BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

Local districts receive adult-education grantsThe Newport-Mesa Unified School District and Coast Community College District are set to receive grants for adult education, joining 254 other grantees on a list released Tuesday by state education Supt. Jack O’Connell.

The state awarded $64.8 million in grants under the Workforce Investment Act Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. The Newport-Mesa and Coast districts were among 13 Orange County recipients. The school district received $256,500, while the college district netted $93,466.

The money pays for teacher salaries, textbooks, supplies, child care and other items. Cliff Moss, the education programs consultant for the state adult education office, said the recipients would get half of their grant money this week, then receive the rest in increments by the fall.

To garner the full amount allotted by the state, grantees must fill out quarterly reports showing the progress they have made.

Nonprofit arts group offers appraisalsThe Newport Beach Arts Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding performing and visual arts programs throughout the city, invites the public to their Appraising Your Collectibles fundraising event Saturday.

Appraisers and auctioneers from Bonhams & Butterfields will be on hand to offer inexpensive appraisals of jewelry, paintings, books and other collectibles.

The fundraiser, which includes refreshments and a raffle, will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the multipurpose room at the Oasis Senior Center, 800 Marguerite Ave., Corona del Mar. For more information, call (949) 466-4031.