Around Town: Sea lions are topic of event at Pacific Marine Mammal Center
People can watch sea lions and learn about their rescue and rehabilitation during an event Saturday at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach.
The program will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road.
Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for children.
For more information, visit bit.ly/2TCT3oD.
Southbound 405 Freeway closure scheduled for bridge work
The southbound 405 Freeway is scheduled to close at Magnolia Street overnight Saturday for continued partial demolition of the Magnolia Street bridge.
Crews are set to demolish a portion of the bridge over the southbound 405 between 11 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday, according to the Orange County Transportation Authority. The bridge will close at 10 p.m. Saturday and reopen at 8 a.m.
The northbound and southbound loop onramps at Magnolia Street also will be closed. Traffic detours will be marked.
Demolition and reconstruction of the Magnolia Street bridge is expected to take about 18 months, though the span is expected to be open much of that time. Scheduled work includes increasing the number of traffic lanes from four to six and adding bike lanes and sidewalks in both directions.
The bridge is one of more than 18 that will be replaced, enlarged or built as part of a $1.9-billion project to widen the 405 between the 73 Freeway in Costa Mesa and the 605 Freeway near Rossmoor.
Huntington Beach’s Surf City Splash is rescheduled for Feb. 2
After high winds and concerns about water safety washed out the Surf City Splash on New Year’s Day, the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach has rescheduled the 19th annual event for Feb. 2 at 405 Pacific Coast Hwy.
The event will start at 9 a.m. with a pancake breakfast, followed by a costume contest at 11. Participants will head to the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier at 11:50 a.m. and make a dash to the ocean to celebrate the new year.
Organizers dubbed the rescheduled event “Wavehog Day” because it lands on Groundhog Day, when a rodent in Pennsylvania famously signals whether winter will linger or spring is on its way.
“If you see the wavehog, it means six more weeks of great swell!” according to an email from Diana Dehm, executive director of the surf museum.
Registration for the splash is $25 and includes a one-year membership to the museum.
Lecture series begins at Sherman Library & Gardens
Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar will host lectures on various Fridays each month, beginning this week with Shawn Maestretti, who will address the importance of regenerative gardening practices.
The event will start at 11:30 a.m. at 2647 E. Coast Hwy.
For more information, visit bit.ly/2CX72jZ.
Historical plaque dedication rescheduled at Diego Sepulveda Adobe in Costa Mesa
A ceremony to dedicate a new plaque at the Diego Sepulveda Adobe in Costa Mesa’s Estancia Park has been rescheduled from Saturday to Feb. 9, according to the city Parks & Community Services Department.
The installation — presented by the Orange County Historical Commission and county Board of Supervisors in cooperation with the city — will recognize the history of the adobe as well as the surrounding Native American site.
A free dedication event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. The adobe, at 1900 Adams Ave., will be open for tours during that time.
For more information about the site, visit costamesahistory.org/visit/adobe.
New fitness and education classes at Laguna’s Susi Q
Laguna Beach’s Community & Susi Q Center is adding several new classes for 2019, including fitness, language and children’s courses.
An outdoor yoga and meditation class will meet every Friday in Alta Laguna Park, beginning this week.
Two French courses will kick off Saturday, one for beginners and one for advanced conversation.
In partnership with the city of Aliso Viejo, the center will offer a series called “Bionerds” to teach children about land and sea animals, plants and biotechnology.
Prices for different class packages range from $12 to $250.
For more details, visit secure.rec1.com/CA/city-of-laguna-beach/catalog.
Meeting will discuss plans for Lions Park playground
Residents can give their thoughts during a neighborhood meeting Saturday about the future of the playground at Costa Mesa’s Lions Park.
The meeting — scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon at the Downtown Recreation Center, 1860 Anaheim Ave. — will focus on improvements planned for the playground as the wider park area is redeveloped with a new library.
The project is expected to include new play equipment, upgraded lighting, landscaping and other enhancements. City officials say they will not move the playground’s most famous fixture — a Korean War-era Grumman F9F Panther jet that was installed in 1960.
Residents unable to make the meeting can write to city Senior Engineer Arash Rahimian by mail at 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 or email at Arash.Rahimian@costamesaca.gov.
Nature artist to be featured at Newport Beach event
The Newport Beach Sister City Assn. will present an event with international artist Gianne de Genevraye from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.
Genevraye is known for contemporary nature paintings. The program will include food and a wine bar.
For more information, visit bit.ly/2LWeH4E.
Beginning archery class offered in Fountain Valley
A beginning archery class will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday and Jan. 27 at Mile Square Regional Park, 6801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley.
Archery equipment will be provided. Children 12 and older are welcome, through anyone younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
The event and parking are free. For more information, visit ocparks.com/parks/mile.
Arts & Learning Conservatory to hold open house
The Arts & Learning Conservatory in Costa Mesa will hold an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at 151 Kalmus Drive.
Guests can tour the studios while listening to live music from students and teachers.
For more information, visit bit.ly/2shb9kv.
Laguna Playhouse presents ‘Driving Miss Daisy’
The Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Driving Miss Daisy” is onstage through Jan. 27 at the Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach.
Admission ranges from $61 to $91.
The play, which was adapted into an Academy Award-winning movie, is about a friendship between a 70-year-old white woman and a middle-aged black driver.
Laguna Playhouse is at 606 Laguna Canyon Road. For more information and show times, visit bit.ly/2QwnXxl.
Art show in Laguna celebrates landscapes
The Laguna Plein Air Painters Assn. is holding a “Town and Country” art show through Jan. 21 at the Forest and Ocean Gallery, 480 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach.
The exhibit celebrates natural and artificial landscapes.
For more information, visit lpapa.org/town-country-2019.
9 members of Huntington police force receive promotions
The Huntington Beach Police Department celebrated promotions for nine members of the force during a ceremony last week at City Hall.
The newly promoted members are Assistant Chief Kelly Rodriguez, Capts. Tim Martin and Scott Winks, Lts. Julio Mendez and Chris Nesmith and Sgts. Craig Reynolds, Dan Quidort, Matt Austin and Roman Altenbach. They have more than 180 years’ combined experience in law enforcement, the Police Department said.
Chapman University professor to discuss Vietnam War
The World Affairs Council of Orange County will present a discussion of the Vietnam War with Chapman University professor and retired Army Col. Gregory Daddis from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Newport Beach.
The event will be at the Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd.
Author of ‘Beautiful Boy’ coming to Costa Mesa
The author of the bestselling book “Beautiful Boy” will be featured at an event Wednesday in Costa Mesa.
David Sheff will reflect on his experience with a teenager struggling with addiction. The free program, which will include a book signing, is set for 7 to 9 p.m. at Newport Academy Adolescent Treatment, 3189 Pullman St.
The book was adapted into a movie last year. For more information, visit bit.ly/2FfQcin.
Applications open for Orange County grand jury
Orange County Superior Court is seeking 19 people to serve on the 2019-20 grand jury.
To qualify, applicants must be Orange County residents with U.S. citizenship, speak English and be 18 or older. The full-time position comes with a $50-per-day stipend.
Applications are due Jan. 18.
For more information, visit bit.ly/2QuxWmB.
Women’s event scheduled at South Coast Plaza
The final installment of a Women’s Empowerment Series sponsored by Bank of America and Orange County United Way will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 31 at Macy’s Home at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
The program will feature a presentation about prioritizing health and community.
Panelists will include Sue Graham, vice president and manager of Macy’s at South Coast Plaza; Dr. Mahtab Jafari, professor and vice chairwoman of UC Irvine’s Department of Pharmaceutical Services; and celebrity chef and lifestyle expert Jamie Gwen.
There also will be a cooking demonstration and free touch-ups and consultations with Macy’s cosmetic personnel.
To RSVP or for more information, email Amanda Hastings at AmandaH@UnitedWayOC.org.
UCI offers certificate program for film and media studies
The UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education recently collaborated with MediaU to create a film and media studies certificate program. The first course will begin Feb. 11.
“We are excited to offer this affordable, accessible alternative to traditional film school for aspiring and working entertainment industry professionals,” Ian Gibson, program director at the Division of Continuing Education, said in a statement. “UCI’s new program provides a fresh take on the way film and media education is done while addressing current and emerging filmmaking trends.”
For more information, visit bit.ly/2QwK0Uy.
Laguna taking applications for community assistance grants
The city of Laguna Beach is accepting applications from area nonprofit organizations for the 2019-20 community assistance grant program.
Last year, the city awarded $257,000 in grants to local organizations to fund new projects or expand services, according to the city website.
The deadline to submit applications is 4:30 p.m. March 22. The City Council will choose the recipients in June and disperse the money in August.
For more information, visit lagunabeachcity.net/cityhall/community/grants/default.htm.
UPDATES:
This article was originally published at 6 a.m. and was later updated with additional information.