Around Town: Costa Mesa church seeks donations to repair stained-glass window
First United Methodist Church in Costa Mesa is seeking donations to help cover the cost of recent vandalism of a stained-glass window.
A portion of a 90-year-old window at the downtown church was broken by a brick or another hard object Feb. 9.
The church estimates the cost of repair at $10,000.
Donations can be sent to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 11055, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.
The church also has set up an online donation site at gofundme.com/christwindow. As of Wednesday, 15 people had donated more than $1,000 toward the $10,000 goal.
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Vanguard to host career workshop featuring former NFL player
Vanguard University in Costa Mesa will host a free workshop Saturday for people looking to enter the workforce.
The Work-Life Transitions Workshop will include a session with former National Football League player Thomas Williams, who will speak about transferable skills.
Williams, a linebacker, played college football at USC before being drafted by the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008. He was a member of six NFL teams until a neck injury forced him to retire in 2012.
Group and one-on-one sessions on resumé and cover letter writing, interview preparation, LinkedIn use, professional image and stress management will be available, along with blood pressure screenings.
The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the university’s Scott Academic Center, 55 Fair Drive.
It is presented by Vanguard’s graduate programs, Veterans Center, the Global Center for Women and Justice and other business and community organizations.
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Sovereign Health to hold luncheon in Costa Mesa
Sovereign Health of San Clemente plans a networking luncheon for Tuesday at the Center Club in Costa Mesa to commemorate the launch of its new eating-disorder program.
The event, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 650 Town Center Drive, will include a presentation on anorexia, bulimia and myths about eating disorders given by Janet Whitney, director of the eating-disorder program.
“This event will provide educational tools and explore solutions to the eating-disorder epidemic in this country,” Whitney said in a statement. “Programs like ours are critical for the treatment of more than 30 million Americans dealing with some form of an eating disorder.”
Sovereign Health Group provides mental health and addiction treatment programs at nine facilities in California, Arizona, Florida, Utah and Texas.
For more information, visit sovcal.com.
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Newport Beach private school selects chief academic officer
Halstrom Academy, a private school in Newport Beach for students in sixth through 12th grades, has named Steven Lawrence as its chief academic officer.
Lawrence most recently served in the same role for Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, based in Los Angeles.
In his 28-year career, Lawrence has been a teacher, principal and superintendent for several California public school districts.
“Throughout my career, I have focused on serving students who are not always successful in a traditional classroom or school setting,” Lawrence said in a statement. “I am honored by the opportunity to continue this work by supporting the outstanding leaders and educators at Halstrom Academy.”
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Memory-care facility in Costa Mesa receives honor
Costa Mesa retirement community Vivante on the Coast announced that its memory-care facility has attained the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s Excellence in Care distinction.
The facility, known as The Shores, met the foundation’s national standards for dementia care, including safety and security, staff training and meeting clients’ physiological, functional and social needs.
Vivante on the Coast is a 185-unit community that opened in October 2013.
The Shores includes 40 units with 24-hour care by licensed nurses onsite.
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Project Independence names chief executive
Project Independence, a Costa Mesa-based nonprofit that supports people with developmental disabilities, recently promoted Debra Marsteller to be its president and chief executive, according to a news release.
Marsteller had been the group’s executive director since 1982. During that time, she spearheaded Project Independence’s merger with the Vantage Foundation in 2007.
“We are delighted to recognize Debbie for her outstanding leadership in pursuit of our mission to promote civil rights for people with developmental disabilities through services which expand independence and choice,” Project Independence board Chairwoman Judy Cole said in a statement.
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Firefighters, police donate to soccer teams
The Costa Mesa firefighters and police associations recently donated $1,000 toward two local soccer teams.
The boys team and girls team are part of Costa Mesa’s AYSO Region 120. The money was presented during a ceremony at the Jack R. Hammett Sports Complex.
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Reid Day School to host presentation on children’s stress, anxiety
Reid Day School in Costa Mesa will hold an informal open house Feb. 25 featuring a free presentation on how to help children deal with stress and anxiety.
Dan Peters, co-founder and executive director of the Summit Center, will deliver the talk. Peters is a licensed psychologist who wrote the book “Make Your Worrier a Warrior: A Guide to Conquering Your Child’s Fears.”
The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at Reid Day School, 151 Kalmus Drive.
For more information or tickets, visit reidday.org.
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OCC to host manufacturing conference
Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa will host the 2016 Southern California HTEC Conference from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 27 at the campus Technology Center.
The college’s manufacturing department will give demonstrations of high-tech machines and plastic and metal 3-D printers.
Admission is free. Orange Coast College is at 2701 Fairview Road.
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Newport Beach nature center to host talk about submarine
The Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach will host a presentation from Deep Sub LLC’s chief pilot, Chris Welsh, on March 2.
Deep Sub operates a submersible capable of diving to depths of 36,000 feet, according to a news release.
Welsh’s presentation will cover the sub’s design, dive locations and scientific goals.
The event will begin at 6 p.m. at the nature center, 1601 E. 16th St. Registration is available at encenter.org.
—From staff reports