Top Ten Stories of the Year

1. SCHOOL BOND PASSES: In a year when six school districts in Orange

County asked voters to tax themselves for the benefit of the schools,

Newport-Mesa succeeded where others failed.

Voters in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District passed a

$163-million school bond in June to repair all 29 crumbling schools.

It began more than four years ago. Teachers, parents, principals --

fed up with the conditions of the schools -- began talking about the

major overhaul they wanted to do to campuses throughout the district.

When talk began, the number on the tip of everyone’s tongue was $15

million. But that didn’t last long. One school board member scoffed at

the figure, predicting it would be closer to $100 million.

By the dawning of the new millennium, the $163-million figure had come

to light. Everyone knew there was only one way to get that kind of money.

And so the campaign began in support of what would later be known as

Measure A.

It was recommended that the board put a bond before voters asking for

$110 million, with the remaining $53 million coming from the state in the

form of matching funds.

Along with the endorsement of a general obligation bond, a citizens

committee suggested the sale of two district-owned properties -- Banning

Ranch and Balearic Park -- to help pay for future upkeep.

But after an explosion of community outrage over the possible sale of

their neighborhood park, residents around Balearic Park won the school

board’s promise that the site would be sold only with the condition that

it remain a public park.

After a series of five study sessions that delved into various key

areas, such as the specifics of an oversight committee, a maintenance

reserve and the type of tax to be imposed, the school board voted to put

a $110-million school bond before voters.

The campaign committee then hit the streets full force. They made

phone calls night after night and walked neighborhoods each day.

On June 6, their efforts paid off when Measure A passed with 72%

approval.

Since that day, the clamor has died down and the next phase in the

process has slowly begun.

Members have been appointed to most of the 31 positions on a committee

that will be charged with overseeing the funds in the coming years.

2. GREENLIGHT FIGHT: Newport Beach’s voters decided to take control of

future growth into their own hands this year when 63.1% of them voted “yes” on the Greenlight initiative on Nov. 7.

Money-wise, the odds for success had seemed bad for Greenlight’s

supporters, which included former council members Evelyn Hart and Jean

Watt, as well such community activists as Phil Arst, Allan Beek, Tom

Hyans and Elaine Linhoff.

An opposing initiative, which proposed to add parts of the city’s

traffic phasing ordinance to the city charter, raised more than $400,000

and received support from such developers as the Irvine Co., which

contributed $147,000. Greenlighters were outspent 5 to 1.

But with grass-roots support from thousands of residents behind them,

the initiative’s proponents prevailed.

From now on, projects that require a general plan amendment and add

more than 100 peak-hour car trips or dwelling units, or 40,000 square

feet to the plan’s current allowance must go before a citywide vote.

While City Council members had unanimously opposed the initiative

before the election, arguing that Greenlight would bring about

“ballot-box” planning, Newport Beach’s elected leaders vowed to honor the

will of the people after the measure’s overwhelming victory.

While pledging to work with city officials to put Greenlight to work,

supporters such as activist Susan Caustin said the initiative’s success

should show government leaders that the will of the people still reigns

supreme.

“The dam is broken,” Caustin said on election night. “Up to this

point, special interests have had a lot of sway. . . . Greenlight will

ensure that [the people] have the final say.”

3. MEASURE F AND EL TORO: Those who have fought an airport for the

former El Toro Marine Air Station popped their champagne corks in March,

when Orange County voters overwhelmingly approved Measure F, an

initiative that would have required public approval for any airport.

But the bubbly went flat in early December, when a Los Angeles County

Superior Court judge tossed the measure out because its scope was too

broad.

Airport foes vowed to appeal the ruling and quickly scrambled to mount

a publicity campaign to convince the public that the county’s

$2.8-billion airport proposal died on the Measure F vine.

While trying to resurrect Measure F, airport foes also said they would

work to overturn Measure A, the 1994 initiative that rezoned El Toro to

allow an airport to be built.

Instead of an airport, South County civic leaders offered a plan to

install a 2,500-acre park for the 4,700-acre base property.

Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, who couldn’t muster support for his Great

Park plan before that city’s council election, secured a unanimous

vote-of-confidence for the alternative in mid-December.

Irvine council members said they hoped to nail down state-park bond

money to help pay for the plan, which could cost as much as $200 million

over a 20- to 30-year period. Newly elected Newport Beach Councilman Gary

Proctor, an airport commissioner for 17 years, called Agran’s plan

“politically correct and totally economically unfeasible.”

As the county Board of Supervisors again sparked a fire for an airport

at El Toro, the panel also vowed to fight for the extension of the flight

caps and curfew at John Wayne Airport. Those noise measures are set to

expire in 2005, the same year the county hopes to open an airport at El

Toro.

The county would need to apply to the Federal Aviation Administration

to extend the curfew and 8.4-million annual cap on passengers.

4. ABRAMS TRIAL: Steven Allen Abrams, the 41-year-old man who murdered

two children and injured several others when he plowed through a Costa

Mesa preschool playground in May 1999, was sentenced to life in state

prison without parole Dec. 15.

Killed in the rampage were Sierra Soto, 4, and Brandon Wiener, 3. On

Aug. 24, a jury found Abrams guilty of the double murders. On Oct. 23,

the same jury found him to be legally sane when he committed the crimes.

The jury also recommended Nov. 1 that he get a life sentence.

The defense argued that Abrams suffered from schizophrenia and killed

the children because he believed he was being manipulated by so-called

“brain wave people,” who forced him to be a murderer.

Prosecutors were pushing for the death penalty for Abrams, saying he

caused his own psychosis through years of persistent drug abuse.

The trial was an emotional roller-coaster ride for all involved. The

Sotos and Wieners expressed their feelings in the courtroom with tears.

Pam Wiener brought a photograph of son Brandon, kissing it when she heard

the jury’s verdict in the sanity phase.

Abrams’ family was also present at some of the hearings -- his

daughter Stephanie, sister Janice and brother Joseph.

It also was emotional for Public Defender Denise Gragg, who cried

after Abrams was given a life sentence.

Afterward, jurors said it was probably the toughest decision they had

ever made in their lives.

5. AN OLYMPIAN AMONG US: He became Newport Beach’s silver boy.

Aaron Peirsol stole the community’s heart when he swam his way to a

silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke at the Summer Olympics in

Syndey, Australia.

As much as his speed in the water, it was the Newport Harbor High

junior’s consistently humble reaction to all the fuss that shined

through.

A parade in his honor? “It’ll be cool to see who’s there,” Peirsol

said.

A trip to Washington, D.C.? No big deal.

Newport Harbor’s homecoming pep rally, that came complete with a day

proclaimed in his honor? “It’s pretty cool,” the 17-year-old said. “A

whole day. My day.”

His first day back at school, where he was afforded an early morning

hero’s welcome? “It’s fun,” he said. “I’m glad to see everyone, and I

have a great class -- a good start to the day.”

His shaggy mop -- yes, he eventually got it cut -- became familiar in

photos, including the one when he hugged gold medal 200-meter backstroke

winner Lenny Krazelburg.

Peirsol wasn’t the sole Newport-Mesa representative Down Under. There

was beach volleyball player Misty May, weightlifter Cara Heads-Lane,

tennis’ Lindsay Davenport, Corona del Mar water polo star Chris Oeding

and sailors Pease Glaser and Charlie Ogletree.

But Peirsol’s big victory sealed his place in Newport-Mesa’s history.

And there’s more to come. In mid-October, Peirsol dove back into the

water to resume training. Gold in 2004?

For more on Peirsol’s Olympic efforts, see coverage in the Sports

section of the top 10 stories of the year in Saturday’s paper.

6. STEEL WINS: By his own estimation, Costa Mesa’s Chris Steel has run

for City Council for the past two decades.

This year, his lengthy losing streak ended, as he gathered the most

votes, 10,664, in a crowded field. Incumbent Libby Cowan returned to the

council with 10,276, while first-time candidate Karen Robinson narrowly

edged Councilwoman Heather Somers 9,224 to 9,192.

But like the lingering presidential race in Florida, Costa Mesa’s

didn’t end on election night. Steel, a controversial figure with strong

opinions against city policies that he believes attract illegal

immigrants, quickly learned what it means to be a lightning rod.

Costa Mesa resident Michael Szkaradek, who had previously run against

Steel in a 1986 City Council election, said at a November council meeting

that one of the signatures on Steel’s nominating petition was forged and

that the councilman-elect should be barred from taking office.

Opinion -- even on the council itself -- was divided about whether the

mistake was a technicality to be overlooked or a flouting of a law that

elected officials, in particular, should be careful to uphold.

Szkaradek “thinks a husband signed for his wife, and I’m sorry but

that is just not a big deal,” then-Mayor Gary Monahan said.

But Councilwoman Linda Dixon saw the controversy differently.

“To allow or to overlook a dishonest attempt in the process is a slap

in the face to potential candidates who follow the rules and to citizens

in the community,” Dixon said.

Eventually, the claim went to the city attorney and the district

attorney. Based on his investigation, City Atty. Jerry Scheer recommended

that the council swear in Steel with Cowan and Robinson. The district

attorney is still checking to see if any laws were broken and whether

Steel should be fined.

7. ALAN MEYERS FIRING: Costa Mesa senior citizens were shocked in May

when Alan Michael Meyers, Costa Mesa Senior Center’s executive director

for eight months, was fired.

Police, who learned Meyers was charged with submitting phony expense

reports to embezzle $8,500 from an Oregon health agency, alleged he used

false credentials to get hired.

Police alleged that Meyers’ background includes impersonations and

frauds in Arizona, Washington, Oregon, California and Washington, D.C.

Deputies in Klamath County, Ore., also believe Meyers, under the name

of Carmi Bar-Ilan, was convicted of armed robbery and spent 15 months in

a federal prison after trying to choke a doctor he was impersonating.

Meyers, a 59-year-old Anaheim resident, denied any wrongdoing.

He was scheduled to face a trial in Klamath Falls in October for

allegedly embezzling from Klamath Open Door Family Practice Clinico7

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Meanwhile, Costa Mesa police investigated whether Meyers had invented

his credentials, impersonated doctors and stole money from dozens of

clinics across the country over the last 30 years.

The investigation has been complete for months, but Sgt. Ron Smith

said the district attorney’s office has not yet decided whether to file

charges.

Aviva Goelman, the new executive director of the senior center, was

hired as an interim director in August and became the executive director

in September.

8. DANGEROUS BEACHES: Five deaths were reported at the beach this

year, making this summer worse than most in the number of drownings.

In August, a 20-year-old man from Fullerton clad in a white robe

walked into the water at The Wedge. His lifeless body was pulled out

three hours later. Authorities believed it was a suicide.

A Santa Ana teenager drowned off Newport Pier in May. In June, a San

Bernardino man died in a rip current near 55th Street, and a 17-year old

Highland resident collapsed and died at The Wedge.

In July, the body of a 70-year-old Costa Mesa man, possibly a suicide,

washed up at the El Morro Village mobile home park.

While lifeguards rescued hundreds of people during the summer,

officials said the sheer body count was intimidating and disturbing.

Officials said the usual number of drownings during an average summer in

Newport Beach is one.

9. GIVING GALORE: It was a year for giving to artistic causes, with

patrons handing out major donations to Opera Pacific, the South Coast

Repertory and the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli and his wife, Susan, led the summer

of giving with a $5-million contribution to Opera Pacific.

The gift is helping the opera in its efforts to build its endowment

and provide a certain amount of fiscal breathing room for the

organization, which 2 1/2 years earlier struggled under a $2-million

debt.

“Opera Pacific exemplifies the kind of artistic excellence that Orange

County needs and deserves,” Susan Samueli said.

Philanthropist Henry Segerstrom gave the Orange County Performing Arts

Center an early Christmas present in August by donating $40 million and

six acres of land toward the construction of a 2,000-seat concert hall.

The gift may be the largest, single charitable cash gift in Orange County

history.

“I want my gift to be an investment in performing arts that will

inspire cultural growth into the future,” Segerstrom said.

The Segerstrom family, the farming dynasty that owns South Coast

Plaza, donated the land and $6 million for the existing center and the

South Coast Repertory theater more than 20 years ago with the vision of

creating a complete arts center in the city’s South Coast Metro

neighborhood.

In October, the Segerstrom Foundation donated $1 million toward the

expansion of South Coast Repertory. Theater board president Paul Folino,

chief executive officer of the technology company Emulex, and his family

contributed $2.5 million. That gift was matched by Broadcom co-founder,

Henry T. Nicholas III and his wife, Stacey.

10. RUNOFF AND SPILLS: It was an ongoing story that didn’t make big

waves, but it rippled all year.

This year, sewage and fuel spills, as well as urban runoff, have

contaminated local waters with alarming consistency. The year began with

a 1,500-gallon sewage spill Jan. 2 in Corona del Mar. A week later,

another sewage spill occurred at Arches Marina. And it continued

throughout the 12-month period with a bay closure Thursday, when a

blocked line in Newport Beach’s sewage collection system forced sewage

into the waters at North Star Beach. Also, earlier this month, more than

250,000 gallons of sewage leaked into the San Diego Creek -- county

health officials called the December incident the biggest spill of 2000,

a year in which contamination caused a record-high 38 beach closures

throughout Orange County.

Several fuel spills -- which are always common in the boat-filled

harbor -- made the news, especially when two swans that live in the bay

were harmed.

But perhaps the spills that caught the most attention were the ones

that muddied the waters at Crystal Cove -- considered one of the last

pristine beaches on the California coast. The state beach has been under

the watchful eye of nearby residents and environmentalists, who have

logged the discharges that have mostly resulted from construction.

This is a story that doesn’t end with the close of the year -- beach

pollution, and the efforts to preserve water quality, will continue to be

in the spotlight.