INSIDE SCOOP

In Friday’s edition of the Pilot, Newport Harbor Area Chamber of

Commerce public relations director Doug Stuckey got an unexpected

promotion to president. The Pilot goofed titles when quoting Stuckey in a

boat parade story.

But no harm appeared to have been done. Stuckey said when he came into

work Friday, his colleagues had adorned his desk with balloons and a new

title placard congratulating him on his “new” position. The real Chamber

President is Richard Luehrs.

“I liked it,” Stuckey said. “It makes me sound important now.”

Bringing out the kid in him

Daily Pilot City Editor Steve Cahn sometimes worries he’s getting old and

washed up.

But during a recent team-building exercise that saw the Pilot staff

paying a visit to Disneyland, Cahn showed a more youthful side of

himself.

Cahn went scampering around Tom Sawyer’s island like a 6-year-old high on

Frosted Flakes.

“Why are you walking?” he screamed at his somewhat calmer co-workers

before bolting down a path to play in the “Injun Joe” cave.

Cahn later found himself mesmerized by the glowing lights of the calliope

and the tooting melodies issuing from “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.” Pilot

staffers found it necessary to keep Cahn on a short leash in order to

prevent his wandering off as the group passed through Sleeping Beauty’s

castle.

“Why are we leaving Fantasyland?” he wondered aloud.

More island fun

Daily Pilot cops reporter Greg Risling took his pent up aggressions out

on a fellow journalist at a recent Pilot team-building exercise at

Disneyland.

Pilot editors sent the eight-person staff on a marathon tour of the

happiest place on earth to refine their interpersonal skills. Resembling

the dwarfs from Snow White, the “Pioloteers” obediently went through a

complex obstacle course of rides that stretched from Tomorrowland to

Toontown.

The cheeriness finally got to Risling -- a self-described cynic -- who

cracked on the Tom Sawyer’s Island bridge. While crossing the bridge,

which is buoyed by barrels, a maniacal grin surfaced on Risling’s face as

he began to violently shake the supporting ropes.

Co-worker Amy Spurgeon slipped and fell, nearly losing her video camera.

Fortunately Risling snapped out of it and fellow reporters got the chance

to see his sensitive side.

“It was a bonding moment when he reached out to help me up,”Spurgeon said

later.