Ronald McDonald House celebrates The Ronald McDonald...

Ronald McDonald House celebrates

The Ronald McDonald House in Orange, which provides accommodation

to families of children being treated at the Children’s Hospital of

Orange County, celebrated its 15th anniversary Thursday with a

fundraiser at the Turnip Rose in Costa Mesa.

The keynote address at the high tea was delivered by Corona

resident Marcie Williams, who spent almost a month at the house

during the weeks after giving birth to quadruplets. One of the

babies, who had Down’s Syndrome, died when she was almost 8 months

old.

Williams talked about how she would have had to drive an hour and

a half in traffic to and from Corona after a complicated C-section.

“I got much-needed rest, warm meals and a lot of moral support,

because I was able to stay at the house during that time,” she said.

Thursday’s high tea also featured a fashion show and a silent

auction.

Time limits for docking now in council hands

Boaters may be able to dock their boats at public piers for more

than 20 minutes thanks to expanded time limits approved unanimously

by the Harbor Commission Wednesday.

The commission increased time limits on the city’s 10 public piers

to two hours on the two sides of the pier, 12 hours on the side

closest to land, keeping the bay side at 20 minutes.

The expanded time limits will now go to the City Council for

approval.

Planning Commission hopefuls name names

Twenty-five Newport Beach residents want to fill the empty

Planning Commission seat, vacated when Leslie Daigle was appointed to

the City Council to replace Gary Adams.

The hopefuls are Eric Aust, Ron Baers, John Beavers, Dave Bent,

Timothy Brown, Kevin del Toro, Marc Franklin, William Garrett,

Phillip Greer, James Hall, Miguel Hargrove, Robert Hawkins, Michael

Henn, Lloyd Ikerd, Roberta Jorgensen, Marti Klein, Phillip Lugar,

Thelma Moore, Paul Pegg, Obie Rambeau, Robert Schoonmaker, Ronald

Siegel, Robert Smith, Jack Wu and Marianne Zippi, who ran

unsuccessfully for the 70th Assembly District in the spring.

Environmental center presents fall faire

The fall festivals are in full swing, and the Environmental Nature

Center is joining the fray with its annual Fall Faire and Pumpkin

Patch.

The Environmental Nature Center will host its annual festival from

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at 1601 16th St. The event has boasted

attendance of more than 3,000, and this year is expected to be no

exception.

This October’s event will feature a silent auction, live music and

an opportunity drawing for attendees. The gardens will be selling

pumpkins for Halloween or California native plants. Children can

enjoy games, crafts and other activities.

Guests can also see the progress on the newly constructed

butterfly house and campfire circle or participate in a scavenger

hunt that will take them through the center.

Volunteers from the National Charity League, Campfire Boys &

Girls, Environmental Nature Center staff, several Girl and Boy Scout

troops and students from local high schools will be present to help

guests and facilitate activities.

Reservations are not necessary. Everyone is invited, and the

festival is free to the public.