Jane Smiley of Newport Beach was one...

Jane Smiley of Newport Beach was one of 12 volunteers honored at an

ALS Assn. Orange County Chapter luncheon April 16. The ALS Assn.

kicked off National Volunteer Recognition Week with its annual

luncheon to honor its volunteers for their hard work and more than

6,050 hours of service in 2004.

The association is a not-for-profit health organization dedicated

to the fight against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly

known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a progressive, and usually

fatal, neuromuscular disease that attacks the nerve cells and robs

the body of its ability to perform the simplest tasks. There is no

cure for the disease and the average life expectancy is two to five

years following diagnosis.

It’s estimated that, at any given time, about 30,000 Americans are

living with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Paige Selby of Newport Beach will be representing the city as Miss

Newport Beach in the upcoming Teenage California Scholarship Pageant.

This is a pageant without a swimsuit competition, based on academic

achievement, community service, educational and career goals,

communications skills and personality, as well as poise and

appearance.

The winner receives a $10,000 college scholarship, the title of

Miss Teenage California and the opportunity to compete for the title

of Miss Teen of the Nation. Selby, a former Andersen Elementary

student, is currently a freshman at Saint Margaret’s High School.

Navy Seaman Recruit Devin R. Ortega, son of Esther Kramer of Costa

Mesa and Raymond B. Ortega of Anaheim, recently completed U.S. Navy

basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

During the eight-week program, Ortega completed a variety of

training, which included classroom study and practical instruction on

naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival,

and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on

physical fitness.

Ortega is a 2003 graduate of Katella High School in Anaheim.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christian M. Livingston, grandson of

Sylvia Stackhouse of Costa Mesa, recently received a Letter of

Commendation and was named Junior Sailor of the Year while serving as

an advanced sonar and fathometer operator assigned to the Sonar

Division on board the U.S. submarine Dallas, based in Groton, Conn.

Livingston’s ability to train peers and junior sonar men alike

significantly enhanced the training and qualification progress of the

entire division. Livingston personally conducted mission-critical

repairs to numerous sonar systems. Livingston is a 1996 graduate of Corona High School in Corona and joined the Navy in December 2001.

* NEIGHBORS spotlights achievements in the community. Please

direct noteworthy information to Lindsay Sandham

by fax at (714) 966-4679, or send e-mail to lindsay.sandham

@latimes.com.