Week in Review

NEWPORT BEACH

Christmas boat parade launches into 97th year

The 2005 Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade launched Wednesday in the harbor. This year, about 100 boats registered for the parade, and dozens more participated. Boats and homes ringing the bay were decorated with lights and holiday displays.

This year, the 97th for the event, was the first to feature live commentary by veteran boater and Daily Pilot columnist Mike Whitehead. The parade concludes today.

* The Kiev Ballet of the Ukrainian National Opera made its American debut with a weeklong run of performances of “The Nutcracker” at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

This version, performed by one of the most recognizable ballet companies in the world, was a restaged version of “The Nutcracker” ballet choreographed by Marius Petipa.

* The City Council on Tuesday chose Councilman Don Webb to serve as mayor for the next 12 months, and Councilman Steve Rosansky was named mayor pro tem. Webb replaces John Heffernan, who was filling an unexpired term that began in May.

At the helm of the council, Webb will be continuing a number of projects Heffernan tackled, including a new city hall and the city’s local coastal plan and general plan update. He also gets the special privilege of riding on the city’s centennial float in the Jan. 2 Rose Parade.

POLITICS

Date set for state Senate primary, general elections

An April 11 primary will be held to fill the 35th District Senate seat, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Thursday. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, there will be a general election June 6, the same day as a statewide primary election.

The 35th Senate District includes Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and 10 other mainly coastal Orange County cities.

The vacancy was created when former Sen. John Campbell resigned Dec. 7 to fill a seat he won in the U.S. House. So far two Republican candidates -- Huntington beach Assemblyman Tom Harman and Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey -- are actively pursuing the Senate seat.

EDUCATION

School board approves exit-exam concession

Special-education students in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District will be able to walk in graduation even if they fail the California high school exit exam, the school board ruled Tuesday.

A month ago, the board began debating whether all students could walk in the ceremony if they passed their classes but failed the exit exam. As of this year in California, students must pass the exit exam -- first offered in the 10th grade -- to earn a high school diploma.

The board unanimously approved a plan by assessment director Peggy Anatol to let special-needs students earn certificates and join in the ceremony if they have met all the goals of their education plans. Students could continue to take the test after graduation to earn their diplomas. Anatol said that in the coming months, the district may make concessions for other students as well.

Also Tuesday, the board elected David Brooks, a former police captain and member since 1998, as its new president. Brooks succeeded Serene Stokes, who held the post for one year. Linda Sneen became the new vice president, taking Brooks’ place, while Judy Franco was named as clerk.

* The Interact Club at Newport Harbor High School led Project Linus, a blanket drive for the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen on 19th Street, and the Anthro Club at Corona del Mar High School gathered personal hygiene kits for the Village of Hope shelter in Tustin.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Newport Beach firefighters extinguish 2 blazes in 2 days

Newport Beach firefighters fought two house fires early in the week. No one was at home when a West Newport house caught fire Monday. The fire caused $200,000 in damage, but crews managed to put it out before it spread to neighboring homes. Fire investigators believe the fire may have started in a furnace on the ground floor of the home.

A fire in the engine of an SUV may be what caused the blaze that torched the garage of a Corona del Mar house late Tuesday.

The owner of the house, Newport Beach Realtor Diane Coltrane, escaped safely with her dog. Coltrane was upstairs watching a basketball game on TV when the power went out. When she went outside to investigate she saw smoke and flames coming from her garage in the alley.

The fire caused $400,000 in damage.

COSTA MESA

Three Piecemakers members plead not guilty to charges

Three members of a Costa Mesa religious sect pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of operating a restaurant without a proper permit and of blocking a health inspection.

Seven members of the Piecemakers, a Christian group that operates a craft store and restaurant at 1720 Adams Ave. in Costa Mesa, were arrested when they allegedly refused county health inspectors entrance to the store during a court-ordered inspection Oct. 26.

The district attorney’s office filed charges against only four of the members.

Piecemakers founder Marie Kolasinski and members Douglas Follette and Judy Haeger were in Orange County Superior Court on Thursday.

A fourth member, Kathleen Needham, pleaded guilty Dec. 6 to obstruction and refusing inspection; she was given 40 hours of community service and probation.

“The city is absolutely baffled as to why more spaces haven’t leased.”