SHORT TAKES

OCC students win first place in culinary contest

A team from Orange Coast College took first place in the American Culinary Federation’s Western student competition, beating out nine other teams from the Western United States at a contest in Idaho.

Five OCC students — Brodie Curtis, Marissa Gerlach, Conrad Malaya, Suzanne Nottage and Brent Omeste — won a three-part contest held April 15 through 17 at the Coeur d’Alene Golf and Resort Spa. OCC, having won the regional contest, will face off against the other three regional champions in Orlando in July.

— Michael Miller

Costa Mesa man leads police on chase, is arrested

A Costa Mesa man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, failure to yield, hit-and-run and resisting arrest early Saturday after he led police on a short foot chase into his apartment. A passenger in the car was also arrested, police said.

Alfredo Cruz, 23, and Carlos Juarez Gonzalez, 23, were reportedly returning from a night of drinking at a Santa Ana bar when police observed Cruz run a red light before turning right onto Mendoza Drive from Baker Street just before 3 a.m. Saturday, Lt. Dale Birney said.

Cruz allegedly did not stop when an officer tried to pull him over. As Cruz veered onto La Salle Avenue from Mission Drive, he lost control of the car which sent him crashing into two parked cars, a traffic sign and a tree, Birney said.

Once out of the car, Cruz reportedly tried to run from police, who followed him into his apartment on Mission Drive where they subsequently arrested him.

Gonzalez was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public.

— Amanda Pennington

New exhibition graces Balboa Gallery

The Balboa Gallery announced a new exhibition and photo contest this week, “Photography Through the Eyes of Children,” offering a $100 prize to the first-place entry.

The contest is open to school-age children through sixth grade who live on the Balboa Peninsula. From late August to Oct. 1, participants may submit one 5-by-7-inch, black and white or color photograph taken anytime after Jan. 1, 2007.

For more information, call gallery owner Jim Fournier at (949) 673-3767.

— Jessie Brunner

Irvine Co. to honor students

Thirty-two Orange County high school students will be honored Wednesday by the Irvine Co., which sponsors an annual scholarship competition for college-bound seniors.

Every year, the company selects students from the Newport-Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Tustin and Orange unified school districts to compete for up to $10,000 in scholarship money. Each of the 32 contestants receives $2,500, while the eight semifinalists win $5,000 and the four finalists take the top prize. The Irvine Co. will announce the four winners at the ceremony Wednesday, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach.

— Michael Miller