2009’s news in review

Editor’s Note: The top five stories of 2009 were chosen by Daily Pilot staff.

1Fairgrounds sale faces opposition from residents, city officials Fairgrounds sale faces opposition from residents, city officials

This story has more twists and turns than a fun house, and it isn’t over.

What started in May as an idea to bring in money for California, while state legislators battled over the budget, became reality by July. The state-owned Orange County Fairgrounds was up for sale and was officially put on the market in October.

The issue at first didn’t seem like a bad one to some — a local nonprofit could buy the fairgrounds and preserve it for fair uses over a higher bidder who might develop the land.

But that idea fizzled out as vendors who use the grounds on weekends and other stakeholders raised ethical and legal questions about that nonprofit group.

The issue evolved into “How can we stop the sale?”

While politicos try to work their magic to stop the sale, in the meantime Costa Mesa and the Orange County Board of Supervisors joined together to put in a bid to buy the fairgrounds.

2Corona del Mar High Corona del Mar High student threatened in Facebook video

Corona del Mar High School’s accomplished athletic and academic reputation wasn’t what garnered much of its attention this year. It was a few names: Fal Asrani, Ron Martin and Hail Ketchum.

The three became entangled in a story that involved the American Civil Liberties Union, accusations of a homophobic culture at the school, and the successful play “Rent.”

Former student Hail Ketchum was threatened in a video posted on Facebook, the social networking website. In it, several students talked about sexually assaulting her and called her homophobic slurs.

Add to that Principal Asrani’s decision to halt production of “Rent,” and an identity crisis was underway at the high school. Martin claimed that the play was stopped because of the homosexual characters and the school was sued by the ACLU.

The suit was eventually settled, and staff at the school will have to complete additional training.

3China FestivaChina Festival, diverse in exhibitions, finds success in O.C.

In 119 years, nothing like this had ever happened: Carnegie Hall was teaming up with an outside organization, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Together, the two lured the who’s who of Chinese culture — music, theater, film, photography and sports — to Costa Mesa for Ancient Paths, Modern Voices.

The cultural festival opened in October and came thanks in large part to Henry Segerstrom. The six-week festival wowed audiences. Though the partnership between Carnegie Hall and the local philharmonic was rare, the event’s success has prompted talks of it returning next year with a different theme.

Stay tuned.

4Costa Mesa defends against Benito Acosta’s federal lawsuitCosta Mesa defends against Benito Acosta’s federal lawsuit

What can calling for a recess at a City Council meeting and arresting a speaker get you if you’re Costa Mesa? Heaps of criticism and more than $500,000 in legal fees. But perhaps, most importantly, a victory in federal court validating Mayor Allan Mansoor’s decision in 2006 to abruptly call a recess to a council meeting where Benito Acosta was calling for audience members to stand in opposition to city legislation.

Costa Mesa failed to prosecute Acosta criminally for allegedly disturbing the meeting, and Acosta failed to win in his federal suit against the city claiming that Mansoor abridged his right to free speech by cutting him short of his three minutes of allotted time at the podium and then getting thrown out.

5Educator endures backlash over gay ‘lifestyle’ commentEducator endures backlash over gay ‘lifestyle’ comment

The story of gay-rights activist Harvey Milk reentered the greater public consciousness just a year ago, propelled by the Academy Award-winning movie featuring Sean Penn as the San Francisco politician.

In September, the Orange County Board of Education opposed a state bill to designate May 22 as Harvey Milk Day in local public schools.

Board member Alexandria Coronado told The Pilot she has no problems with gays and has gay friends, but that she doesn’t want the “lifestyle” taught in schools.

Outcry ensued, but she refused to back down from her comments.