Around Town: Marina Park in Newport Beach to open Saturday
After nearly two years of construction, Newport Beach’s $36 million Marina Park is scheduled to welcome its first visitors Saturday.
The park, which encompasses 10.5 acres along West Balboa Boulevard between 16th and 18th streets, includes a 24,000-square-foot sailing and community center, a marina for short-term docking, a nautical-themed playground and a restaurant. A ribbon cutting is set for 10 a.m., followed by tours of the park, arts and crafts, and sailing, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking demonstrations.
The event is free and open to the public.
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Costa Mesa firefighters to help CHOC at fashion show
The Costa Mesa Fire Department is teaming for the sixth year with Children’s Hospital of Orange County on a fashion show Saturday at South Coast Plaza to raise money for CHOC.
Firefighters and some of CHOC’s patients will model at the show, which is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the mall’s Bloomingdale’s store, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.
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Corona del Mar steps out for Christmas Walk on Sunday
The 37th annual Corona del Mar Christmas Walk will take to the streets of the Newport Beach enclave from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce will present the free event, featuring live entertainment, food, prizes and games.
Festivities will include merchant promotions throughout Corona del Mar’s business district on and around East Coast Highway, music by a dozen bands at various locations, the Fireman’s Grill BBQ provided by the Newport Beach Fire Department, photos with Santa Claus, bounce houses, bungee jumping, holiday characters, a petting zoo, a vendor fair, a beer and wine garden in Bandera restaurant’s lower parking lot at 3201 E. Coast Hwy., a drawing with more than $15,000 in prizes and more.
For more information, call (949) 673-4050 visit cdmchamber.com/events/christmas_walk.asp.
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Fashion Island menorah lighting will celebrate Hanukkah
Fashion Island in Newport Beach will join the Chabad Center for Jewish Life in presenting a public menorah-lighting ceremony beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday to celebrate Hanukkah.
The free event in the mall’s Atrium Garden Court will begin with holiday music performed by special-needs children served by the Friendship Circle. The lighting of the large menorah will be at 3:45 p.m.
There also will be holiday gifts and treats, Hanukkah crafts, face painting and balloon animals. Visitors are encouraged to bring a donation for a toy drive for needy children.
Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire, is observed by lighting the menorah, a type of candelabrum, each day for eight days. This year the holiday is being celebrated Sunday through Dec. 14.
Fashion Island is at 401 Newport Center Drive. For more information about the event, call (949) 721-9800.
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Irvine schools foundation presents video contest
Middle and high school students in the Irvine Unified School District are invited to participate in the Irvine Public Schools Foundation’s Big Dream Video Contest through Jan. 8.
Students can make a 15-second video that creatively reflects what they hope to accomplish and how they see their future selves. Videos can be uploaded to ipsf.net/bigdream.
Public voting will be held Jan. 1 through 10. The top three vote getters will win prizes. The school with the most video submissions will win a DJ and photo booth during lunch.
For more information, visit the website.
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3 Irvine schools get ‘Innovation in Education’ grants
Three schools in the Irvine Unified School District are among 15 in Orange County awarded “Innovation in Education” grants from Cox Communications to help fund programs for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
The program, which awarded a total of $52,000 in grants, invited principals, administrators and teachers at schools in the Cox service area to apply for money for innovative classroom projects focusing on skills-based learning, science, technology, engineering, art and design, math, digital literacy and cyber citizenship (using the Internet responsibly).
The Irvine recipients are Canyon View Elementary (Liz Harlow), University Park Elementary (Alice Shin) and Santiago Hills Elementary (Kathie Wilhelm).
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KOCI event to benefit children, families
The third annual KOCI/101.5 FM Kids Christmas event is scheduled for Dec. 13.
The event is from noon to 2 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Country Club, 1701 Golf Course Drive.
Guests of all ages are asked to bring toys, food and beverage donations. It will benefit 80 local children and their families, who will be treated to lunch, Christmas gifts and a visit from Santa Claus.
For more information, call Troy Davis at (714) 264-1334. The event is not open to the public.
— From staff reports