GAINS AND LOSSES

GAINS

NOW FAMOUS, THANKS TO NIXON

Just a few short months ago, Irwin F. Gellman was a virtual unknown --

until he wrote a book about Richard Nixon. “The Contender: Richard Nixon,

The Congress Years, 1946-1952,” is the result of four years of research.

And since it was published by the Free Press earlier this month, the

Corona del Mar resident’s engagement planner has been filled with

interviews for newspapers, and radio and television talk shows.

CENTER FOR ARTS, EDUCATION

Though still in the early planning stages, a proposal to build an arts

and education center behind the Newport Beach Central Library has won

support from city officials and residents alike. “I would add some of my

savings if they would guarantee this would be built here,” said Corona

del Mar resident Vicky Street. If approved by city officials, the project

-- made public last week at the library board of trustees meeting --

would be funded at least in part by private donations.

IT’S BACK TO SCHOOL FOR SOME

OCC and Wilson Elementary School students headed back to class last week,

getting an early start on the fall and reminding the rest of us that

summer’s almost over.

LOSSES

A WALL DIVIDING A NEIGHBORHOOD

For the children, parents and teachers at Southcoast Early Childhood

Learning Center, the wall surrounding the Santa Ana Avenue campus is a

necessity to keep their students safe and feeling secure. But some

residents say it’s a safety hazard, and they want it torn down. And the

debate is tearing the neighborhood apart. “It saddens me to think there

are any people in this community who would not support a memorial wall

for two children who died tragically,” said Sheryl Hawkinson, the

center’s director. Sierra Soto and Brandon Wiener were killed in May when

a Santa Ana man drove his car onto the preschool’s playground.

A BAD NAME, OR A BAD LOCATION?

Just six months after it opened on Balboa Island, the Bad Ass Coffee Co.

of Kona, Hawaii, closed up shop. The company created quite a stir when it

announced its plans to do business on Balboa. Many locals said they hated

the name and vowed never to buy a cup of Java there. “We did a very small

amount of business while we were there,” said Kori Brown, the company’s

director of operations.

BEWARE OF MOTORIZED SKATEBOARDS

There’s apparently a new public enemy on Balboa Island -- motorized

skateboards. Last week, police were ordered to enforce strictly laws

governing the use of motorized skateboards after authorities received a

slew of complaints -- and after a 3-year-old was nearly run off the

boardwalk by one of the skateboards. “It’s illegal to operate these

things on sidewalks and roadways without a license,” said police Sgt.

Mike McDermott.