PTA bring low-cost medical to students...

PTA bring low-cost medical to students

Harbor Council PTA has joined forces with the California

Department of Health in the Healthy Families program. This program

provides free or low-cost medical, dental, and vision care coverage

to children and teens. PTA President Patty Christiansen has ordered

over 12,000 applications for the Healthy Families program, which were

sent home with elementary students this week. The applications are

available in 11 languages. If there are literacy issues, a

representative from Healthy Families will contact the applicant by

phone to help the parent fill out the form free of charge. The money

for this program is already available and will not be affected by the

current budget crunch. “Harbor Council PTA believes that healthy kids

make better students, and our goal is to help Newport-Mesa students

reach their highest potential,” Christiansen said.

Surrogates needed for special education kids

The Harbor Council PTA is also recruiting surrogate parents for

special education students for situations in which the location of

their parent or guardian is not known. Federal law requires that a

surrogate parent be appointed to represent the student in education

conferences and individual education plans. The surrogate parent is a

volunteer who is appointed to represent a student to ensure that the

right of the student to appropriate public education is protected.

Students who need surrogate parents live in foster homes, group

homes, state hospitals or health facilities, correctional facilities

and residential treatment centers.

Spirit Run Race returning to Newport

The 20th annual Spirit Run Race will be held March 9 along Newport

Center Drive at the Edwards Movie Theater adjacent to Fashion Island

in Newport Beach.

The event, which raises money for Newport Beach elementary

schools, is being sponsored by The Lucy and Leigh Steinberg

Foundation with title sponsorship allocation of $20,000 for the

fourth consecutive year.

In addition to the traditional 5K and 10K races, Spirit Run will

also offer events for children and family such as a Stroller 5K, a 5K

Family Walk, a 25-yard Toddler Trot, a Kids Expo featuring a Mighty

Ducks Goal Patrol Hockey Rink, and competitive races for seven

separate age categories for children ages 4 to 12.

To pre-register or for more information, call the Spirit Run

Hotline at (949) 451-4848. Entry forms may also be obtained at

participating Jamba Juice locations, fitness centers, sporting goods

store, the Concierge at Fashion Island or Fletcher Jones.

Newport man honored for community service

Sergio Lopez, Underwriter at Downey Savings in Newport Beach, was

awarded the 2002 Gerald H. McQuarrie Community Recognition Award for

his contribution to the community. Downey Savings will also donate

$2,500 to the Tustin Young Marines on Lopez’ behalf.

Lopez received the award for his dedication and efforts toward

helping youths in the Orange County area, a company spokesman said.

The Young Maries is a youth education and service program for boys

and girls ages 8 through completion of high school.

Downey Savings is headquartered in Newport Beach.