COMMUNITY & CLUBS:The greening of Newport-Mesa

Members of the Rotary Club of NewportBalboa, joined by the Rotary Club of Costa Mesa, will distribute more than 2,400 seedlings to third-graders attending public and private schools in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach this week to celebrate Arbor Day, continuing a 37-year tradition that was started by the late County Supervisor Tom Riley, then-Rotary club president.

Since its inception in Newport-Mesa, the Rotary Club has provided more than 90,000 seedlings to generations of third-graders, who are given planting and care tips so that the seedlings can flourish in yards or in containers, Rotarian Bill Hossfield, Rotary Club community service chairman said.

This year’s seedling is a Podocarpus macrophyllus “Maki” — a Japanese yew, according to Peter Smith, Arbor Day chairman. In preparation for delivering the seedlings, dozens of Rotarians are spending today at Hines Nursery in Irvine, trimming and pruning the seedlings to ready them for planting.

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 celebration’s timing varies from state to state, but generally is determined by the best tree-planting time. In California, the date is chosen to celebrate the birth of noted horticulturalist Luther Burbank.

One other tradition that continues is the dedication of large specimen tree to an elementary school campus that will be planted at Newport Elementary on at 8:30 a.m. Monday. Newport-Mesa school board members, staff and the Newport Beach City Council have been invited to join with Rotarians at the ceremony. The public is invited to attend as well, club President Steve Speer said.

552 CLUB MIXER

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a little early, enjoy some of Muldoon’s complimentary appetizers and a cash bar, and meet some great people at the 552 Club Mixer from 5:52 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Muldoon’s Dublin Pub and Celtic Bar, 202 Newport Center Drive, Newport Center. Admission is free, so bring your friends!

SPEAKER CHANGE AT SPEAK UP NEWPORT

Newport Beach City Councilman Michael Henn was originally scheduled to appear at Speak Up Newport, but he had a conflict, so recently elected Dist. 6 Councilwoman Nancy Gardner will pinch-hit.

The meeting on Wednesday will be held at the Newport Beach Yacht Club, 1099 Bayside Drive. Refreshments will be served at the cash bar starting at 5 p.m., and the meeting will start at 6 p.m. Guests are always welcome. You don’t have to be a member to attend. For more details, call (949) 224-2266 or go to www.speakupnewport.org .

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE CLUB

Tom Denney, sponsored by Gary Eckles, joined the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor.

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

How are you giving back to your community? 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 opportunity for service.

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 40-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at Five Crowns to hear Craig Lockwood, staff pastor of Vineyard Fellowship Church. For more information, go to www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org .The 20-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Marriott Suites to discuss club goals and community service projects.

Noon:

6 p.m.: The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club.

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant, 290 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

Noon: The 27-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

6 p.m.: The 55-member Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa meets at the Newport Rib Company for a program by Antoine Maura, a hospital services volunteer to Haiti. For details, go to www.newportbalboa.org .

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Cafe.

Noon: The Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club meets at the Holiday Inn for a program by Greg Dennis. For details, go to www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesa ; the Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for its annual musical “Wearing of the Green.” Guests are welcome. The Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the Ayres Hotel to hear Terrence Dwyer, president and chief executive of the Performing Arts Center. For details, go to www.nirotary.org . The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at Ruth Chris Steak House and then moves on to John Wayne Airport for a tour of the helicopter facility. For more information, go to https://members.cox.net/nhexchangeclub/index.htm .