Veterans

As community college budgets continue to decline and the statewide conversation of changing the colleges' purpose continues, Andrew C. Jones doesn't see the situation for education getting better for several more years. Still, the 62-year-old Coast Community College District chancellor took the top spot despite everything and believes the district can be successful and thrive in this environment. "The thing about it is, it's exciting - it's full of opportunity," he said.

Dreaming of a white Christmas in sunny Southern California? To see snow really fall in Costa Mesa, just buy a ticket for one of the holiday season's hottest tickets: the Broadway musical version of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The tale of two talented World War II Army buddies who make it big on Broadway, find their true loves, then help their former commander save a dilapidated New England inn has become an American classic. The musical version of "White Christmas," which debuted in San Francisco in 2004, shares the 1954 Bing Crosby film's plot, but takes divergences in plot details and in musical numbers.

An Irvine man accused of throwing his son overboard during a Newport Harbor cruise has been denied access to a court program responsible for combat veterans. Sloan Steven Briles, 35, appeared in Orange County Combat Veterans Court on Tuesday, where a judge told him that he would be tried in a civilian criminal court for the Aug. 28 incident, confirmed Orange County Superior Court spokeswoman Carole Levitzky. The court is geared toward combat veterans who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, drug addiction or other long-term issues.

LONG BEACH - For veterans and Corona del Mar students alike, the excitement was palpable. Middle and high school students have been putting on shows, singing carols and distributing food and presents during the holiday season for 33 years, mostly at the veterans hospital in Long Beach. In the hospital's community room Wednesday, about 140 CdM students - in cheerleading and scouting uniforms, or wearing red and green outfits and Santa hats - joined about 200 veterans who filled the room with cacophonous noise.

COSTA MESA — More than 200 veterans, spanning multiple generations and wars, were honored Friday morning at the annual Mariners Christian School Red, White and Blue Breakfast. "It's about respect and honoring the sacrifices that those who came before us made," said Dwight Hanson, 42, who served in the Marines during the Gulf War. Hanson followed in his father's footsteps, who served during World War II, and said he would be proud if any of his three children enrolled at Mariners, who span second to eighth grade, also enlisted.

As the country joins together to honor the nation's military veterans on Friday, here's what local groups are doing this week. FOR THE RECORD: The Costa Mesa Police Department's veterans appreciation breakfast is not open to the public. Pendleton Marines visit Balboa The Balboa Bay Republican Women Federated are observing Veterans Day on Wednesday by recognizing Marines from Camp Pendleton. The group's guests will talk about patriotism. The meeting and lunch is $30, and parking costs $7. The event starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy. in Newport Beach.

I remember Armistice Day. I remember on countless occasions as a youngster seeing little old men in front of business establishments selling artificial red paper poppies. They even came to our door. My mother, who frequently bought those poppies, told me that the men were World War I veterans. They were, I suppose, selling poppies to support the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), or the American Legion, or any of a dozen other veterans' organizations. They were not nearly so young as my father, who was a World War II vet. They were of my grandfather's generation.

CORONA DEL MAR —The Harbor Singers honored the Armed Forces on Friday with music and choreographed moves at the monthly Friends of OASIS meeting. The Orange County women's singing group performed showtunes and patriotic numbers with dance moves at the OASIS Evelyn Hart Event Center before a crowd of more than 250 seniors. "It was outstanding," said volunteer Evelyn Hart, for whom the center is named. "When you have talent as magnificent as they do, and with the amount of practice they put into every show, for them to come out and entertain us is really special.

Costa Mesa city officials will gather Sunday on the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Community leaders, military personnel and Costa Mesa police officers will remember those who lost their lives from 9 to 11 a.m. at the U.S. Army Reserve Base at the Air National Guard facility, 2651 Newport Blvd. A moment of silence is slated for 9:20 a.m. Costa Mesa Chief Executive Tom Hatch, Police Chief Tom Gazsi, acting Fire Chief Kirk Dominic and Iraq War veteran 2nd Lt. Thomas Deluccia are scheduled to speak at the event.

COSTA MESA — Although he's worn a police uniform for more than three decades in neighboring Newport Beach, Tuesday was the first time his uniform came with a badge reserved for the chief. Friends, family and members of police departments reaching as far as San Luis Obispo stood by as Tom E. Gazsi formally became the Costa Mesa Police Department's new police chief. Gazsi's three daughters, parents and wife, Kimberly, were among those who filled the City Council Chambers for the ceremony.