OCC enrollment largely unaffected by cutbacks...

OCC enrollment largely unaffected by cutbacks

Orange Coast College’s enrollment is down less than 1% despite the

college’s reducing its number of courses by 14.4% this year, officials said.

The number of students who have registered for classes this spring

is 19,236, according to figures released Jan. 14 by OCC’s Admissions

and Records Office. The college enrolled 19,415 students by the same

date last year.

Registration by touch-tone telephone for new and returning

students is underway. Late registration will be conducted from Monday

to Feb. 13. Spring semester classes begin on Monday.

San Francisco mayor to appear at UCI benefit

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Jr. and California Senate

Republican Leader James Brulte will speak at a UC Irvine benefit at 7

p.m. Thursday.

The event, sponsored by the School of Social Sciences and the

Center for the Study of Democracy, will focus on California’s

political future and will benefit graduate student fellowships in the

center.

The center sponsors research and education geared toward improving

the democratic process in the United States and the expansion of

democracy throughout the world.

Tickets are $200 per person ($125 tax deductible) for the event at

the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Club, 900 Newport Center

Drive.

For more information, call (949) 824-1312.

Kids can Harry Potter it up at Newport library

Students in the fourth through sixth grades are invited to

participate in a Harry Potter-themed scavenger hunt through the

Newport Beach Central Library at 7 p.m. Feb. 12.

Hosted by the library’s Young Adult Advisory Council, the event

aims to help students learn about the library through an interactive

activity. The fast-paced adventure will send students on a

fact-finding mission through the library to test their Hogwarts

knowledge.

The library is at 1000 Avocado Ave. For more information, call

(949) 717-3816.

Rookies can try out Zen mediation in workshop

The Zen Center of Orange County in Costa Mesa will offer an

Introduction to Zen workshop from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The workshop will combine an experience in Zen meditation with

small group instruction.

Preregistration is required. The session costs $50 and is offered

the first Sunday of every month.

The center is at 120 E. 18th St. Information: (949) 722-7818.

Newport family trust sells Anaheim building

A Newport Beach family trust has sold a fully occupied,

multi-tenant office building at Tustin and La Palma avenues in

Anaheim. DAUM Commercial Real Estate Services announced the sale of

the property to local investors for $1.6 million.

The Leyton Family Trust, represented by DAUM Vice President Chris

Migliori, sold the 12,000-square-foot, two-story wood frame and

stucco facility at 1100 N. Tustin Ave. to Brian Hopkins, represented

by Frank Sator of Premier Properties.

Newport Beach firm celebrates 10th year

Robin DeLotell and Associates is celebrating its 10th year in

business. The Newport Beach-based firm provides marketing and

business development services for a select clientele.

Clients include the KTGY Group architects, The Collaborative West

landscape architects and Linscott, Law and Greenspan traffic

engineers.

“The core business of RDA has been and always will be new business

development for its clients,” Robin DeLotell said in a press release.

County Republican Party honors volunteer

The Republican Party of Orange County awarded its most prestigious

volunteer award to Lee M. Lowrey, president of the Orange County

Young Republicans.

The 2002 “Volunteer of the Year” award was presented in Costa Mesa

at the party’s central committee meeting.

Lowrey was chosen for leading his organization in outreach efforts

such as voter registration and for his support of party initiatives.

Costa Mesa still offers home buying funds

The city of Costa Mesa Redevelopment Agency says funds are still

available for the agency’s Home Buyer Assistance Program.

The program offers down payment assistance of up to $40,000 in the

form of a deferred second mortgage to households earning no more than

120% of the Orange County median.

The home buyer must provide at least as 5% down payment, have

sufficient income and be creditworthy to qualify for a first mortgage

with a private lender.

Purchase price limits have been increased to the area median of

$419,000. For more information, call (714) 754-4892.

Volunteers needed for Costa Mesa cleanup

The city of Costa Mesa needs 200 volunteers to participate in the

“Neighbors for Neighbors” Community and Canyon Park Clean-up on April

26.

The program was created to help low-income residents with the

beautification of their homes and to assist in local community

cleanup. The event starts at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at noon.

To volunteer, call (714) 754-4892. Community members interested in

making cash or in-kind donations of supplies, materials and food for

the event can also call.

Transportation group still has vacancies

The Costa Mesa City Council is accepting letters of interest from

residents who want to serve on the Downtown and Eastside

Transportation Ad Hoc Committee.

The committee was established in October 2001 to develop

suggestions for improvement plans for East 17th Street, Newport

Boulevard south of 19th Street and nearby Eastside neighborhoods.

The committee will address issues such as traffic circulation and

improving pedestrian and bicycle access.

The meetings usually occur on the third Thursday of each month.

Those interested should send a letter to City Council, City Hall,

PO Box 1200, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-1200. Applications are also

available online at www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us.

Pacific Life recognizes those receiving grants

Pacific Life Insurance Co., a Newport Beach-based life insurance

company, hosted a special reception on Jan. 21 to recognize the

Pacific Life Foundation’s grant recipients.

More than 150 community organizations received the grants of

$2,500 to $200,000. The foundation celebrated the 19th anniversary of

its endowment.

Some of the beneficiaries were the National Fish and Wildlife

Foundation, which protects and restores whale populations, and Taller

San Jose, an agency that tries to rehabilitate young gang members in

Orange County by giving them job skills.