Commerce

Business and civic leaders will cheer Newport Beach police this morning as part of the 39th annual Police Appreciation Breakfast. The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Commodores Club will host the breakfast, which is being presented by Wells Fargo. As many as 60 police officers are expected to show up as honored guests. “It’s a great opportunity to say thank you for all year long,” said chamber President Richard Luehrs, who has attended the annual police appreciation event during each of the 28 years he has been in office.

Nobody seems to remember quite how long volunteers have been getting up at 6 a.m. to line East Coast Highway with American flags on holidays. “For decades, it has just been a tradition in this little village,” said Jacqueline Wittmeyer, a board member of the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the holiday displays. “It has kept this patriotic sense in Corona del Mar and has been a blessing for anyone who has ever wanted to participate.” Around town, Wittmeyer is known as the “Flag Lady of Corona del Mar.” She’s been volunteering to help put up the flags since 1993.

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce President Richard Luehrs has been appointed to the new California Commission on Disability Access. Luehrs, 62, said Wednesday he has been instructed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office not to respond to media requests about his appointment for the time being. The Commission on Disability Access was created in 2008 to study and report back to state lawmakers about disability access issues. The new commission also will coordinate with state and local agencies to make sure accurate information on disability-access requirements is available.

Share Our Selves is pleased to announce that Alan Greeley, Chef/Owner of The Golden Truffle Restaurant is the recipient of the 2009 Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame Community Spirit Award.  He was presented the award on Thursday, at a luncheon held at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa. Alan, a Costa Mesa native, has consistently been an outstanding community member in Costa Mesa and throughout Orange County; providing local charities with leadership, financial support and hands-on philanthropic involvement.

Newport Beach educator and World War II veteran Norman Loats thought he was going to lunch with his friend, former Sen. Marian Bergeson, to reminisce about old times Tuesday at Big Canyon Country Club, where he was surprised to learn that he had been chosen as the 2009 Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. “What an honor, what a proud group,” Loats said, surprised as he walked into a luncheon in his honor at the country club Tuesday. Each year, the honoree is announced at a surprise luncheon with all of the past Citizens of the Year in attendance.

Local hotels, restaurants and shops will get an upswing in business when the Toshiba Classic rolls into town on Monday. The seven-day PGA Tour event generates millions of dollars for the local economy and raises about $1 million each year for Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. Everyone from local bartenders to florists benefit, said Jeff Purser, Toshiba Classic director. “I know of at least 1,000 dinners being booked next week and that’s outside of Toshiba.

Outside of being named the Daily Pilot’s Sponsor’s Award winner for her Christmas decorations during 2007’s Ring of Lights contest in Newport Beach, Donna Di Bari said she wasn’t feeling like much of a winner at the celebratory dinner. “I had bid on so many silent auctions and I didn’t win anything,” Di Bari said. As she stood there discouraged, someone came by selling tickets for the grand prize trip to Germany. “What the heck, let’s try,” Di Bari remembered thinking.

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce will hold its only fundraiser of the year, the Community Classic Golf Tournament, July 28 at the Costa Mesa Country Club. The event has been a key fundraiser because the money goes toward the chamber’s general fund, allowing the organization to hold other community events, according to Chamber President Ed Fawcett. Last year, the event raised more than $27,000. Various restaurants will serve food and drinks at each hole. The tournament is divided into categories.

SHELBY BUCKLEY Corona del Mar The standout distance runner will compete at UCLA. A state individual champion in cross country as a freshman in 2004 (CIF Division III) at Rosary, she also excelled in track and field. Since Buckley came to CdM as a sophomore, the Sea Kings have won three straight CIF Southern Section Division III cross country titles and three straight Division III track and field titles; also a CIF Southern Section Division III champ in the 800 meters and 1,600.

While many high school seniors are spending their final months of school preparing for the future, students, parents, faculty and community members took the time to reflect on strides the students have made over the last four years at the 29th Costa Mesa Les Miller Awards banquet Friday morning. “I just think about how much I have changed, my friends have changed,” said 17-year-old Estancia High School student Meagan Kunert. Kunert was honored as one of the four members from her school to receive a Les Miller Award, complete with a plaque, honors from local legislators, and a $200 stipend.