Around Town: Newport Harbor High Alumni Assn. to show ‘Five Summer Stories’ surfing movie virtually

The Newport Harbor High School Alumni Assn. is hosting a virtual showing of the classic 1972 surf film “Five Summer Stories” on Oct. 18 at 5 p.m.

All are invited to log in to watch the film. It will be followed by a live interview with filmmaker Greg MacGillivray, who graduated from Newport Harbor in 1963, and musician Tris Imboden from the band Honk (class of 1969), and who went on to play with the band Chicago.

Donations are appreciated and will go to the NHHS Alumni Assn. and its scholarship program, which has given away $44,000 over the last four years.

To reserve a spot for the virtual showing, visit newportharboralumni.org/five-summer.

For more information, contact Sara Joyce Robinson at sarajoycerobinson@gmail.com.

‘Topping out’ event at O.C. Museum of Art’s new location

The last structural beam for the Orange County Museum of Art’s new location at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts will be placed Tuesday as part of a ceremonial event dubbed as “Topping Out.”

The museum, designed by architect Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis, broke ground in 2019.

The 52,000-square foot museum will include exhibition galleries and hold major special exhibitions along with exhibitions from its world-traveled collection. The project will also feature an additional 10,000 square feet for education programs, performances and public gatherings.

The museum will be celebrating this virtually and interested readers can view the ceremony at the OCMA’s Instagram at @ocmamuseumofart. The full video will be posted following the live broadcast, which begins at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Laguna Beach candidates forums set for next week

The South Laguna Civic Assn. will put on a Laguna Beach City Council candidates forum on Monday.

The five candidates for City Council are scheduled to appear, including incumbents Mayor Bob Whalen and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow. Challengers Ruben Flores, Larry Nokes and George Weiss will also participate.

South Laguna Civic Assn. second vice president James Henry will moderate the forum, which will be held online on Zoom at zoom.us/j/92432403894 at 6 p.m. Subjects set to come up in the forum include wildfire protection, ocean water quality, how tourists impact the town, and the public’s ability to participate in decision-making as it pertains to land use.

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce will host a candidates forum on Oct. 9 at 5:30 p.m. Questions can be submitted for the candidates at questions@lagunabeachchamber.org by Monday.

Viewing options for the forum are via Zoom at lagunabeachchamber.org or on Cox Channel 852, or the public can listen in on KX FM 104.7. To register, visit lagunabeachcity.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XQDNZeQMSBOczVlKbwqxc.
All five City Council candidates will participate, as well as Ann Marie McKay and Mariann Tracy for city clerk, and Laura Parisi for city treasurer.

UC Irvine earns No. 1 ranking in list of sustainability leaders

Sierra magazine has named UC Irvine as No. 1 overall in its annual “Cool Schools” ranking of sustainability leaders among U.S. and Canadian colleges.

This is the fourth time in the last seven years that UCI has topped the list, and it has ranked in the top 10 each of the last 11 years.

UC Irvine chemistry professor F. Sherwood Rowland did Nobel Prize-winning research into the depletion of the ozone layer nearly 50 years ago. Since then, that work has led to the growth of a campus culture of eco-friendly practices, groundbreaking sustainability research and green accomplishments.

UCI also ranked No. 1 on the list in 2014, 2015 and 2018. Last month, UCI was recognized by the 2020 Green Fleet Awards as having the 10th-greenest fleet of vehicles in the nation. It was the highest-ranked university on that list.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, 20 all-electric shuttle buses and a hydrogen fuel cell bus transported students throughout campus. In 2018, UCI was the first university in the country to abandon its traditional diesel fuel-powered buses and shift to completely sustainable transportation.

“The Sierra ‘Cool Schools’ rankings are respected as the most rigorous measure of an institution’s commitment to environmental and energy research, climate solutions and the full array of environmental stewardship metrics,” Wendell Brase, associate chancellor for sustainability at UCI, said in a release. “Because of this comprehensive breadth, a high Sierra ranking is simply not possible without engagement of the entire faculty, student body and campus leadership. UCI’s legacy of Sierra honors can be claimed by all Anteaters developing research, teaching or seeking solutions across every facet of climate impacts.”

Laguna Beach Holiday Palette Competition

Artists who live, work or exhibit in Laguna Beach have the opportunity to compete in Laguna Beach’s annual Holiday Palette Competition.

The City of Laguna Beach Arts Commission is accepting designs from Laguna Beach artists until Monday.

Selected designs are to be displayed outside of Laguna Beach City Hall, and the artists of those designs will receive $600. Competing artists must be at least 18 years old.

If chosen, the artists will be given a 3-by-4-foot palette to paint their design.

Designs to be entered in the competition can be submitted to the concierge outside City Hall on Monday, or they can be emailed to mmcgregor@lagunabeachcity.net.

“This is a unique program to our city, and we want to continue the opportunity for painters to participate in the public art program, Sian Poeschl, cultural arts manager for Laguna Beach, said in a release about the annual contest that has been around since 1965. “We are committed to offering opportunities for local artists to be paid to be creative.”

Halloween drive-in movie night in Fountain Valley

After successfully providing a drive-in movie for the community in early August, the city of Fountain Valley will again bring the big screen outdoors.

A Halloween double feature will allow movie-goers to see “Hotel Transylvania” and “Hocus Pocus” the same night, should they choose to do so on Oct. 24. Each movie will cost $20 and must be registered for separately at fountainvalley.org/recreation while spots are available. Food can be purchased in advance for the first movie during the registration process.

The movies will be shown at Fountain Valley Sports Park, at 16400 Brookhurst St., with “Hotel Transylvania” starting at 6:30 p.m. and “Hocus Pocus” scheduled for 9:15 p.m.

Those who attend the first movie will also be able to drive through a “Spooky Sponsors Lane.” In keeping with the theme, dressing up in costume is also encouraged.

As safety precautions against the spread of the coronavirus for the event, attendees are asked to remain in their cars during the movie except to go to the restroom. Masks should be worn when outside of a vehicle.

Human Options talks childhood trauma with California surgeon general

Orange County-based abuse prevention group Human Options is hosting its first virtual fundraising event on Oct. 15 at noon.

The free event will center around a conversation on childhood trauma with California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris. It aims to raise $250,000 through sponsorships and donations, to serve parents and children on their journey through Human Options’ relationship violence programs.

In Orange County, family dispute and child custody dispute calls have increased 24% and 30% respectively during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Relationship violence calls have increased 25% when compared with the same period last year.

Burke Harris was appointed as California’s first surgeon general by Gov. Gavin Newsom in January 2019.

The event offers free registration. For more information, visit humanoptions.org/FallEvent2020.

Virtual reality fundraising luncheon

Girls Inc. of Orange County is hosting a “my virtual reality” fundraising luncheon on Oct. 16.

The livestreamed event will feature a teen speaker and an online auction. Participating girls in Girls Inc. of Orange County programming will engage with the audience and share their “virtual reality” stories.

All attendees will receive a lunch from celebrity chef Jamie Gwen delivered to their doors as part of the event.

Interested parties can purchase tickets for $20 for the livestream event only or donate at girlsinc-oc.ejoinme.org/myvirtualreality. For more information on the organization, visit girlsinc-oc.org or contact Ann Levy at alevy@girlsinc-oc.org or (949) 838-7444.

Live music at OC Mix

SOCO’s live music series at the OC Mix in Costa Mesa is every Saturday through Oct. 24.

SOCO will feature live acoustic sessions with musical guests Clif Miller and Jimmy Beall Music.

The OC Mix is located at 3313 Hyland Ave. in Costa Mesa. Times vary and interested parties can visit ocoandtheocmix.com/soco_event/enjoy-the-music-mix-at-socos-live-acoustic-series/2020-10-24/ for more information.

Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.