Local financial firm reports big gains Downey...

Local financial firm reports big gains

Downey Financial Corp. in Newport Beach reported a big gain in

profits when the firm reported its fourth-quarter results on Tuesday.

In a statement, the company announced net income for the fourth

quarter jumped 95%, earning $23.8 million or $1.66 a share. For the

year, Downey netted $107.7 million, up from $101.7-million in 2003.

The company cited lower taxes as a major factor behind its

increase in income. Downey Financial Corp. is the holding company for

Downey Savings and Loan, and it trades under the New York Stock

Exchange symbol DSL.

Marine ecology focus of education seminars

The California State Parks Foundation, with the California

Institute for Biodiversity, has launched teacher training workshops,

designed to combine classroom education with study at local state

park sites.

The program -- called “Coast Alive!” -- offers a series of

professional development seminars to fifth- through ninth-grade

students and their teachers, to learn about California’s marine

ecology and its role in preserving the state’s natural history.

A series of two-day workshops begin in February and are scheduled

on Fridays from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sessions are available in Tustin, Long Beach, San Diego, Ventura

and La Canada Flintridge. Workshop locations include Bolsa Chica

Ecological Reserve and the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve.

Cost to register is $10, and teachers receive a $100 stipend, a

disc and a manual.

For more information, go to https://www.coastalive.org or call

(909) 625-8767, ext. 224.