Around Town: Military memorial to be dedicated
Memorial to be dedicated to military air-crash victims
A memorial to 84 service members killed in the crash 50 years ago of a military aircraft near the then-El Toro Marine Corps Air Station will be dedicated Saturday at the Great Park, which now occupies the former air base in Irvine.
The public ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Heritage and Aviation Exhibition, formerly Hangar 244, near the orange balloon. It is part of an Eagle Scout project by Corona del Mar High School student Jordan Fourcher.
The event is scheduled to include a “missing man” flyover with World War II aircraft, relatives of some of the fallen service members, and veterans who served with some of those on the flight.
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Three-day Greek festival starting in Irvine
St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church in Irvine will serve up the 37th annual A Taste of Greece festival from Friday to Sunday with traditional foods, wine, beer, coffee, live music and authentic Greek dancing.
More than 12,000 visitors are expected to attend the event, which also will feature boutique booths, games, a carnival and a prize drawing.
Hours will be 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $3 per person, with free admission for senior citizens 65 and older from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Children younger than 10 will be admitted free throughout the festival.
The church is at 4949 Alton Parkway, between Culver Drive and Jeffrey Road.
For more information, visit https://www.IrvineGreekFest.com.
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Coast college district hires public affairs director
The Coast Community College District has named Letitia Clark as director of public affairs, marketing and government relations. She will begin her new role Wednesday.
The district includes Orange Coast College, Golden West College and Coastline Community College.
Clark previously was executive director of the American Academy of Pediatrics of Orange County, an organization composed of 500 pediatricians. She also has more than 10 years’ experience as a political staff member, policy analyst and government relations director.
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OCTA unveils new look for buses
Buses with a new look and a new name will soon be rolling on streets throughout Orange County.
The Orange County Transportation Authority board voted Monday to introduce a new design for its buses as part of an effort to retain and attract riders.
The existing design, which is more than 20 years old, will be phased out for the new look, which will feature a light blue and orange wave across the buses, along with the words “OC Bus.” The blue and white OCTA logo will remain.
“We’ve succeeded in refreshing the design so that longtime riders will still recognize the buses they know they can depend upon while also coming up with something modern to attract new riders who will discover all the benefits transit has to offer,” OCTA Chairman Jeff Lalloway, the mayor pro tem of Irvine, said in a statement.
Concepts for new bus designs were reviewed by customers, advisory committees, members of the OCTA Teen Council and others, OCTA said.
The agency is replacing more than 40% of its fleet with 201 buses powered by compressed natural gas. Those buses are scheduled for delivery from late 2015 to early 2017.