Week in Review

South County leaders played the villain in the El Toro soap opera last

week, yanking their support for extending the caps at John Wayne Airport.

With the move, the nine member cities of the El Toro ReusePlanning

Authority turned up the heat in their battle to stop the county from

building an airport at the former El Toro Marine base.

A year earlier, the authority had passed a resolution supporting

extension of John Wayne’s flight restrictions, which are set to expire in

2005.

Authority members said they were frustrated with Newport Beach’s

intransigence in pushing for an El Toro airport. No so, Newport Beach

said.

Monday’s move was the authority showing its “true colors,” Newport

Beach officials said. Garden Grove’s mayor even piped in, calling the

authority mean spirited.

Campus violence and crime on the rise

The topic of the week in schools was the last thing anyone wants to

see there -- crime and violence.

Crime rates are up in Newport-Mesa schools and across the state,

according to the California Safe Schools Assessment report that came out

last week. But district officials said that they don’t believe violence

is really up. How can the state be wrong? Jaime Castellanos, the

district’s assistant superintendent of secondary education, said that

principals are just reporting more accurately now.

That reasoning was mirrored by the state when they explained the

increase in crimes statewide.

In response to parent complaints about student bullying and

intimidation, the Newport-Mesa Unified School Board passed the first

draft of a revision of the districts policy governing student behavior --

the 4210 zero-tolerance policy.

The additions to the document state that threatening gestures, words

or actions will not be tolerated by the district.

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

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

Cultural center controversy continues

It’s hit nerves in two areas dear to the city’s residents. Most

wouldn’t oppose construction of an arts and education center. But many

also feel protective about the few spots of open space land left in

Newport Beach.

The controversial proposal to put a cultural center on a section of

untouched land behind the central public library has resulted in vocal

opposition from environmentalist groups around town.

City Council members, who seemed equally torn by the issue during

their meeting last Tuesday, decided to vote March 13 on whether or not

they are even willing to consider a center at the site.

Councilmen John Heffernan and Tod Ridgeway opposed having a vote less

than two weeks from now, citing concerns that the city may not be

informed enough to make a decision.

Should a majority of council members reject the use of open space land

for such a building, supporters of the project will have to look for

another site.-- Mathis Winkler covers Newport Beach. He may be reached at

(949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at [email protected].

Shopping center wins and woes

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission opened the door for the El Camino

Shopping Center in Mesa Del Mar to be converted into houses Monday by

recommending that the City Council approve rezoning it.

Although the decision was met with an outburst of cheers from nearby

homeowners, store owners, employees and customers say they will suffer

consequences if the project goes through.

The El Camino Shopping Center also had a triumph to announce on

Monday.

Lokelani’s Rhythm of the Islands dance and drum studio, located at the

shopping center, won first place overall in its section of the

international Tahiti Fete of Hilo competition last week.

On the Westside, the eagerly anticipated opening of a new learning

center at the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen was delayed to allow the soup

kitchen and Think Together, which oversees the Shalimar Learning Center,

more time to complete paperwork.

A contract between the two organizations was not finished on time, and

volunteers needed more time to complete applications and to get

fingerprinting done.

The center was scheduled to open Monday. A new opening date has not

been set, but staff members say they expect it to be within the month.

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

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

Isn’t it supposed to be windy Wednesday?

A few injuries during construction at the Balboa Bay Club were most

all Newport Beach and Costa Mesa police and firefighters had to deal with

last week.

Two carpenters were hurt Thursday when part of a wood frame fell on

them.

The culprit? The wind.

Neither was seriously hurt.

Construction on the $55-million renovation to the club continues.