Discovery Science Center

In the grand tradition of the intellectual round table, the Discovery Science Center gathered supporters known as “The Innovators” for an inaugural event at the Corona del Mar residence of Lydia and Ken Himes Lydia and Ken Himes . The midweek dinner gathering was fronted by special guest of honor Michael Ramirez , Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist. The syndicated political commentator, whose work is seen by millions in more than 450 magazines and newspapers worldwide, had come to the Himes residence to speak about his newly released book, “Everyone Has The Right To My Opinion.

The 22nd Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon, honoring four Newport Beach residents for outstanding volunteer service, will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel, 700 W. Convention Way. National Philanthropy Day was the idea of Newport Beach attorney Doug Freeman, and was proclaimed as a national day of remembrance by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Nominated by the Great Park Conservancy, MIND Institute and Discovery Science Center, Walkie and Janet Ray were chosen to receive the Spirit of Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award for ?

The 22nd Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon, honoring four Newport Beach residents for outstanding volunteer service, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel, 700 W. Convention Way. National Philanthropy Day publicly recognizes “philanthropists, volunteers and donors who give their time, talent and treasure to enable nonprofit organizations and their causes to meet the needs of their communities.”...

A team of children from Newport Coast Elementary placed second Saturday in a daylong, 52-team science tournament. Team Bad Robot was neck-and-neck with Los Angeles Westside in the 2009 Southern California FIRST Lego League Championship Tournament at Legoland in Carlsbad, following their win at a qualifying tournament at the Discovery Science Center. Teams from Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, and San Bernardino counties competed. The teams were judged on teamwork, project, robotic design, and robotic performance.

Submitted by Ryan Chan A team of 5th and 6th graders from Newport Coast won the FIRST Lego League qualifying tournament at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana on Saturday.  Out of 24 teams from Orange County, the Newport Coast “Bad Robot” came in 1st place overall and 2nd place on the Team Project presentation.    FIRST is a nonprofit group that aims to inspire young people to develop a passion for science and math and well-rounded life skills that include self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

A group of World of Warcraft players planning their next attack online may look like pure fun and games, from the chat-room banter to the orcs and elves they send into battle. But to UCI researcher Walt Scacchi, a senior research scientist at UCI’s Institute of Software Research, it just might look like a business meeting. “They may spend hours strategizing in chat rooms or looking at recordings of previous game-play sessions,” Scacchi said. “They’re helping to educate themselves on how to be a better team, more effective.

B.W. COOK Thanksgiving came early this year as Newport-Mesa citizens joined together for a feast of the harvest, Moroccan-style, to support Share Our Selves. Marrakesh restaurant in Costa Mesa hosted the dinner to raise awareness and funds in support of the less fortunate in this community. Latifa Bakiri, Marrakesh's chef, served a Bastilla mixed grill dinner that was accompanied by "Jo-Jo," a Moroccan belly dancer. That would have been a nice touch for the pilgrims.

B.W. COOK Holiday shopping at South Coast Plaza today through Monday will benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Orange County, if you have the Angelitos Card. The Angelitos de Oro, a support group for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, is sponsoring a holiday shopping spree at selected South Coast Plaza stores, where holders of the card will receive a 20% discount on merchandise. The cost of the card is $50, with proceeds going to Big Brothers/Sisters. It's not too late to participate.

"Imagine what if and what will be?" This was the question asked by organizers of the Discovery Science Center's annual fundraising dinner last week, which welcomed some 400 community activists and raised more than $500,000 for science education in Orange County. The massive event was chaired with style by Jeff and Andrea Reeves . The event honored major donors Microsemi Corporation, represented by Jim Peterson , and philanthropist Paul Folino and his corporation Emulex, for their unwavering support.

In the grand tradition of the intellectual round table, the Discovery Science Center gathered supporters known as “The Innovators” for an inaugural event at the Corona del Mar residence of Lydia and Ken Himes Lydia and Ken Himes . The midweek dinner gathering was fronted by special guest of honor Michael Ramirez , Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist. The syndicated political commentator, whose work is seen by millions in more than 450 magazines and newspapers worldwide, had come to the Himes residence to speak about his newly released book, “Everyone Has The Right To My Opinion.

A team of children from Newport Coast Elementary placed second Saturday in a daylong, 52-team science tournament. Team Bad Robot was neck-and-neck with Los Angeles Westside in the 2009 Southern California FIRST Lego League Championship Tournament at Legoland in Carlsbad, following their win at a qualifying tournament at the Discovery Science Center. Teams from Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, and San Bernardino counties competed. The teams were judged on teamwork, project, robotic design, and robotic performance.

Submitted by Ryan Chan A team of 5th and 6th graders from Newport Coast won the FIRST Lego League qualifying tournament at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana on Saturday.  Out of 24 teams from Orange County, the Newport Coast “Bad Robot” came in 1st place overall and 2nd place on the Team Project presentation.    FIRST is a nonprofit group that aims to inspire young people to develop a passion for science and math and well-rounded life skills that include self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

A group of World of Warcraft players planning their next attack online may look like pure fun and games, from the chat-room banter to the orcs and elves they send into battle. But to UCI researcher Walt Scacchi, a senior research scientist at UCI’s Institute of Software Research, it just might look like a business meeting. “They may spend hours strategizing in chat rooms or looking at recordings of previous game-play sessions,” Scacchi said. “They’re helping to educate themselves on how to be a better team, more effective.

The 22nd Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon, honoring four Newport Beach residents for outstanding volunteer service, will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel, 700 W. Convention Way. National Philanthropy Day was the idea of Newport Beach attorney Doug Freeman, and was proclaimed as a national day of remembrance by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Nominated by the Great Park Conservancy, MIND Institute and Discovery Science Center, Walkie and Janet Ray were chosen to receive the Spirit of Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award for ?

The 22nd Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon, honoring four Newport Beach residents for outstanding volunteer service, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel, 700 W. Convention Way. National Philanthropy Day publicly recognizes “philanthropists, volunteers and donors who give their time, talent and treasure to enable nonprofit organizations and their causes to meet the needs of their communities.”...

Men like John Crean come around once in a lifetime. And what a lifetime, he had. Newport-Mesa lost a true gem of a man Thursday, when Crean died at 81. There's no denying that Crean was a rich man in more ways than one. As the founder of Fleetwood Enterprises, he amassed a fortune building motor and manufactured homes. Fleetwood was a Fortune 500 company and as of last year was worth more than $2 billion. But John Crean was much more than his money. He was a benefactor extraordinaire.

SANTA ANA — Ryan Baran-Maguire couldn't have been that disappointed when his fall science project hit a few bumps. Every time the experiment failed, he got to pig out. Ryan, a 9-year-old Newport Beach resident, won the "most original" award in the Discovery Science Center's first Science of Gingerbread competition. For his piece, Ryan built a 2-foot-tall NASA rocket out of gingerbread and decorated it with Red Vines, marshmallows and other treats. The first time he tried crafting the rocket in the oven, the shape collapsed — which meant that it ended up on his plate, rather than the museum in Santa Ana. "I think it's safe to say that Ryan ate the most gingerbread, but I certainly helped," said his mother, Janine Baran.