Disaster Preparedness, a Concert and Mars and Stars

1. Anyone who donates blood or platelets at Hoag Blood Donor Services this month can enter to win a two hour Duffy boat rental for up to 10 people from Duffy Electric Boats in Newport Beach. To make an appointment to donate, call 949-764-5621 or email donateblood@hoag.org.

2. The Newport Beach City Council meets Tuesday at 7 p.m. Find more information about the meeting's agenda here.

3. On Wednesday, Sept. 11 from 5:30-7 p.m., Speak Up Newport is hosting a Disaster Preparedness workshop at the Newport Beach Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Dr.  The free event will include a presentation from the Newport Beach Fire Department. Complimentary appetizers will be served from 5:30-6 p.m., with the program from 6-7 p.m.

4. On Friday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach's Summer Concert Series will continue with a performance by BWB: Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown. The Hyatt is located at 1107 Jamboree Rd. For more information, call 949-360-7800 or 949-729-1234.

5. On Saturday at 6:30 p.m., OC Parks will begin NASA's JPL Educational series "Mars and Stars.'' Marc Rayman, chief engineer and director of Dawn Mission, will discuss NASA's Dawn Mission to the Asteroid Belt. Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve is located at 2301 University Dr. For more information, call Ashley Eckenweiler at 949-285-9239 or 949-923-2290.

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