Around Town: Newport Beach police supporters show their appreciation through pizza

A group of local police supporters presented $4,375 in Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store gift cards to all 175 Newport Beach police officers and staff Thursday.

All 145 Newport Beach police officers and 30 staff will receive a $25 Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store gift card that can be redeemed for over the Fourth of July weekend.

Dotty McDonald, who has completed 1,000 hours of community and volunteer service for the department, and Julie Ann Ulcickas, wife of Newport restaurateur Jim Ulcickas, raised the funds to purchase the gift cards and delivered them to the Newport Beach Police Department headquarters.

YMCA of Orange County gets new director of development

William E. Sawin Sr. of Newport Beach has been named the new Director of Development for the YMCA of Orange County.

Sawin will help lead advancement efforts for the organization by expanding programs and services, tapping into his 40-plus years of executive management experience that includes deep knowledge of fund development, fundraising, comprehensive philanthropic strategic and tactical planning and working with nonprofit organizations and their networks.

Sawin has raised more than $250 million in the last 10 years for major nonprofits throughout Southern California, including the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles, Mater Dei High School, disability organizations, children’s educational organizations, STEM enhancement programs and healthcare organizations.

He has an executive MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Los Angeles.

Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. to launch select program

The Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. plans to launch its NHBA Mariners Select Program this fall.

The youth baseball organization is offering the program with the promise of elevated training, player development and experience on the field of play while maintaining the community-driven focus of the league.

Tryouts for players who are 9 and under will be Monday and July 13 at Bob Henry Park from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For those interested in the 10-and-under division, tryouts are Tuesday and July 14 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Bob Henry Park.

For players wishing to compete in the 11-and-under and 12-and-under divisions, tryouts will be held July 21 and July 28 at Mariners Park from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

“It is imperative that the community bring some semblance of normalcy to our youth if it is deemed safe and we follow the procedures [and] guidelines issued by the state, county, and city with our program,” NHBA president Jared Eisenberg said in a prepared statement. “Baseball is considered America’s national pastime, and we believe there is no better activity to bring the community together once again. Newport Harbor Pony Baseball is dedicated to the communities of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, and we look forward to helping our kids be active, socialize with friends, and have fun playing sport.”

Eisenberg said the season would run from August to November, adding that the league would also be offering a recreational fall baseball option alongside the new select program.

Teams will be chosen by the coaching staff for each respective age group. The head coaches for the select teams are as follows: Ira Green (12U), Ariel Guitron (11U), Mark Cresse (10U), Mike Huyler (9U).

For more information on the NHBA Select coaches, visit playnhba.com/Default.aspx?tabid=692567.

For more details about the NHBA Select program, visit playnhba.com/Default.aspx?tabid=692564.

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