INSIDE SCOOP

Call it a lucky shot.

At last week’s star-studded opening of the Clubhouse Restaurant,

entertainment editor Nancy Cheever was lucky enough to fire a couple of

questions at movie star Kevin Costner.

Costner, a Cal State Fullerton alumnus, graciously obliged but had a good

laugh when Cheever -- who also graduated from the university -- asked if

he still followed the Trojans.

Costner laughed and chided Cheever by noting, “It’s the Titans, and yes I

do.”

Oops.

The two shared a good chuckle. His candid schoolboy reaction to Cheever’s

question was captured in a photo in last Monday’s edition of the Daily

Pilot.

*

While chef Carlito Jocson may have been the star at Friday night’s

opening of the Yard House at Triangle Square -- who could resist a second

helping of ahi tuna “tostadas” and marinated steak kebabs? -- Costa Mesa

reporter Elise Gee made an indelible impression on her last day with the

Daily Pilot.

Mayor Gary Monahan and other city officials and community leaders all

took time to let Elise know what a pleasure she had been to work with.

“Professional,” “accurate” and “fair” were all used to describe her --

putting Elise in a league above many of her peers.

And she returned the compliments with “How nice it was to work with you”

and “You’ve been so helpful.”

As she leaves to cover community news for the Inland Valley Our Times, we

know the warmer weather won’t sour Elise’s spirit.

*Maybe they should call it Newport Boos. It has become apropos for

neighbors of Newport Dunes to condemn plans to build a 500-room hotel and

time-share complex there instead of a 275-room hotel. But, at a recent

community meeting at BeAnza Bayside Mobile Home Park, a lone voice rang

out in support of the construction among the room full of disapproving

grunts.

Why did one woman support the commercial and holiday center? For an

increase in “my property value,” she said.

The thought was dismissed by the throngs of neighbors -- who promptly

booed the woman into silence.