California

Glenn Deck taught when he was being honored for being a great teacher Sunday night at the Balboa Bay Club. During his acceptance speech, the PGA director of instruction for Pelican Hill and Oak Creek Golf Clubs gave a tip to the people in attendance. He told them to find a way for golf to be fun. That was one of the many reasons why Deck was named Teacher of the Year by the PGA of America's Southern California Section. Deck can place the award next to a few others. He has earned past honors as one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers in America since 2002 and Golf Tips magazine's Top 25 U.S. Instructors in 2012.

Bradford Wayne Wilson passed away comfortably in his home in Costa Mesa, California on November 29, 2012 after his courageous battle with cancer.   He was 73 years old. Born on January 26, 1939 in Brisco County Texas.  Son of Charles and Glenna Wilson.  Survived by wife Nancy Jo Wilson, daughter Heather Michele Calder, son Kyle Kenneth Wilson as well as grandchildren Logan James Calder and Nicklaus Bradford Wilson.  Brad was a noted assistant golf...

RUTH CARROLL MACDOUGALL McCARTIN passed away on November 4, 2012 in Dana Point, California.  She was born in Redwood Falls, Minnesota on December 17, 1925, attended Redwood Falls schools and graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1947.  After graduation, she worked in department store advertising in St. Paul, Minnesota; taught first grade in Quantico, Virginia; worked in newspaper display advertising in Costa Mesa, California; and...

The moral of the story was the importance of learning to work together, but there was also a more delicious take away. When a mummy, ghost, vampire, witch and bat work together, the reward is pumpkin pie, lots of pumpkin pie. Geoff "Chef Geoff" Ianniello visited two Victoria Elementary School classes Thursday to read the Halloween favorite "Big Pumpkin" by Erica Silverman and S.D. Schindler followed by a serving of the fall dessert. Ianniello, the operations manager for a Network for a Healthy California, didn't whip up just any ol' pumpkin pie for teachers Tomi and Tracy Scofield's special day classes, but a dessert of his own creation.

Re. "Apodaca: Public education hangs in the balance Nov. 6," (Column, Oct. 7): Patrice Apodaca pleads with the readers to get behind passing Proposition 30 to fund public education in California. On the surface, it sounds reasonable, but she also makes the point on why we should vote no. It is delusional to think we should send more money to the Democrats in Sacramento and trust them do the right thing. They are in the tank with the teachers unions and have no restraint in reducing spending.

Discussion of a proposed ban on the sale of tobacco and smoking products at the Orange County Fairgrounds took a philosophical turn Thursday at the Fair Board's monthly meeting, where the idea was voted down. Speakers and, later, board members questioned the logic behind banning cigars and hookahs at a place where visitors can drink beer and eat deep-fried Twinkies. "Why not ban sales of beef jerky?" asked Theresa Sears, a member of the Orange County Fairgrounds Preservation Society.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani defended GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and tore into President Obama on Thursday night at a California Republican Party fundraiser. The reception at the private Pacific Club in Newport Beach aimed to promote Orange County Republicans up for election in various races. "I think Gov. Romney did us a real favor by pointing out that 47% of people don't pay income taxes," Giuliani told the gathering of about 40, referencing Romney's recent publicity dust-up.

Cheese, ice cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream and butter. Kaiser Elementary School's students Thursday morning listed some of the foods cows produce as they got up close to a bovine during a free assembly sponsored by the Dairy Council of California's Mobile Dairy Classroom. "It's good for them to know where their milk comes from, where all their food comes from," said Mobile Dairy Classroom teacher Steve Miller in a cowboy hat, sunglasses and boots. The star of the show was 8-year-old Feisty, a 900-pound brown and white Jersey cow who makes her home at the Mission Viejo High School farm, Miller said.

Visitors can get a taste of what life was like for early Californians at an adobe that has stood for nearly 200 years. The Costa Mesa Historical Society is hosting its 46th annual Early California Days from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Diego Sepulveda Adobe in Estancia Park, 1900 Adams Ave.. The event will mark the society's anniversary. "Come and learn about some local heritage and have fun at the same time," said Terry Shaw, historical society vice president of programs.

Local schools will receive almost $1 million in free upgrades starting next week, thanks to the state Public Utilities Commission. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District approved an agreement Tuesday with Southern California Edison to be a part of its Public Schools Program, which will go into each school and district facility to upgrade indoor lights where needed. It will save the district an expected $220,000 in utility costs, according to the board agenda. An estimated $940,000 in upgrades will be put into Newport-Mesa Unified properties, with the district only contributing labor - which was already allocated - to oversee and inspect the projects, said Tim Marsh, the district's administrative director of facilities support services.