Around Town: Segerstrom Center to host Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service event

The Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa will commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a free public event Sunday at the center’s Julianne and George Argyros Plaza.

The Day of Service event, from noon to 3 p.m., will include opportunities to prepare backpacks for foster children, create a 6-foot banner with King’s quote “I have decided to stick with love” to help encourage patients in Children’s Hospital of Orange County and learn how to get involved with the Segerstrom Center’s youth outreach.

There also will be face painting and balloon art.

The Segerstrom Center is at 600 Town Center Drive. For more information, call (714) 556-2121 or visit scfta.org.

Laguna Beach police to hold DUI patrol this weekend

The Laguna Beach Police Department’s DUI Enforcement Team will be on the lookout this weekend for alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers.

A saturation patrol is set from 5 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday.

No specific location was disclosed, but the department said the team will be in areas with frequent DUI crashes or arrests.

Funding for the operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.

Upper Newport Bay walking tours set for Saturday

The Newport Bay Conservancy will kick off its 50th year by offering free walking tours of Upper Newport Bay on Saturday.

Participants will stroll roughly 1.5 miles along Back Bay Drive, listening to naturalists and visiting interpretive stations about birds, plants, marine life, geology and Native Americans.

Tours will depart at 9, 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. and last about 90 minutes. They will start at Vista Point at the corner of Eastbluff and Back Bay drives. Street parking is available along Eastbluff Drive and Vista del Oro.

Walk-ups are welcome, though registration is encouraged.

For more information, visit newportbay.org or call (949) 923-2269.

Blood drive scheduled at Newport Chamber of Commerce

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 17 in its parking lot at 4343 Von Karman Ave.

Walk-ups are welcome, though appointments are preferred, according to the chamber. To schedule an appointment, call (888) 538-6199 or visit hoagblooddonor.org.

Donors are advised to drink fluids and avoid fatty foods beforehand. All donors must show picture identification.

Superior Court seeks applicants for Orange County grand jury

Orange County Superior Court is accepting applications for seats on the county grand jury until Jan. 26.

The 19-member panel helps provide oversight of local governments and agencies through investigations. It compiles reports of its findings and makes recommendations for improvements. Members also consider evidence for possible criminal indictments.

Each member serves for one year and receives a $50-per-day stipend, mileage reimbursement and reserved parking at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

After the application period, Superior Court judges will interview qualified applicants and choose the top candidates. Nineteen members are selected by a random drawing of 25 to 30 finalists.

The application form is available at ocgrandjury.org, (657) 622-6747 or the jury commissioner’s office, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana.

No sewer overflows for Costa Mesa Sanitary District in 2017

Last year came and went without the Costa Mesa Sanitary District experiencing any sewer overflows for the first time since tracking began in 1999, according to a news release.

Officials credited the lack of spills in 2017 to the district’s pipeline inspection, repair and maintenance efforts and a recent shift to using in-house staff and equipment to clean its sewer system.

“The board of directors greatly appreciates the dedication of a small group of men and women that are committed to protecting our community’s health and the environment,” board President Mike Scheafer said in a statement Tuesday.

Sanitary district accepting applications for advisory committee

The Costa Mesa Sanitary District is accepting applications for its new citizens advisory committee, an 11-member panel that will provide input and recommendations to the district’s board on a variety of issues.

Applications are available on the district’s website, cmsdca.gov, and are due by March 1.

Applicants must live in the district’s service area, which includes Costa Mesa, parts of Newport Beach and some unincorporated sections of Orange County.

UPDATES:

2:55 p.m. Jan. 11: This article was updated with the Segerstrom Center item.

2:45 p.m. Jan. 10: This article was updated with the Upper Newport Bay item.

This article was originally published at 12:40 p.m. Jan. 10.