Did your child get a new bicycle for the holidays?
Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo has free helmets in its gift shop for kids between the ages of 2 and 17. A multi-sport black helmet also is available at the Mission Viejo campus at no cost for children 17 and younger.
The child must be present, the hospital says, in order to be fitted properly. Each fitting takes about 15 minutes.
The hospital’s Helmet Giveaway Program, launched in November 2021, has given away 1,200 helmets to children in the region. It’s supported by donors Karen and George Thagard and the Providence Mission Hospital Foundation.
The gift shop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for walk-ins. Address: Tower 1 lobby at 27700 Medical Center Road in Mission Viejo
John Wayne Airport saw 1,014,095 passengers pass through its gates in November 2022, compared with 854,393 a year prior. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
JWA reports robust holiday traffic
Holiday traffic took off at John Wayne Airport, increasing 18.7% in November compared with November 2021.
The airport reported its most recent numbers last week, showing that it saw 1,014,095 passengers pass its gates, compared with 854,393 a year prior.
Travel numbers look fully restored when compared with pre-pandemic 2019, when 827,140 passengers used the airport — 22.6% improvement.
The top three airlines in based on passenger count were Southwest Airlines (390,871), American Airlines (145,149) and United Airlines (137,453).
Law firm expands to Orange County
The law firm Reed Smith has opened an office in Orange County, its fifth in the state.
The new office in Costa Mesa is opening with seven lawyers who provide both transactional and litigation capabilities. More lawyers are expected to join in the coming months, the firm said.
Partners include John Simonis and Daniel Hagedorn (real estate), Daniel Ahn (regulatory and investigations), Marjorie Norman (intellectual property) and Julia Zhu-Morelli (transactions and corporate). Joining them are associates Amy Depuy and Michaela Mapes.
Reed Smith has 31 offices worldwide, including 18 in the U.S. The Costa Mesa address is 650 Town Center Drive, Suite 1600. Phone: 714-516-8700.
Geiss MED debuts new name
Orange-based Geiss MED, a Senior Healthcare delivery concept, has rebranded as Senior Doc.
Since its founding in 2014, the company has connected physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to seniors in need of care. Senior Doc will remain under the ownership of its founder, Dr. John Mark Geiss, and retain the same team.
For more information about Senior Doc’s services, go to seniordoc.com or call 855-434-7763.
Volunteers are needed for the Orange County Power Authority’s Citizens Advisory Committee. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
OCPA seeks volunteers for citizens’ committee
The Orange County Power Authority is seeking applicants for its volunteer Citizens Advisory Committee.
Committee members will help shape the energy program, educate the public and advise the board of directors on the operation of OCPA.
Applicants must be residents, business owners, employees or representatives of a community-based organization or nonprofit within the OCPA cities of Buena Park, Fullerton, Huntington Beach and Irvine.
For more information and to apply, go to ocpower.org/about-us/community-advisory-committee
On the move
Lori J. Butler has been named chief development and marketing officer at Orange-based Lutheran Social Services of Southern California. Butler will oversee the nonprofit’s fundraising, marketing and donor development including a $38 million-dollar capital and building campaign for a Community Wellness Center in the city of San Bernardino. Licensed in six counties, Lutheran Social Services provides programs and case management, a food pantry, housing counseling, peer training programs and assistance to victims of domestic or other forms of violence.
Matt Horwitz has been promoted to senior vice president and chief revenue officer at Howard’s, the appliance retailer based in La Habra. Horwitz previously was VP of merchandising. He is now responsible for merchandising, sales and training as well as managing and directing the development of strategies.
Good works
Be Well OC and Pretend City, have unveiled a kid-sized Be Well mobile van at the children’s museum in Irvine.
Mayor Farrah Khan along with the team at Pretend City, Be Well and community members all turned out for the ribbon cutting.
The mini-mobile unit is part of Pretend City’s Mind & Body Studio, which emphasizes the importance of mental health and supporting healthy families. Orange-based Be Well OC is an initiative combining public, private, academic and faith-based organizations to create a system of mental health care and support across the county.
Appointments
Brea resident Marvin Kropke, has been reappointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the Occupational Safety and Health Appeals Board, where he has served since 2019. He also has been a member of the State Compensation Insurance Fund board of directors since 2013. Kropke, a disabled veteran from combat in the Vietnam War, served in the 4th Infantry Division. He was business manager and financial secretary for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11 from 1997 to 2018. This position requires Senate confirmation; compensation is $148,822. Kropke is a Democrat.
Status Update is compiled from press releases by contributing writer Karen Levin and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
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