WEEK IN REVIEW

It’s been around for 57 years. But the future isn’t so bright for the

annual Lions Club Fish Fry.

Due to a lawsuit filed after last year’s Fish Fry at Orange Coast

College, the school is reluctant to allow this year’s event to take

place, said club member Mike Scheafer.

The club is scheduled to meet this week with city officials to see if

anything can be done, including a possible move back to Lions Park.

The Fish Fry was held there for 55 years, but moved after construction

next to the park put a bit of a squeeze on the community tradition.

The City Council would have to approve the return. Stay tuned.

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

574-4275 or by e-mail at jennifer.kho@latimes.com.

Dredging up some funds

It looks like a little, or rather, a lot of money could be on the way

for Newport Beach’s dredging of the Back Bay.

Last week, a California Assembly Budget Subcommittee included a

$7.5-million request from the city to help pay for the $31-million

project that’s set to begin in 2003.

A Senate counter committee had already approved the big chunk of cash,

which would help secure a local and state match of federal funds.

Newport Beach also is wavering on whether it wants state Sen. Ross

Johnson to push for a bill that has come under fire from

environmentalists.

The bill, Senate Bill 816, essentially would take away a state

regional water board’s power to issue some cease-and-desist orders.

Newport Beach officials say that doing so would give cities more time to

educate residents about problems before they are punished.

Environmentalists say it simply would leave polluters free of any

sanctions.

-- Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at paul.clinton@latimes.com.

Landmark for fire department

The Newport Beach Fire Department reached a landmark Friday when, for

the first time in 25 years, it hired nine firefighters and promoted nine.

The appointments were made to fill the new Station 7 in Santa Ana Heights

and in preparation for the city’s anticipated annexation of Newport

Coast.

Firefighters on Wednesday evening also rescued Stuft Shack, a

beachfront stand that has served hamburgers on East 15th Street since

1963. The blaze was caused by a freezer compressor that caught fire. It

took three engines and two trucks about eight minutes to put out the

blaze.

It was not a good week for Costa Mesa roadways, which saw two fatal

accidents, one on the San Diego Freeway and one on Red Hill Avenue. In

both incidents, victims were passengers and the drivers were arrested for

drunken driving.

-- Deepa Bharath covers cops and courts. She may be reached at (949)

574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.

Threats continue at high school

No one can seem to get the ever-looming threat of violence out their

minds these days. And it’s no wonder, with tips coming in on a weekly

basis.

Last week’s were ones of yet another student taken into police custody

and suspended from Corona del Mar High School for threats of violence.

While some Corona del Mar parents have complained their school is

being picked on, it just seems to be where the tips, confirmed by police,

are coming from.

This time a student was removed from the campus for allegedly

threatening a girl in class. Whether or not these things are happening at

other schools, this is the third student at that school to be suspended

recently for threats against others.

At the other end of the educational spectrum last week, administrators

on the Westside continue to trudge forward in their efforts to see every

child have a shot at preschool.

After the school board gave the green light to district staff to apply

for more state-funded preschool programs, last week those folks bridged a

gap with neighboring preschool programs.

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

574-4221 or by e-mail at danette.goulet@latimes.com.

Hoping the bills will soon be in the mail

While Gov. Gray Davis’ plans to fight California’s energy crisis

didn’t go down too well in Newport Beach, a couple of other decisions up

in Sacramento had the city leaders rejoicing last week.

A new park in West Newport Beach seems one step closer to reality

after Senate Bill 124 took the initial hurdle and received unanimous

approval in a subcommittee. The bill would transfer Caltrans land to the

state parks department. In return for $1.3 million -- a discount price

considering the parcel is valued at over $4 million -- the city would

then begin work on Sunset Ridge Park.

Another bill, Senate Bill 516, also got on its way to approval. If

passed, the bill would guarantee the complete build out of Newport Coast,

the upscale area south of the city. That’s important, since the

community’s annexation hinges on it. Along with residents in Santa Ana

Heights and Bay Knolls, city officials hope to welcome folks in Newport

Coast in Newport Beach by early 2002.

-- Mathis Winkler covers Newport Beach. He may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at mathis.winkler@latimes.com.