600 attend event dedicating new downtown center

More than 600 people attended the grand opening ceremonies of the Downtown Community Center on Saturday. With a trumpet fanfare and a burst of confetti. Mayor Tom Daly cut the ceremonial ribbon with giant scissors handed to him by Disney characters Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Paul Pressler, Disneyland Resort president, commended the city on the new center, calling it "the second happiest place on earth." Council members Lou Lopez, Shirley McCracken, Tom Tait and Bob Zemel attended the event along with several former council members and city employees. Rep. Loretta Sanchez, in her home district for the weekend, gave Daly a flag to symbolize the flag flown over Capitol Hill that she would send to the center. "I hope that the children and the people who use this center- ... will be as proud as I am to say I'm from Anaheim," said Sanchez, D-Santa Ana. Sanchez's district includes part of Anaheim. The flag pole, in storage in the gymnasium, was one of the finishing touches, including some carpeting weather straping, left undone before form opening.