Around Town: Air Force Thunderbirds to honor COVID-19 first responders with Friday flyover

The U. S. Air Force Thunderbirds fly in close formation at the Great Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach on Oct. 5, 2019.

By Daily Pilot Staff

May 14, 2020 3:07 PM PT

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be flying over Orange County on Friday as a salute to the state’s COVID-19 frontline responders.

The flight begins in South Orange County at 1:35 p.m. and is expected to fly over Orange County until about 2 p.m. Times are subject to change.

Residents are encouraged to stay home and observe the flyover from their residences in compliance with current state stay-at-home orders and avoid traveling to see the flyover or gathering in groups.

Stand and Salute Giving Day

The Orange County Community Foundation will host the third annual Stand and Salute, a giving day to honor county veterans and military families, on May 20.

The 24-hour online effort aims to raise $90,000 for seven local organizations. Last year, the Stand and Salute Giving Day raised $90,444 from more than 241 donors.

Orange County has about 130,000 military veterans, many of whom seek assistance from local nonprofits. The seven nonprofits participating in Stand and Salute this year include 211 Orange County, Bob Hope USO, Goodwill of Orange County, Strength in Support, Strong Families Strong Children, Support the Enlisted Project and Working Wardrobes.

Stand and Salute is part of an initiative by OCCF to boost the capacity of local nonprofits through a series of collaborative giving days, where organizations with shared missions are invited to come together to boost collective giving for their causes. To date, giving days have raised more than $10 million for local nonprofits.

To give online during the Stand and Salute Giving Day, visit stand-and-salute-giving-day.ocnonprofitcentral.org.

For more information, visit oc-cf.org/iheartoc.

Costa Mesa police and fire to receive 250 meals

Costa Mesa’s Torelli Realty is teaming up with California Coastal Loans and Wahoo’s Fish Taco on Tuesday at noon to provide 250 meals for members of the Costa Mesa Police Department and firefighters in the city’s six fire stations.

Torelli Realty founder Valerie Torelli will present Costa Mesa Police Chief Bryan Glass with fish taco meals outside of Costa Mesa City Hall to express appreciation for the hard work being done by first responders on the frontlines during the coronavirus pandemic.

For more information, contact Sara Johnston at (949) 872-6764 or sara@hkamarcom.com.

Field of Honor canceled

The annual Field of Honor American flag display has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The popular display, which honors military veterans with 1,776 full-size American flags along the paths of Castaways Park in Newport Beach for Armed Forces and Memorial days, is a fundraiser for organizations that support military members and families.

The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor, which presents the Field of Honor, will instead have a smaller installment of 20 to 30 U.S. flags surrounding the park’s Marine monument overlooking the bay. The flags will be on display from Saturday through May 25. Castaways Park is at 16th Street and Dover Drive.

The Exchange Club plans to return its full Field of Honor next year. Donors can still give funds at exchangeclubofnewportharbor.com.

Sherman Gardens reopens

Sherman Library & Gardens reopened Monday with limited admissions.

The Newport Beach botanical garden is allowing limited guests during designated times to ensure proper physical distancing and to allow for proper cleaning. All visitors need to reserve tickets online in advance. Tickets are free for members and $5 for nonmembers, and can be reserved at thesherman.org.

Sherman Library & Gardens is located at 2647 E. Coast Hwy. in Corona del Mar. Visitors must enter through the south gate near the rear parking lot via Dahlia Street or Fernleaf Avenue. All guests are asked to wear a face covering and sanitize their hands upon arrival.

The reopening comes during National Public Gardens Week, which Sherman Gardens will commemorate through its social media channels.

Marriott gives 8,000 rolls of toilet paper to Hoag workers

Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa general manager Debbie Snavely, with Newport Beach & Co. tourism chief Gary Sherwin, donated 8,000 rolls of toilet paper to 500 frontline workers Tuesday at Newport’s Hoag Hospital.

While struggling with the economic upheaval of sweeping shutdowns, the local hospitality industry has also been taking care of healthcare workers and people impacted by the pandemic with free meals and other donations.

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