Around Town: Church to host death row survivors
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach will host death row survivors Sabrina Butler and Nate Fields, who will share their stories with guests at 6 p.m. Sunday.
Butler spent five years in prison and 33 months on death row before being exonerated while Fields spent 20 years in prison and 11 years on death row before being exonerated.
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church is at 2100 Mar Vista Dr. in Newport Beach.
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Fall fun to come at Environmental Nature Center
The Environmental Nature Center’s 42nd annual Fall Faire and Pumpkin Patch will bring games, face painting, a petting zoo and other activities to guests from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 16.
The center is at 1601 E. 16th St. in Newport Beach.
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Area schools to do research with Newport Banning Land Trust
Costa Mesa, Estancia and Huntington Beach high schools will take part in the Newport Banning Land Trust’s Science Research Program this school year.
The program allows students to participate in actual field research related to restoration management and water quality testing.
During the school year, the students will conduct their research at the Newport Banning Ranch oil field and Fairview Park under the supervision of professionals from the land trust and the Institute for Conservation Research and Education.
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Segerstrom helps four schools become performance ready
For the third year in a row, Segerstrom Center for the Arts has selected four Orange County elementary schools to participate in the Disney Musicals in Schools program.
The center has chosen Las Positas Elementary School in La Habra, Santiago Elementary School in Santa Ana and Riverdale and Mattie Lou Maxwell Elementary schools in Anaheim.
For the next several months artists contracted with Segerstrom will work with each school’s students and teachers to help put on a Disney show at their respective campuses.
In March, the Segerstrom Center will host performances from these four schools’ musicals.
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CdM High teacher nominated for national award
Corona del Mar High School English language and composition teacher Laura Holk was nominated by a former student for the 2016-17 national LifeChanger of the Year Award.
The national LifeChanger of the Year program, sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, honors K-12 public and private school educators and employees across the United States, according to a release.
“Ms. Holk was my 12th grade English composition teacher,” said Brian Dunn, who nominated Holk. “On a daily basis, I watched her find the middle ground between authority and friend in a way that connected her to students.”
The LifeChanger of the Year awards will be given to 15 people and a National Spirit Award will be given to the school that demonstrates the most support for its nominee.
The winner will be announced during a surprise award ceremony at each of the honorees’ schools.
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OCC students get helping hand from PIMCO founder and family
PIMCO founder Bill Gross and his wife Sue donated $240,000 to the Orange Coast College Foundation to support programs for students pursuing career and technical education.
“Many of Orange Coast College’s [career technical education] programs fill a vital need in Orange County’s local economy for a skilled workforce and we’re excited to be a part of that,” said Sue Gross, president of the Gross Family Foundation. “However, for many students limited financial resources hinder their ability to complete coursework and find employment.”
The donation will help establish a Sue and Bill Gross Scholars program at OCC.
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Breitling airshow parking passes on sale
Pre-sale daily parking passes for the Breitling Huntington Beach Airshow, taking place Oct. 21 through 23, are on sale through Monday.
The passes are $35 and available at events.goground.com/airshow. Prices will increase after Monday.
The lot will be located at Goldenwest Street and Ellis Avenue, and shuttles to the event will be provided to parking customers.