Calendar of Events

In collaboration with the Jewish Federation of Orange County, Mariners Church, and numerous other organizations, the Coastline Community College Orange County One-Stop Center will be presenting the OC Works Job Fair on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 125 Technology Drive West, #200, Irvine, CA 92618. Companies who wish to participate as an exhibitor or sponsor of this event are urged to contact Isabelle Krasney at 949-341-8055.

EARTH DAY AT THE UPPER NEWPORT BAY ECOLOGICAL RESERVE AND PRESERVE

The Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends, on behalf of the County of Orange, the Dept. of Fish and Game, the City of Newport Beach and the California Coastal Commision invite you to attend their annual Earth Day event to be held this year on Sunday April 25, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center located at 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

SHADETREE PARTNERSHIP

Community service hours are available for all volunteer tree planting activities. Shadetree Partnership event dates for 2010 are as follows: Jan.16, Feb. 20, Mar. 20, April 17, May 15, June 12, Aug. 8, Sept. 18, Oct. 16 and Nov. 13. If it is raining, the event will be cancelled.
All details for each event will be placed on their website, www.shadetreepartnership.org. For more information call (949) 453-5312.

SEA AND SAGE AUDUBON ACTIVITIES

2010 Spring Brunchies - Spring will have sprung before you know it! The first Sea and Sage Audubon brunch of spring 2010 will take place on Saturday, April 10. Registration for this series of five four-course gourmet brunches held in the meadow behind the Duck Club opens March 1. Not only will brunch be served, but a seasoned naturalist will take you on a tour of the Marsh when plants are blooming and the babies of the animal residents are being born. The program is limited to adults only and guest participation to 15. An enrollment form can be downloaded from www.seaandsageaudubon.org, then filled out and mailed with your check. Participation will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Register early to assure your choice of dates. If you have any questions or cannot download the enrollment form, call Helen Nicholas at 949-726-0858.
Summer 2010 Bat Walks - Register for one of nine bat walks scheduled for this summer. Stephanie Remington, bat biologist, will narrate an excellent power point presentation and answer questions for about 30 minutes before leading the group out into the Marsh to observe two species of bats that fly through the Marsh while feeding on mosquitoes and other insects. Although the series does not start until Thursday, May 13, registration begins March 1. An enrollment form can be downloaded from our website, www.seaandsageaudubon.org, then filled out and mailed with your check. Priority will be given to those on the waiting list from 2009. Otherwise, participation will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Register early. This very popular program fills quickly. If you have any questions or cannot download the enrollment form, call Helen Nicholas at 949-726-0858.
Visit the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary - Sea and Sage Audubon House, located at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. There is a small natural history museum, book store, gift shop and free trail maps and bird lists. A volunteer is on duty every day to answer questions.
Audubon House Volunteers Needed. Answer phones, greet guests, and staff Audubon House. Shifts are four hours once a week or month. If you're interested, please call Bev Spring at (714) 505-9980.
Become a member of the National Audubon Society and the Sea and Sage Audubon Chapter. For more information visit their Web site at www.seaandsageaudubon.org or call the Audubon House at (949) 261-7963.

LAKE FOREST GARDEN CLUB
Lake Forest Garden club meets on the third Friday of the month, September through June. at 9:30 a.m. Meetings are held at the Lake Forest Beach and Tennis Club, 22921 Ridge Route Drive, Lake Forest. Visit http://www.lakeforestgardenclub.net/album3.htm for more information.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF IRVINE
New to Irvine and want to get involved? Recently retired and have some extra hours to fill? A stay-at-home mom who wants adult interaction? An empty nester who enjoys volunteering? A professional who wants to give back to her community? Be part of this nationally recognized, dynamic group of like-minded women - Assistance League® of Irvine. New members are welcome anytime. Visit National Assistance League's Web site at www.nal.org/home2.cfm. For further information call (949) 798-5020.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF IRVINE THRIFT AND GIFT SHOP
2452 Alton Parkway (between Jamboree and Von Karman), Irvine • (949) 955-3437
This non-profit volunteer organization, benefiting the Irvine community, features gently used clothing, household items, toys, books, shoes and much more. Donations welcome during normal business hours: Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Assistance League of Irvine is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to providing programs and services that will enrich and improve the quality of life in Irvine.

FAMILIES FORWARD
Food donations are always welcome and can be delivered to the office at 9221 Irvine Blvd., Irvine 92618. For more information call (949) 552-2727.
Families Forward exists to help families in need achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through housing, counseling, education and other support services. It has been serving the needs of families in the area for 22 years.

TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL - Tuesdays from 7 to 8 a.m.
The general public is invited to visit a meeting or join the Toastmasters International "Water Meeters" Club #6492 . The mission of the club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth. They meet every Tuesday from 7 to 8 a.m. at Irvine Ranch Water District headquarters at 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue in Irvine. For more information call Debbie Kanoff at (949) 453-5876.

ORANGE COUNTY COASTKEEPER
Orange County CoastKeeper is a non-profit environmental organization working to protect and preserve the local coastal marine environment and watershed. CoastKeeper needs your help and monetary contributions to continue its work! To volunteer or donate to CoastKeeper, call (949) 723-5424 or visit www.coastkeeper.org .

LEADERSHIP TOMORROW
Leadership Tomorrow is a non-profit organization whose mission is to expand knowledge, empower citizens and promote community involvement through an education program in civic awareness and leadership. Applications are accepted from adults who live or work in the communities of Irvine, Newport Beach or Costa Mesa. Classes meet once a month and give participants a behind-the-scenes look in areas such as healthcare, education, criminal justice, local government and the arts in Orange County. Information and applications are available at www.leadershiptomorrow.org or by calling (949) 729-4411.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Court Appointed Special Advocates is seeking volunteers to serve as advocates and mentors for abused children. Information sessions held monthly at the Heritage Park Library, 14361 Yale Avenue. For dates call (714) 619-5155 or visit their Web site at www.casaoc.org .

STOP AND SWAP PROGRAM
The Irvine Regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center recently began a new program called Stop and Swap. This program is designed to help the county reduce its cost of disposing of materials which cannot be safely disposed of with regular trash, such as paint, batteries, pesticides, pool chemicals, etc. Stop and Swap now allows residents to pick up usable materials which other residents have dropped off. "Swapping" helps residents reduce and reuse materials, helping to keep landfills, and ultimately our water supplies, free of hazardous wastes. Stop and Swap is available during the center's regular hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, except for holidays and rainy days. The center is located at 6411 Oak Canyon Avenue, off Sand Canyon Avenue between Irvine Center Drive and the Santa Ana Freeway. For more information call (714) 834-6752.

As a service to residents we feature a calendar of IRWD and community events on our site. Events or activities of community-wide interest may be included in the community calendar. We reserve the right to edit submissions and include only those items of most interest to the public. If your group has an event you would like to include, please submit written information, including event date, time, place, contact person's name and telephone number. Mail your request to IRWD, Public Affairs Department, P.O. Box 57000, Irvine, California 92619-7000, FAX to (949) 453-1327 or e-mail your request to webmaster@irwd.com