Newport firm tops list of fastest growers...

Newport firm tops list of fastest growers

Newport Beach-based Acacia Research Corp. came out on top of

Deloitte & Touche LLP’s list of the fastest growing Orange County

technology companies.

The survey looked at firms’ percentage revenue growth from 2000 to

2004. To be included in the list, technology companies were required

to have at least $50,000 in revenue in 2000 and at least $1 million

in revenue in 2004.

Companies in Acacia Research Corp.’s Acacia Technologies Group

develop, acquire and license patents. According to the survey, Acacia

Research Corp. experienced 41,874% revenue growth from 2000 to 2004.

The other local firms on the list included Newport Beach’s

Universal Space Network Inc. (10), Ceradyne Inc. of Costa Mesa (10)

and the Tri Zetto Group of Newport Beach (17).

City gets $6,750 from imaging company

The city of Costa Mesa received a $6,750 grant from Pictometry

9-1-1, funded through Pictometry International Corp.

The grant from the imaging systems company will go toward new

software for the city’s 911 dispatcher, which will enable dispatchers

to assist the fire and police departments more effectively during 911

emergencies.

Schools team with performing arts center

Costa Mesa’s Sonora Elementary and St. John the Baptist schools

are among five Orange County schools that have begun classroom

implementation of the Center’s ArtsConnect.

The program, a five-year partnership between the Orange County

Performing Arts Center and the Orange County Department of Education,

is designed to integrate the arts into classroom instruction and

curriculum, while demonstrating the positive effects the arts have on

students.

All five schools went through an application process in 2004

before being selected as ArtsConnect schools. Funding for the program

is provided through the Orange County Performing Arts Center and its

support groups; schools pay for their teachers’ training time.

During the last year, first-grade teachers have attended four

professional development sessions in which they learned how to

incorporate the arts into daily lesson plans.

This year, second-grade teachers will receive arts-in-education

training. Another grade will be added each year until arts-in-

education tactics have been applied at all five elementary school

grade levels.

For more information, call (714) 556-2122, ext. 4234.

Amy Gibson at breast cancer symposium

Amy Gibson, former star of “The Young and the Restless” and

“General Hospital,” will be at the American Cancer Society’s Breast

Cancer Symposium on Oct. 15.

Gibson, who has been bald since age 13 from an auto-immune disease

called alopecia areata, will discuss hair replacement options with

women struggling with hair loss due to cancer treatments.

Gibson, founder of Crown & Glory Enterprises, designs wigs and

conducts lifestyle coaching. She will also be available to give

personal advice.

The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Fairmont

Hotel, 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach. For more information,

call (949) 476-2001.