WEEK IN REVIEW

Mouth watering edibles, a vast array of artwork in multiple mediums

and theatrical and musical performances made for a full night of the

arts.

Newport Harbor High School’s annual evening of the arts last week drew

and dazzled hundreds. With more than 400 students’ artwork displayed from

this school year alone there was plenty for the peruser to see.

Later in the week it was Costa Mesa and Estancia high school students

turn to shine at the 22nd annual scholarship awards breakfast.

Top scholars from Costa Mesa’s three high schools, along with

students from Orange Coast College and Vanguard University, were honored

Friday morning with the Les Miller Scholarship Awards.

At that same ceremony, the group of car dealerships known as the

Harbor Boulevard of Cars presented Newport-Mesa Unified School Board

member Serene Stokes with a check for $50,000. It is the second $50,000

check they have donated this year, the first coming in October.

The funds are slated for two specific programs -- Newport Harbor High

Schools Advancement Via Individual Determination and Costa Mesa High

School’s Youth Achievers after schoolprogram.

-- Danette Goulet covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].

THE BAD BOY’S BIRTHDAY BASH

Public safety officials in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach dealt with a

variety of issues this week ranging from a wild party at a beachfront

celebrity home to drug busts and drunk drivers.

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman is being investigated by the District

Attorney’s office after Newport Beach Police complained that he

“disturbed the peace” by landing a helicopter on a public beach behind

his Seashore Drive home right before a party to celebrate his 40th

birthday last Saturday.

Police arrived in riot gear and dispersed the crowd of around 300

people.

So far, the bad boy of basketball has paid $8,500 in fines for 14

noise complaints filed against him. He moved to Newport Beach in 1998.

In other news, a suspected a drunk driver drove through flares and

rammed into a Costa Mesa police car parked with lights flashing, on

Harbor Boulevard Wednesday night. Officers were investigating a prior

crash when 39-year-old Hector Renya rammed into the patrol unit at 40

miles an hour causing extensive damage. No one was hurt in the incident.

Also in Costa Mesa, Department of Justice officials raided a home

suspected to be a methamphetamine lab on Pomona Avenue. They referred to

it as a “user lab” and arrested the owner of the home and his friend.

Less than one ounce of methamphetamine was recovered from the home,

but officials said they found large quantities of hazardous chemicals and

waste products in the home.-- Deepa Bharath covers cops and courts. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at

[email protected].

SHOULD THEY STAY OR GO?

Voicing her concern for the historic cottages at Crystal Cove State

Park, a Laguna Beach councilwoman called out State Parks on Tuesday.

Councilwoman Toni Iseman, a familiar face at public meetings about the

future of Crystal Cove, floated a resolution at her council meeting

urging parks officials to keep the cottages occupied after residents

leave.

Saying the cottages would need “some TLC,” Iseman was able to dial her

four colleagues into her point of view. State Parks spokesman Roy Stearns

thanked the city for its input, but repeated a recent mantra -- the

residents are leaving July 8.

Per signed agreements, the residents have agreed to be out after that

date -- something the agency has waited more than 20 years to occur.

-- Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at [email protected].

KEEPING AN EYE ON GAS PRICES

So far, the city’s hoteliers and tourism professionals don’t seem too

worried that skyrocketing gasoline prices will keep visitors away.

But since the tourism industry significantly contributes to Newport

Beach’s economy -- city officials estimate they’ll take in $8.4 million

in hotel taxes during the 2001-2002 fiscal year -- many are closely

monitoring the situation.

Some have already started to think about what can be done. Folks at

the Newport Dunes Resort said last week that they’re targeting people who

live within a 100 mile radius more than before to come and set up camp at

one of the resort’s 406 sites for recreational vehicles.

And while Ken Ricamore, who owns the Portofino Beach Hotel on Balboa

Peninsula, said that summer reservations were still strong from

out-of-state visitors, he’ll have to figure out how to cover the costs of

increasing energy prices. A special energy consumption surcharge or

higher room fees might be ways to do so, he said.

-- Mathis Winkler covers Newport Beach. He may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at [email protected].

A CHARGE AGAINST CHRIS STEEL

Costa Mesa residents were shocked last week when Costa Mesa City

Councilman Chris Steel, who six months ago won a stunning upset at the

polls, was charged with two counts of election fraud.

The charges came after a six-month investigation by the Orange County

District Attorney’s office, stemming from a complaint by resident Michael

Szkaradek.

The District Attorney’s office allegations are that Steel allowed a

voter to sign nomination papers for his wife in the 2000 election and

that Steel signed a nomination paper “on behalf of a female voter” in the

1998 election, which he lost.

The law requires each voter to sign the papers themselves.

Steel, who turned himself in Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to both

charges.

If convicted, the councilman faces a maxiumum of three years and eight

months in prison and will be forced to give up his council seat,

officials said.

-- Jennifer Kho covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at [email protected].