Corona del Mar Today: Collection bin for worn flags installed at library
Newport Beach residents love to fly the red, white and blue.
“But when you have a worn American flag, what do you do with it?” said Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Kitch. “This will make disposal simple and easy.”
The Newport Beach Fire Department, at the suggestion of a library employee, installed a bright red “Worn Flag Deposit” bin at the Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., next to the book-and-video return area.
Fire Department staff will collect the worn flags weekly, then deliver them to the Newport Harbor American Legion, where members will dispose of them with proper etiquette and ceremony.
The idea came from Library Services Manager Dave Curtis, who had seen the bins in other cities.
“I brought the idea here, and a lot of people liked it,” he said. “They don’t want to throw then out because that’s not respectful.”
Traditionally, U.S. flags are disposed of by burning with silent reflection or a flag salute. Then the ashes are buried.
Jess Lawson of the American Legion said anyone who wanted information on flag disposal could call (949) 673-5070.
The American Legion Post 291 at 215 15th Street also has a collection bin, said Jesse Garcia, the post’s veterans services officer.
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Wellness center to replace 24 Hour Fitness
The Irvine Co. and St. Joseph Hoag Health are teaming up to create a new “health, fitness, wellness in one location” business in the space occupied by 24 Hour Fitness at 600 Newport Center Drive.
The 17,000 square-foot facility is scheduled to open in spring of 2016, according to a news release. The gym’s lease will expire in August.
“The facility will be divided into three areas: a medical office called the Wellness Corner; a private fitness center for Irvine Co. Newport Center office customers; and The Zone, a boutique fitness training studio,” the release said.
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Scholarship winners announced
The Corona del Mar High School and Middle School PTA this week named the recipients of the 2015 PTA Scholarship awards.
The winners, who each will receive $600, include Heather Feibleman, Kathryn Anne Greenberg, Andie Wright, Allison Green, Emily Ames, Nicole Lloyd, Matt Hollander, Rachel Kamran, Brooke Beyrooty, Gabrielle Schwab, Megan Ames, Nicholas James Ontiveros, Audrey Nguyen, Patrick Ong, Lindsey Rempalski, Zachary Fitch, William Nguyen, Matilda Bress, Claire Keddington and Nigel Bress.
The city also has named the winners of the 2015 City of Newport Beach Ackerman Scholarship Program.
The winners are Brett Beaudette, Brooke Beyrooty, Stephanie Dickerson, Rafe Ferrer, Felicity Giddings, Elijah Herrera, Daniel, Tyler Holt, Nicholas Luckow, Samantha Ludes, Patrick Ong, Trevor Sereno and Erin Stefano.
The city scholarship program is open for children who live in Newport Beach or children of regular full-time city employees. Students must have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above.
In addition, two Corona del Mar High School graduating seniors and Harbor View Elementary School alumnae have been named the 2015 winners of the Brad Evans scholarships.
Erin Stefano, who plans to attend Azusa Pacific University, and Sabrina Froehlich, who plans to attend UC Irvine, were honored at a recent Flag Deck ceremony. Both will receive $700.
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Register for cheer camp
The Corona del Mar High School cheer and song squad will hold a Little Sea Queens camp in August, and registration is now open, according to an event announcement.
The camp will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 25- 27 at the school’s small gym. The cost is $125 until July 31 and includes cheer and dance coaching, a souvenir picture and frame, T-shirt, hair ribbon, daily snacks and drinks and the chance to participate in the school’s home varsity football game at 7 p.m. Aug. 28.
There also will be a special performance for parents at 11:15 a.m. Aug. 27 in the gym. The camp is aimed at children from kindergarten through sixth grade, and the CdMHS pep squad will be teaching.
On Aug. 1, the fee will increase to $150, and late registration on the first day of camp will be $175 paid via cash or cashier’s check only. There will be discounts for families with more than one child participating.
For more information, email Diane Brown at britshel@cox.net.
Corona del Mar Today appears Sundays in the Daily Pilot. Read daily updates at coronadelmartoday.com.