “There’s nothing so rewarding as to

make people realize they are worthwhile in this world.”

-- BOB ANDERSON

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS SCHEDULED THIS WEEK

Help your community and the world through a service club! For

many, service club membership is an extension of our religious

beliefs and congregation affiliation.

You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week

to learn more about opportunities for service. Most clubs will buy

your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 48-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets

at the Five Crowns restaurant to hear craft talks by members Tim

Brown and David Schild (www.newportbeachsunrise rotary.org).

Noon: The Rotary Club of Costa Mesa, now in formation, meets at

the Holiday Inn.

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the

University Athletic Club.

Noon: The Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Denis LaDucer discuss security in

Europe.

6 p.m.: The 50-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at PIMCO

in Newport Center for a vocational visitation

(www.newportbalboa.org).

THURSDAY

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the

Holiday Inn (www.kiwanis.org/club/ costamesa); The Kiwanis Club of

Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club

(www.newportbeach kiwanis.org); The 100-member Rotary Club of Newport

Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel to hear art professor Tim Clark

(www.nirotary.org); The 85-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor

meets at the Nautical Museum to hear Becky Bailey-Findley, chief

executive officer of the Orange County Fair and Exposition Center

(www.nhexchangeclub.com).

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655

or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.