Essie Pinsker

Essie Pinsker made a novel decision about 15 years ago: "I don't want to die an efficient business machine," Pinsker recalled telling her husband. "I want to die an artist." The idea was novel in that the New York native had had nine highly successful careers as "an efficient business machine," most of which had begun with a trip to the Yellow Pages.

Essie Pinsker made a novel decision about 15 years ago: "I don't want to die an efficient business machine," Pinsker recalled telling her husband. "I want to die an artist." The idea was novel in that the New York native had had nine highly successful careers as "an efficient business machine," most of which had begun with a trip to the Yellow Pages.

With the installation of "Awakening," a free-form aluminum sculpture, Brea now has 105 pieces in its Art in Public Places program. The new work, at the Gateway Auto Spa at Brea Boulevard and Imperial Highway, was created by Newport Beach artist Essie Pinsker. Her work can also be seen at the National Portrait Gallery, Vassar Museum and Lincoln Center.

In its first-ever presentation of Aristeia Awards, PBS-affiliate KOCE honored community leaders in three categories at a benefit dinner last week at the Four Seasons hotel in Newport Beach. Jo Caines received an award named in her honor--The Jo Caines Expanding Minds Award. Caines, 71, of Orange, is director of community relations and outreach at the station and her extensive community involvement includes sitting on eight boards of directors and membership in more than 30 other organizations.

Holocaust survivors joined more than 300 people Wednesday in remembering Anne Frank, who died 50 years ago at the age of 15 in a German concentration camp. A reception was held for the opening of "Anne Frank in the World," an educational exhibit at the Newport Harbor Art Museum Library Annex in Newport Beach that re-creates Anne's life and times through 500 photographs, commentaries and facsimiles of the diary she kept while she and her family hid from the Nazis.