Rearview Mirror: OC Week in Review

Sunday (08.02.15)

Youth dominates at U.S. Open of Surfing

The U.S. Open of Surfing got some international flavor with a twist of youth at Huntington Beach. On the men’s side, Hiroto Ohhara, 18, went from just barely getting into the event as an alternate to becoming the first Japanese champion in the history of the event. For the women, Johanne Defay, 21, bested two former champions for France’s first win at the event. (Los Angeles Times)

‘Gayborhoods’ may inadvertently decline with civil rights

Over the years, as gays and lesbina fought for and won one victory after another in pursuit of equal rights, Laguna Beach blossomed into one of California’s most famously gay-friendly communities. Bars and other businesses catering to people across the spectrum of sexual orientation popped up all over the little beach town. Now, with overt discrimination and Laguna’s homosexual population both waning, Main Street Bar and Cabaret is the last gay-specific establishment in town. (Los Angeles Times)

Monday (08.03.15)

Longtime Oak View volunteer to return home

A longtime member of a neighborhood nonprofit in Huntington Beach is returning home to Michigan this month after volunteering and working for the Oak View Renewal Partnership for five years. Mollie Grierson, 27, a native of Saginaw, Mich., who lives in Orange, first came to Oak View — a low-income Latino neighborhood in Huntington Beach — in 2010 after joining the AmeriCorps VISTA program, which sends members to various cities to help residents overcome poverty. (Huntington Beach Independent)

Uniqlo, Disney double down

Japanese fast fashion brand Uniqlo is building on its six-year relationship with Disney Consumer Products, announcing that it will unveil an apparel collection featuring Disney, Pixar, Marvel and “Star Wars” designs at the upcoming D23 Expo in Anaheim, a biennial gathering of Disney fans. Dubbed the “Magic for All” collection, it will include a range of T-shirts, sweatshirts, flannel button-front shirts, ultra-light down jackets, a plush Mickey Mouse toy and a limited-edition T-shirt featuring art by Disney and Pixar Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter. (Los Angeles Times)

6-year-old dies in possible DUI crash

A 6-year-old boy died Monday after a vehicle his uncle was driving was T-boned in Santa Ana, and both involved drivers were being tested for evidence of driving under the influence, authorities said. The two-car crash occurred about 12:45 p.m. at South Bristol Street and West Saint Andrew Place. (KTLA)

Tuesday (08.04.15)

High school tutor pleads guilty

The Irvine tutor who helped a group of Corona del Mar High School students hack into their teacher’s computer to change grades was sentenced to one year in jail and five years of formal probation as part of a plea deal. Timothy Lance Lai pleaded guilty in Orange County Superior Court to 20 felony counts of computer access and fraud and one felony count of commercial burglary for his involvement in the cheating scheme. (Daily Pilot)

91 Freeway overhaul underway

The 91 Freeway between Fullerton and Corona is one of the most congested stretches of highway in California — an often frustrating bog of idling engines, squeaking brakes and commuter angst. But for almost a decade, Caltrans and local transportation agencies were prevented from improving the heavily congested portal. The problem: a 10-mile, four-lane tollway in the median that was owned and operated by a private company. After years of controversy, the Orange County Transportation Authority finally bought the 91 Express Lanes for $207 million in 2003 and scrapped the noncompetition agreement, clearing the way for a long-range effort to overhaul the highway. Now in the 11th year of a 30-year plan, upward of $2 billion has been either spent or earmarked for lane additions, rebuilt interchanges, new ramps and the expansion of public transit on both sides of the Riverside-Orange county line. (Los Angeles Times)

Costa Mesa hotels offer Disneyland vouchers

Six Costa Mesa hotels have a present for Disneyland fans during the theme park’s 60th anniversary: a free adult ticket to Disneyland or California Adventure for those who stay at least two nights by early September. They are: Residence Inn Marriott Costa Mesa/Newport Beach; Ayres Hotel & Suites Costa Mesa-Newport Beach; Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa; The BLVD Hotel Costa Mesa; The Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa; and Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel. (Los Angeles Times)

Wednesday (08.05.15)

UC system offers gender identity options

This fall, students applying to UC schools will have the option to self-identify among six different gender identities on undergraduate admissions forms. The options on the application are now male, female, trans male, trans female, gender queer/gender non-conforming and different identity. (Daily Pilot)

Disney purchases Anaheim parcels

The Walt Disney Co. has purchased three parcels of land near its Anaheim resort, sparking speculation that the property would free up land for a future park expansion involving Disney’s Star Wars or Marvel’s superhero characters. (Los Angeles Times)

Thursday (08.06.15)

Police: Fewer arrests at U.S. Open

The 2015 U.S. Open of Surfing was a success in the eyes of the Huntington Beach Police Department, which reported that crime during the nine-day event that ended Aug. 2 dropped significantly in comparison with last year’s festival. Some 75 arrests were made throughout the U.S. Open area, including the surfing venue, the city beach and downtown. Last year, police made 144 arrests. (Huntington Beach Independent)

Newport discovers high copper levels

In an effort to reduce copper levels in Newport Bay, a regional water-quality agency is looking to limit the type of paint that boaters can use on their vessels. According to documents from the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, which sets rules for Newport Beach, commercial and recreational boats release 36,000 pounds of copper into Newport’s waterways each year. (Los Angeles Times)

Friday (08.07.15)

NBA star lists Irvine home

Set for a second tour of basketball duty in Australia, NBA veteran Josh Childress has put a condominium unit in Irvine on the market for $1.35 million. Childress, who re-signed with the Sydney Kings of Australia’s National Basketball League in July, bought the unit in the Lennox building at Central Park West in 2013 for $773,000, records show. (Los Angeles Times)

Nail salon workers discuss conditions

At a recent community forum in Little Saigon, manicurists and salon owners listened intently as members of the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative discussed topics such as safe working conditions, overtime and paid sick leave. (Los Angeles Times)

D.A. declines to file charges against official

The Orange County district attorney’s office said it had found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by a former high-ranking Newport Beach city employee who was under investigation over worries that he may have failed to report gifts from city contractors. (Daily Pilot)

Saturday (08.08.15)

Naugles to reopen on Weekends

After shutting down because demand from customers was overwhelming its ability to serve them, Naugles planned to reopen its new location in Fountain Valley this weekend, owner Christian Ziebarth announced. The business, which Ziebarth refers to as a “test kitchen” rather than a restaurant, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays only, he said. (Daily Pilot)