Rearview Mirror: OC Week in Review

Sunday, 05.10.15

Anaheim Ducks advance in playoffs

The Anaheim Ducks won the Western Conference semifinal series, four games to one, and advanced to meet the Chicago Blackhawks. The victory gives Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau his first appearance in a conference final after his past two other Pacific Division title teams failed in that mission. It’s the first time the Ducks have reached a conference final since they won the Stanley Cup in 2007. (Los Angeles Times)

Feral cats inhabit Disneyland

In a theme park inspired by the world’s most famous mouse, it’s the cats of Disneyland who have the run of the place. “If I were a cat, there would be no better place to live than Disneyland,” said Taylor Roberts, a freelance writer who still remembers his first sighting two years ago: a cat darting across a path in Fantasyland. Though park representatives won’t discuss the details, Disneyland is home to a large population of cats. (Los Angeles Times)

Monday, 05.11.15

Coroner identifies body found in Back Bay

Orange County coroner’s officials have identified the man whose body was found at Newport Beach’s Back Bay as a 43-year-old transient. Kenneth Baker’s body was found at about 11:30 a.m. May 8 on a jogging trail just off Jamboree Road near Bayview Way, Newport Beach police said. Coroner’s officials estimated that Baker likely died around 6:40 a.m. May 8. (Daily Pilot)

Surf City to buy energy-saving lights

Huntington Beach plans to acquire streetlights from Southern California Edison in an effort to improve visibility and reduce energy costs. The city is looking to buy 11,181 light poles from the electricity provider and upgrade the fixtures to use LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, rather than HPS, or high-pressure sodium, bulbs. The 10-year project is expected to reduce Huntington’s annual expenditures on streetlights by almost half, said Bob Stachelski, the city’s transportation manager. (Huntington Beach Independent)

Man accused in franchise fraud

A Newport Beach man is accused of bilking investors out of more than $4 million as part of a scheme to sell bogus In-N-Out Burger franchises in the Middle East, prosecutors said. Craig Stevens, 55, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Santa Ana to wire fraud and remains free on $10,000 bond, court officials said. Starting in January 2014, prosecutors say, Stevens reached out to investors via email and peddled In-N-Out franchises for about $150,000 per location, with royalties costing an additional $250,000 per year. (Daily Pilot)

Tuesday, 05.12.15

Deputies shoot man in Rancho Santa Margarita

A man died after being shot by one or more deputies responding to an attempted-suicide call inside a home in Rancho Santa Margarita, authorities said. The shooting took place about 2:45 p.m. on Paseo Viento, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The victim, identified as 40-year-old Alec Ouzounian, was transported by paramedics to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Department. (KTLA)

Man accused in cases involving 2 ex-wives

An Orange County man awaiting trial for allegedly strangling his former wife and throwing her from a cruise ship off the Italian coast tried to hire two inmates to kill another ex-wife, according to prosecutors. Lonnie Loren Kocontes, 57, has been in custody since 2013, when Orange County sheriff’s investigators concluded his ex-wife’s death at sea in 2006 was not an accident or suicide but the culmination of a plot that netted him more than $1 million. The body of Micki Kanesaki was found floating in Italian waters two days after she was reported missing. By then, Kocontes had returned to the United States and was with another woman, whom he later married, Orange County prosecutors said. (Los Angeles Times)

Jetpacks receive a reprieve in Newport

Water jetpacks won’t be completely banned from Newport Harbor, but they will face new restrictions, the Newport Beach City Council decided. The council voted 4 to 2 to allow one jetpack business to operate, though residents would be prohibited from using their own jetpacks.The move represents another twist in the council’s thinking on the matter. During the April 28 meeting, council members voted to direct staff to draft an ordinance banning all water-propelled devices in the harbor. The city Harbor Commission had studied the activity, including residents’ concerns about safety and noise, and ultimately recommended a ban. (Daily Pilot)

Wednesday, 05.13.15

Rohrabacher weighs in on pot fight

For years, Charles Lynch has waged a lonely battle against federal prosecutors intent on putting him in prison for selling medical marijuana. But last week he received help from unexpected — and influential — allies. In a strongly worded brief filed with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) and Sam Farr (D-Carmel) accused prosecutors of flouting federal law as they go after Lynch and called on the court to end the case against him. The congressmen entered the fray over Lynch by chance. The pair were the authors late last year of a small but significant amendment to federal law that was meant to prevent the Department of Justice from interfering with states where medical marijuana is legal. (Los Angeles Times)

School site could give way to homes

Plans to build single-family homes on the former LeBard Elementary School site while keeping its baseball fields will soon be reviewed by Huntington Beach city officials. For seven years, the Huntington Beach City School District has been working with the city and Seaview Little League to ensure that the district can sell the campus, at 20451 Craimer Lane, the district’s headquarters since 1981, while preserving the Little League fields on the 9.7-acre property. During a community meeting April 2, district officials told residents that 15 single-family homes are planned for the site. (Huntington Beach Independent)

Thursday, 05.14.15

Newport Boat show gets underway

Newport Beach, a city known for its deep-seated boating culture, might seem the ideal host for the largest collection of big yachts west of the Mississippi River. And this weekend, sailing fans are getting a chance to see just that. More than 200 yachts and other boats weighed anchor in Newport Harbor as the 42nd Newport Boat Show raised the sails on the spring boating season. (Daily Pilot)

57 Freeway reopens after deadly crash

The California Highway Patrol reopned northbound lanes on the 57 Freeway in Fullerton after closing them overnight to clean up a deadly crash involving a big rig. Officials began to open the northbound lanes about 4 a.m. after a full shutdown was instituted just after 10 p.m. Wednesday, according to the CHP. Shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday, a tire on the big rig blew out, causing the truck to strike the center divider on the southbound side of the freeway and roll over into the northbound lanes, said CHP Officer Jon Latosquin. Diesel fuel from the rig spilled onto the roadway. The big rig continued in the northbound lanes and collided head-on with another vehicle. The driver of the car that was hit by the big rig was killed. The Orange County coroner identified him as Eric McEntarffer, 29, of Fontana. (Los Angeles Times)

Seal Beach gets ready to mark centennial

To some, Seal Beach is Mayberry by the sea. It isn’t hustle and bustle like Huntington Beach, nor is it full of high-end homes and shops like Newport Beach. No, Seal Beach is a quaint and unassuming Orange County coastal community, at least on the surface. With about 24,600 residents, it is one of the smallest cities in the county and has been deemed one of the safest. But as it celebrates its centennial this year, Seal Beach can look back on a past that wasn’t as sedate. Founded on Oct. 27, 1915, by Philip Stanton, the town then known as Bay City was promoted as a tourist destination. At the Joy Zone — what is now downtown — people could spend time at the Jewel Cafe to eat and dance. They also could ride the wooden roller coaster purchased by the city from San Francisco. (Huntington Beach Independent)

Friday, 05.14.15

Field of Honor salutes veterans

American flags are linging the paths of Newport Beach’s Castaways Park this weekend in honor of the nation’s military. Each year, volunteers from the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor transform Castaways Park, which overlooks the harbor, into a Field of Honor monument to those who serve or have served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force and their families in celebration of Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May. The event was planned to last through Sunday. (Daily Pilot)