Around Town: Junior Lifeguard tryouts start Sunday in Newport
Tryouts for the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard program are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, March 15 and March 22 at the Corona del Mar High School pool, 2101 Eastbluff Drive.
Participants are expected to be able to swim 100 yards (four lengths of a 25-yard pool) and be able to tread water for three minutes without touching the side of the pool.
More than 1,600 children ages 9 to 15 are expected to try out, according to the Newport Beach Fire Department.
The Junior Lifeguard program aims to teach children first aid, CPR, competition techniques and lifesaving methods and to recognize potentially hazardous surf conditions. The eight-week program starts the last week of June and ends in mid- August.
To register or for more information, visit https://www.nbjg.net.
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Young readers can win prizes
A Newport Beach Public Library program that starts Monday encourages families to read to young children.
Families who register for the program, called “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten,” will receive a book bag and reading logs. Every book read will count toward the 1,000-book goal.
Children will receive a small prize for every 50 books read. At the 1,000-book mark, they will win a free book and a certificate.
The program is open to children who have not yet started kindergarten. For more information, call (949) 717-3830 or visit https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org/kids/1000books.
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School employees win county honor
Employees from the Newport-Mesa and Irvine unified school districts were among six school workers named 2015 Classified School Employees of the Year in Orange County, according to the county Department of Education.
Alfredo Perez,head custodian at Rea Elementary School in the Newport-Mesa district, and Janelle Cranch,a buyer technician who works in the Irvine Unified district office, received the honor.
More than20,000 classified staff members countywide work as bus drivers, cafeteria aides and in other service areas.
The award winners will behonoredat a Department of Education board meeting on April 15 and are eligible to compete for state honors.
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Favorite Teacher contest taking nominations
Nominations are being accepted until Friday for the 2014-15 Favorite Teacher competition. Nominees must teach in a public or private primary, middle or high school in Costa Mesa.
Nomination forms are available at nmusd.us. Finalists will be notified April 27, and the winner will be announced at an awards breakfast May 9.
The annual competition is organized by the Costa Mesa Library Foundation in partnership with the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.
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Easter egg drive to benefit Marine families
Costa Mesa City Hall and its Military Affairs Team are hosting a candy and plastic Easter egg drive for Camp Pendleton Marines and their families.
Donors can donate unopened candy and medium or large plastic eggs at a collection box in the lobby of City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.
The drive lasts through March 30.
For more information, call Dan Baker at (714) 754-5156.
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Photography contest offers scholarships
Surterre Properties is presenting a photography contest for Orange County high school students.
Photos must be in color, depict nature and be taken by April 30. They will be judged on originality, artistic composition, technical quality and photographic technique. The submission period is May 1 to 17.
The prizes are scholarships for $500, $250 and $100. Winners will be announced by June 1.
For more information and contest rules, visit https://www.surterreproperties.com/OC-HighSchoolScholarship.php.