Around Town: Surf City Marathon hits the beach in Huntington

It’s a runner’s weekend in Huntington Beach as the Surf City USA Marathon and Half Marathon return to the oceanfront for three days of events.

Here’s the list of activities:

• Active Lifestyle Expo: 1 to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 21291 Pacific Coast Hwy.
• Cowabunga Beach Mile: 11 a.m. Saturday

• Marathon: 6:30 a.m. Sunday
• 5K: 7 a.m. Sunday
• Half Marathon: 7:45 a.m. Sunday
• Surf City Beer Garden: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday

The marathon course runs from Pacific Coast Highway to Central Park.

Watching the races is free.

The event will cause closures of Pacific Coast Highway in both directions between Beach Boulevard and Warner Avenue from 1 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Detours will be in place, the city said.

For more information, visit motivrunning.com/run-surf-city.

5K charity benefit Saturday in Fountain Valley

The Fountain Valley Community Foundation’s Nathan 5K Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Fountain Valley Sports Park, 16400 Brookhurst St.

Proceeds will benefit nonprofits that serve Fountain Valley.

For more information and to register, visit fvcommunityfoundation.org.

‘Jungle Junk’ exhibit opens at Sherman Library

A collection of 20 sculptures created from abandoned items left on the beach will be on display starting Saturday at Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar.

Artist Ron Yeo’s exhibit, dubbed “Jungle Junk Critters,” runs through April. Admission is included with Sherman Library admission, which costs $5.

Sherman Library & Garden is at 2647 E. Coast Hwy. For more information, visit thesherman.org or call (949) 673-2261.

Japanese language school to hold open house in H.B.

Orange Coast Gakuen Japanese Language School will host its annual open house from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at its new facility at Grace Lutheran School, 5172 W. McFadden Ave., Huntington Beach.

The school introduces students from preschool age to adults to Japanese language through songs, stories, crafts, games, and cultural activities.

A special discount on registration fees will apply for students who register during the open house.

For more information, visit orangecoastgakuen.org.

Conference on climate solutions set at OCC

Newport Bay Conservancy will present a climate solutions conference from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

Topics will include reforestation, regenerative agriculture, soil management, blue carbon, pros and cons of various forms of alternative energy, carbon capture, and risks and potential of geoengineering proposals and changes to everyday behavior and lifestyle.

Admission, parking, childcare and lunch are free.

OCC is at 2701 Fairview Road. For more information, climatesolutions2020.eventbrite.com.

Puppeteer presents shows in Costa Mesa

The Samueli Theater at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa will present “The Joshua Show: Episode 2” on Saturday and Sunday.

The show features puppeteer Joshua Holden. Show times are 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Children’s activities will precede each show.

Tickets are $20. For more information, visit scfta.org or call (714) 556-2787.

Laguna arts commission looking for grant recipients

The Laguna Beach Arts Commission is accepting applications for cultural arts program grants.

“Applicants are encouraged to provide expanded programming that deepen and expand active experiences in the arts,” according to a news release.

Applications are due Monday and are available by visiting lagunabeachcity.slideroom.com.

Buffett’s ‘Escape to Margaritaville’ to play at Segerstrom Hall

Jimmy Buffett’s “Escape to Margaritaville” show will play at Segerstrom Hall at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa from Tuesday to Feb. 9.

The musical comedy features original songs and Buffett classics.

Tickets start at $26 and are available at scfta.org, (714) 556-2787 or the box office at 600 Town Center Drive.

O.C. fairgrounds hosts landscaping maintenance seminar

An expert on landscape maintenance will conduct a class at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Tuesday.

Chip Osborne’s seminar costs $195 per person. The full-day course starts at 8 a.m. at 88 Fair Drive.

For more information, visit osborneorganics.com/training/costamesa or email [email protected].

Fundraiser to help kick off Estancia High School hall of fame

The Estancia Alumni Assn. is organizing an event scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Estancia High School to help kick off the school’s hall of fame.

The campus, at 2323 Placentia Ave. in Costa Mesa, got approval in October from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to begin fundraising for the project, which will feature memorabilia and artifacts from each decade of the school’s history. Estancia graduated its first crop of seniors in 1967.

Tickets to Wednesday’s event are $20 and include access to the evening’s basketball game, a dinner from Newport Rib Co., drinks and dessert.

For tickets and more information, visit estanciaalumni.org.

Violinist leads Laguna’s 18th annual Music Festival

The 18th annual Laguna Beach Music Festival will run Wednesday through Feb. 8.

This year’s artistic director is violinist Ray Chen. The classical festival is co-produced by Laguna Beach Live and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

For tickets and the full schedule, visit visitlagunabeach.com or call (949) 553-2422.

Laguna breakfast event to cover retail merchandising

A breakfast panel about retail merchandising will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday in Laguna Beach.

Shane Nielsen, a local merchandiser and an instructor in fashion and design at Orange Coast and Saddleback colleges, will lead the discussion at the Boys & Girls Club facility at 1085 Laguna Canyon Road.

Admission is $10 for Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce members and $20 for non-members.

For more information, visit lagunabeachchamber.org.

‘State of War’ author coming to Laguna bookstore

William Wheeler, author of “State of War,” will discuss and sign copies of his book at Laguna Beach Books starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The book is about the MS-13 gang. Admission is free. RSVPs are requested by visiting lagunabeachbooks.com.

Laguna Beach Books is at 1200 S. Coast Hwy., No. 105.

Mesa Water to hold neighborhood meeting Wednesday

The Mesa Water District will present a neighborhood meeting starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Environmental Nature Center, 1601 E. 16th St., Newport Beach.

The gathering, which includes complimentary refreshments, is intended to collect residents’ thoughts about current issues, including development of local water supplies and water-use efficiency efforts.

Similar meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 12, 19 and 25 and March 11 at various locations in Costa Mesa.

For more information or to register, visit mesawater.org/community/neighborhoodchat, call (949) 631-1201 or email [email protected].

Costa Mesa Sanitary District yard to be named after late engineer

The Costa Mesa Sanitary District board of directors has agreed to name the district’s corporate yard at 174 W. Wilson St. after Robin Hamers, a longtime engineer for the district who died Jan. 9 at age 65.

Hamers, who began working for the district in 1982, designed and oversaw construction of much of the district’s wastewater infrastructure. He also led creation of the district yard, which is expected to be officially dedicated as the Robin Hamers Yard at a ceremony in May.

“It’s hard to imagine somebody more effective than Rob has been his whole career,” said board President Jim Ferryman. “It was really a loss for us.”

Tina Turner tribute is dancing into Laguna Playhouse

Cookie Watkins, a Tina Turner tribute performer, will bring the legendary singer’s songs to the Laguna Playhouse from Thursday to Feb. 9.

Tickets are available by visiting lagunaplayhouse.com.

The theater is at 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.

UC Irvine professor to discuss sea level rise

Thursday’s Wake Up Newport event will feature a discussion about sea level rise and its potential effects on Newport Beach.

The guest speaker will be Brett Sanders, a UC Irvine professor of civil and environmental engineering, urban planning and public policy. The event will start at 7:15 a.m. at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.

Registration is free, but RSVPs are requested by visiting newportbeach.com.

Submissions sought for H.B. youth art contest

The city of Huntington Beach and the Huntington Beach Union High School District are organizing an art contest for middle and high school students who live in or attend school in the district.

The theme is “20/20 — Perfect Vision for a Sustainable Future.” Submissions are due between March 18 and 25. Winners will be recognized at a City Council meeting and receive gifts from contest sponsors, which include Jack’s Surfboards and Vans.

For more information, rules and entry forms, email [email protected] or visit huntingtonbeachca.gov.

Hoag recognized for robotic surgeries

Hoag Hospital recently received a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery accreditation from the Surgical Review Corp., an internationally recognized patient safety organization, according to a news release.

The organization recognized Hoag for its 15,000 robotic surgeries, which were completed at its Newport Beach and Irvine campuses.

“While robotics is still just one tool in a surgeon’s tool box, this advanced technology allows our physicians to consistently deliver the safest, highest-quality care to our robotic surgery patients,” Robert Braithwaite, Hoag president and chief executive, said in a statement. “This minimally invasive option is becoming the standard of care for many procedures in a variety of areas of expertise at Hoag, including cancer, women’s and heart programs, as well as general surgery.”

Documentary on early childhood education to screen in Laguna

The Laguna Beach Early Learning Community Task Force will present a screening of “No Small Matter” on Feb. 10.

The documentary explores early childhood education. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at Mission Hospital, 31872 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach.

To reserve a seat, visit lbusd.org/nsm.

O.C. Community Foundation to award grants to help veterans

The Newport Beach-based Orange County Community Foundation recently announced that $862,000 in grants will be given to 13 nonprofits serving military veterans and their families.

“We are honored to be partnering with the O.C. real estate community for the fifth year of this grant program to address the serious challenges local veterans and their families face,” Shelley Hoss, the foundation’s president and chief executive, said in a statement. “Through our veterans initiative, we are proud to channel the efforts of our generous donors and partners and collaborate with high-performing, veteran-focused organizations in Orange County to fuel innovative solutions to critical gaps in services and improve outcomes for local veterans and their loved ones.”

Boys & Girls Clubs raises $4 million

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley recently raised $4 million, including a $2-million donation from Robert Mayer Sr. and $1 million from Fountain Valley-based Kingston Technology.

The money will help fund the club’s $4.8-million mortgage on its facility at Golden West College, according to a news release.

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