Around Town: Kids’ inventions on display at Irvine Valley College contest

More than 450 young inventors in kindergarten through eighth grade will vie for awards and more than $10,000 in cash prizes Saturday in the 28th annual Irvine Valley College “Astounding Inventions” competition.

The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Hart Gym on the campus, 5500 Irvine Center Drive. The competitors were chosen from among 4,000 students in the Irvine and Tustin unified school districts who submitted inventions.

More than 60 judges representing the scientific, education, civic and business communities will determine the winners. Two inventions (one from Irvine Unified and one from Tustin Unified) deemed “most patentable” will be selected by event co-sponsor Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, a law firm in Irvine. Winners will be able to conduct a patent search and write a provisional patent application.

Past inventions have included pet grooming devices and remote-control gizmos.

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Solar Decathlon teams prep in Irvine

Seventeen collegiate teams preparing for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2015 gathered at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine for workshops Jan. 9 and 10.

The student teams were given two years to design and build solar-powered houses designed to be cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. This year’s competition incorporates transportation with the addition of commuting as one of its 10 contests.

The competition is scheduled for Oct. 8 to 18 at the Great Park.

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Mobile dental clinic pays a visit

Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County’s Smile Mobile 2 made its Costa Mesa debut Jan. 17 during the Baby & Kidz Expo at the OC Fair & Event Center. The mobile dental clinic provided tours for families and free dental screenings for about 50 children.

Children learned about dental hygiene habits and about their teeth through an arts and crafts project of gluing cotton balls to enlarged lips. They also learned about the sugar content of popular drinks through a “Rethink Your Drink” station.

Healthy Smiles has two mobile dental clinics that serve Orange County children at public schools, community events, health clinics and more.

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Homeless aid workshop Thursday

A Costa Mesa-based religious organization is hosting a homeless aid workshop.

Trellis, formerly known as the Churches Consortium, will offer the event at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa.

Organizers said the event will teach people “how to engage and walk” with the homeless.

For more information, contact Becks McKeown at (949) 287-3149 or email homelessness@wearetrellis.com.

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Boys chorus to host potential members

The All American Boys Chorus invites boys ages 8 to 10 to experience what it’s like to be a chorister from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 31 at the chorus headquarters at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.

“Shadow Day” will enable boys and their parents to meet artistic director Wesley Martin and join the chorus in a rehearsal. Chorus parents and staff members will be available to answer questions.

To sign up, call (714) 708-1670, ext. 12, or email Martin at w.martin@taabc.org.

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College again honored for community service

For the fifth consecutive year, Stanbridge College in Irvine has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The award is the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for commitment to volunteering, service learning and civic engagement.

The college, which has enrollment of more than 1,200 students, has developed partnerships with nonprofits including the Autism Speaks Foundation, Alzheimer’s Assn., Southern California Special Olympics, Hoag Blood Donor Services, Free Pantry Organization, Orange County Medical Reserve Corps, OC Parks, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Illumination Foundation and Irvine Animal Care Center.

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Interfaith Council names new executive director

The Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council has named Farrah Khan as executive director, replacing Jim de Boom, who served in the position for more than 20 years and is now living full time with his wife, Barbara, in Rancho Mirage. Khan’s appointment was effective Jan. 15.

From staff reports