Morning Coffee: Weds., March 17, 2010

Welcome! Here's the news of Newport-Mesa from Tuesday gathered in one place for you. Check back often today for updates and the news as it happens.

• Everything you ever wanted to know about St. Paddy's Day in one place.
• CdM celebration brings police and helicopter.
• Campbell takes on 'big' issue and we say, good for him.
• Spike strip causes city woes and flat tires.
• Local arrested at drug dispensary.
• Restaurants and travel on EDC agenda this morning.
• Marina Park Design Committee meeting today. See agenda.
• GP/LPC Committee meeting this afternoon.
• Gilchrist is at the top of the pack, can you say 'Player of the Year'.
• Salem has Stanford at the top of his list.
• Mayor talks about City Attorney's arrest and what's next.
• It's nice: regular students teaming with special ed.
• A new Newport Beach home: $95,000,000; say what?
• Check out the whale regatta coming later this month. It's a BIG affair.
• Lynn Selich gives her take on a Film Festival fundraiser and a "cute" celebrity bartender.
• What's a Fluxus? Well, it's coming to Newport Beach: see Terin Cottam's Shopping column.
• Time change, sleep deprivation: it's an interesting mix for Hoag sleep center director.
• The Pop's Symphony schedule is released.
• 6,000 Easter eggs equal huge hunt; see where.
• District-wide school survey underway.

Courtesy of Newport-Mesa's best calendar (found in the Daily Voice); here's a look at what's on tap for  today... and it's more than just green beer. 

March 17 - Today (St. Patrick's Day)

Costa Mesa Citizens Fire Academy begins today and meets for nine weeks on Wednesday evenings and one Saturday. Participants will learn about specialized fire safety programs. Must be 18 years of age or older. An application is required. Contact the Fire Prevention office at (714) 327-7406.

Apartment Association of Orange County Trade Show at the OC Fair and Event Center. www.ocfair.com

Sea Tales - Family Fun at Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. Join them for stories, crafts, touch tank and music geared for pre-schoolers (ages 2-5). Each month’s theme is designed to introduce kids to a variety of marine topics while having fun at the Nautical Museum. The program has limited space, so make your reservations early! Visitwww.nhnm.org for more information and to sign up.

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce launches its “Executive Brainstorming Series,” the first of the series at the Radisson Hotel Newport Beach. The series will be tailored to business owners and executives to brainstorm and share ideas with peers on how to overcome common challenges in today's economy. Attend this session to find out about new ideas to help your company grow, increase sales, provide better customer service and market your company more effectively. Topics will range from marketing, employee programs, raising morale, cost-cutting ideas, managing four generations at once, social media tricks, setting smart goals and more. Today's session will cover, “Getting through the Gatekeeper” and “Strengths and Weaknesses in Networking.” This event is open to the public. Cost: $20 for Newport Chamber members who pre-register, $25 for members at the door. Non-members, $35. A continental breakfast is included. The Radisson Hotel is located at 4545 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. For more information, contact Pam Smith at (949) 729-4411 or by email psmith@newportbeach.com.

The Early Learning Quality Improvement System (ELQIS) is holding a Town Hall Meetting at the Orange County Department of Education (200 Kalmus Drive, Building D 1001), in Costa Mesa from 1-3:30 p.m.. Dennis Vicars, chair of the ELQIS subcommittee on design, will preside. All people interested in and concerned about quality early learning programs in California are urged to attend. For more information, call the Preschool California, Los Angeles satellite office at (323) 254-1411, ext. 22.

Orange Coast College theatre arts instructor John Ferzacca has adapted Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” into an experimental, pared-down version of the tragedy. Performances, directed by OCC theatre arts professor Alex Golson, are Wednesday through Saturday, March 17-20, at 8 p.m. in the Drama Lab Theatre, with a 2:30 matinee on Sunday, March 21. Advance tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for OCC students and seniors at the OCC Bursar’s Office. Tickets can be ordered by phone at (714) 432-5880, ext. 1, or at www.occtickets.com. Tickets will be $11 at the door.