Around Town: ‘Fiesta Holiday’ to parade off the coast in south O.C.
Dana Point Harbor’s annual Boat Parade of Lights will set sail on Friday through Sunday with a “Fiesta Holiday” theme this year.
Boaters will decorate their boats for the chance to win up to $10,000 in cash prizes awarded for different categories, such as Best Use of Theme, People’s Choice and Mayor’s Cup.
The parade begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. The city of Dana Point’s Jolly Trolley will also run 5:30-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 4-9 p.m. on Sunday.
Dana Point Harbor Partners are also lighting up the harbor with a holiday display made up of more than 700,000 LED lights.
Themed light exhibits include giant whale sculptures, lighted palm trees, Christmas trees, a giant Adirondack chair, and a mistletoe photo-op at the popular “Merry Kiss Me” arch. The light display will be available nightly through early January.
More information on Holidays at the Harbor can be found at danapointharbor.com/holidays-at-the-harbor/.
Beach cleanup scheduled Saturday at H.B. State Park
The Orange County Coastkeeper and Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris are hosting a beach cleanup Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at Huntington Beach State Park.
The cleanup will begin at Lifeguard Tower 14, near Pacific Coast Highway and Newland Street. Parking is free for the first 30 minutes.
“The recent Orange County Oil Spill reminded us how fragile our marine ecosystems are and demonstrated the impact we all make on our environment,” Petrie-Norris said in an emailed invitation. “As chair of the California State Assembly Select Committee on the Orange County Oil Spill, I am dedicated to making sure we hold the responsible parties accountable for this disaster.”
For more information and to RSVP, call (949) 251-0074 or visit asmdc.org/beachcleanup.
Laguna Beach Santa Parade
The Laguna Beach Santa Caravan is coming to town on Sunday, as Santa Claus will be traveling through the city’s streets beginning in South Laguna at 3:30 p.m.
The caravan can be watched as it comes by or on Facebook Live. For those looking to track Santa’s progress during his journey, visit lagunabeachcity.net.
Fountain Valley trash pickup delayed
Fountain Valley city officials released a statement Thursday indicating that the sanitation workers strike at the Anaheim and Huntington Beach locations of Republic Services would result in temporary delays in trash and recycling services for residents.
The announcement said that Republic Services is asking for residents to leave their bins out by the curb for service, with one driver serving the city and prioritizing residential trash pickup.
Street sweeping remains on schedule, the statement said.
Descanso Restaurant to offer holiday meals
Descanso Restaurant, a modern taqueria in Costa Mesa, is hosting holiday pop-up three-course dinners on Dec. 20 and 27 from 4 to 9 p.m.
The holiday meals will feature the restaurant’s most popular dishes, such as choriqueso verde and crispy carnitas skillet, and choice of drink for $35 per person.
The restaurant will also offer its family-style pozole available for takeout from Dec. 17 through 19, Dec. 23 through 26 and Dec. 31 through Jan. 2.
The pozole rojo is made of hominy, guajillo chile broth, pulled pork, red onion, chile peron and oregano. It also includes corn tortilla chips, sliced onions and radishes, shredded lettuce, oregano and Descanso’s Volcano Salsa. An order is $20 and serves three to four people.
To make a reservation or place takeout orders for the holiday pop-up, call (714) 486-3798. The restaurant is at 1555 Adams Ave, Ste. 103 Costa Mesa.
Costa Mesa to give $15K toward vandalism repairs
After the recent vandalism of structures at the Mackerel Flats and Goat Hill Junction Railroad at Costa Mesa’s Fairview Park, city officials have agreed to donate $15,000 to the Orange County Model Engineers for repairs and site improvements.
Councilman Loren Gameros requested the city dedicate the funds for use by the local nonprofit, which offers free mini-train rides to the public the third weekend of each month, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley presented a $15,000 check to club members immediately following the Dec. 1 discovery of the wreckage. The city’s fund intends to match that sum.
Speaking in a public comment during a council meeting Tuesday, OCME member Hank Castignetti shared the group’s appreciation for the gift.
“We have been stunned by the tremendous outpouring of support we have received and pledge to keep our little trains running for years to come,” he told the council.
For more information on the club, visit ocmetrains.org.
Spark of Love Toy Drive
The Laguna Beach Fire Department is participating in the Spark of Love Toy Drive, which is now in its 29th year.
Through Dec. 24, unwrapped gifts can be donated by placing them in the designated drop box outside of each of Laguna Beach’s fire stations.
As a safety precaution, those making donations are asked to ring the doorbell of the fire station upon dropping their gift off.
New unwrapped toys must be in their original packaging. That policy does not apply to sports equipment.
Clothing, personal care items and blankets cannot be accepted as part of the holiday toy drive.
Hoag among ‘Best Hospitals for Maternity Care’
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach was recognized as “High Performing in Adult Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy)” by the U.S. News & World Report.
Hoag is now one of three hospitals in the nation to receive this ranking in all 18 specialty procedures and conditions recognized by the U.S. News & World Report. This is the first time the media company published a list for “Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.”
“This recognition is a tribute to Hoag’s commitment to providing the highest quality, family-centered care to the women of Orange County,” said Allyson Brooks, M.D., Ginny Ueberroth executive medical director endowed chair and chief quality officer, Hoag Women’s Health Institute.
“The passion and expertise of our obstetricians, certified nurse midwives, maternal child health nursing staff and specialty providers in neonatology and maternal fetal medicine allows Hoag to deliver on the ideal birth experience for every individual.”
To qualify for the category, Hoag had to excel in multiple quality metrics that matter to expectant families, including rate of cesarean delivery in uncomplicated pregnancies, newborn and maternal complication rates, appropriate timing of scheduled deliveries, resources and support for breast milk feeding, according to a news release.
“At Hoag, our culture of innovation inspires our physician leaders to continually seek the most advanced treatments, state-of-the-art technologies and access to clinical trials for our patients,” said Robert T. Braithwaite, Hoag president and CEO. “This forward-thinking vision is why Hoag has remained the highest ranked hospital in Orange County.”
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