Welcome : TO ORANGE COUNTY : A QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE FOR NEWCOMERS

Moving is often ranked high on the list of life’s most stressful events--usually right up there with oral surgery and tax audits. But that needn’t be the case. Armed with our handy guide, you will get what you need--and feel like an Orange County native in practically no time. Apartments

Used to supplement the apartment sections of newspaper classifieds, the following publications can help apartment hunters locate the larger complexes in the county:

THE APARTMENT MAP (714) 540-APTS

A free map listing apartments countywide. Also, provides videos showing apartments and neighborhoods to corporations that relocate employees to the area. The map is available at many supermarket newsstands.

LET’S RENT MAGAZINE (714) 556-8333

A free apartment listing magazine. Also available at many supermarket newsstands. Attorneys ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSN. (714) 835-8811

Provides a free referral service, matching clients to lawyers by area of law. Also available is the Tel-Law Library, a free, taped legal information service covering more than 200 topics including adoption, bankruptcies, immigration and criminal law: (714) 835-5294 or (714) 240-3515 (South Orange County callers) Attractions

ANAHEIM VISITOR AND CONVENTION BUREAU (714) 999-8999 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Has a free booklet describing lodging, restaurants and attractions in Orange County. Bus Service

ORANGE COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT (714) 636-7433

Provides both fixed-route and dial-a-ride (door-to-door pick-up) services. Car Registration/Drivers License

Visit one of the following California Department of Motor Vehicles offices or, better yet, call first for a time-saving appointment:

COSTA MESA (714) 631-8150 650 W. 19th St. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

SANTA ANA (714) 558-4688 1330 E. 1st St. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

WESTMINSTER (714) 891-2159 13700 Hoover St. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Child Care

KID-CARE HOT LINE (714) 543-2273

Operated by the Children’s Home Society of California, this is a free, state-sponsored service providing information on licensed child-care homes and centers throughout Orange County. Consumer Queries/Complaints

CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT, ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE (714) 541-7600 Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The agency provides free information on consumer fraud complaints and other pending investigations against businesses. Doctors/Dentists

ORANGE COUNTY DENTAL SOCIETY (714) 542-8808 As the Orange County component of the American Dental Assn., this organization provides free dentist referrals, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The type of information includes dental specialty, location and available senior citizen discount programs.

ORANGE COUNTY MEDICAL ASSN. (714) 978-1770

The association offers a free physician referral service, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. It also provides information on state/county licensed doctors, including location, medical specialty and type of insurance accepted. Education

ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (714) 966-4468 P.O. Box 9050, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92628-9050

The department will furnish a directory of county school districts and individual schools, including addresses, telephone numbers and enrollment policies serving the kindergarten through college (community colleges only) levels. Copies of the booklet may be obtained by sending $5 to the above address.

For information on adult schools, call the department at: (714) 966-4357 Networking Organizations

SUSAN LINN’S DIRECTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY NETWORKING ORGANIZATIONS (714) 786-1320 3334 E. Coast Highway, Suite 291 Corona del Mar, Calif. 92625

A directory of 340 business organizations, the only criterion for a listing in this publication is that regular business meetings be held. The directory includes professional women’s groups, trade organizations, chambers of commerce, legal associations, and accounting, building and advertising industry groups. Information on when and where the groups meet as well as contact names, addresses and telephone numbers are also included. The directory costs $15, plus $3.40 for tax and shipping. Postal Service

GENERAL MAIL FACILITY (Main Post Office) (714) 662-6200 3101 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana

Telephone numbers for branch facilities are listed by city in the Pacific Bell Telephone Directory. Religion

Here’s a list of main offices for the largest religious denominations in the county. They will assist newcomers in finding local churches or synagogues, support groups or information on adult education programs:

ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE (714) 974-7120

EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES (also oversees Orange County) (213) 482-2040

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA (714) 970-2791

TEMPLE BETH EL (714) 364-2332

PRESBYTERY OF LOS RANCHOS (714) 956-3691

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (714) 539-1053 Shopping

LAGUNA HILLS MALL El Toro Road at the San Diego Freeway Laguna Hills

MAINPLACE 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana

THE MALL OF ORANGE 2298 Tustin Ave., Orange

MISSION VIEJO MALL 27000 Crown Valley Parkway

Mission Viejo

OLD WORLD VILLAGE 7561 Center Ave. Huntington Beach

SOUTH COAST PLAZA 3333 Bristol Ave., Costa Mesa

WESTMINSTER MALL Golden West St. and Bolsa Ave., Westminster

Telephone Service

PACIFIC BELL Provides telephone service to the majority of Orange County residents:

-- Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Cerritos, Cowan Heights, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, La Mirada, Stanton and Tustin: (714) 811-6601

-- Anaheim Hills, Costa Mesa, El Modena, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Irvine, Orange, Silverado and Villa Park: (714) 811-6644

-- Balboa, Corona del Mar, Coto de Caza, El Toro, Lake Forest, Leisure World, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, Santa Ana and Turtle Rock: (714) 811-5322

-- Placentia and Yorba Linda: (714) 811-2211

GENERAL TELEPHONE CO. (GTE) (800) 482-8706

Serves Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach and sections of Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Westminster and Cypress. Utilities

ELECTRIC SERVICE: Southern California Edison Co. (714) 973-5491

(Anaheim residents call the city of Anaheim for service: (714) 999-5150)

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. (714) 495-6181

Serves San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. GAS SERVICE:

Southern California Gas Co. (714) 634-3106

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. (714) 495-6181

Serves San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Veterinarians

VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSN. (714) 523-0980

This organization can refer pet owners to licensed members of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Assn., including general practitioners and board certified specialists. Voter Registration

REGISTRAR OF VOTERS (714) 834-2244 1300 S. Grand Avenue, Bldg. C, Santa Ana Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

You may also register to vote at city halls, libraries and post offices countywide. General Information

ORANGE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (714) 634-2900 401 Bank of America Tower, 1 City Blvd. West, Orange

Can provide information on education, demographics, housing, transportation and individual cities in the county.