Environmental group to honor city official

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- A local environmental group has set up a Saturday

shindig at the Village Crean to raise money for itsprojects.

Members of Orange County CoastKeeper, based in Newport Beach, are set

to gather Saturday evening at the Santa Ana Heights home of John Crean,

the millionaire retired RV tycoon.

Crean’s bluff-side home overlooks the Back Bay.

During the event, CoastKeeper leaders will give a video presentation

about the group’s efforts to replant kelp forests off Corona del Mar and

reduce polluted runoff in Buck Gully, among other projects.

The group also is set to honor Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff, the

Irvine Co. and Shirley Dettloff, a California Coastal Commission board

member and Huntington Beach councilwoman.

“Of all the people we work with, Dave [Kiff] is such a good conduit

for local environmental problems,” CoastKeeper spokesman Randy Seaton

said. “He’s really been a help.”

The Irvine Co. is being honored for a state-of-the-art drainage

project installed at the new housing development on the bluff above

Crystal Cove.

Other notables are expected to attend the invitation-only event,

including Mayor Gary Adams, coastal commission Chairwoman Sara Wan and

Steve Bozeman, the Florida attorney who won a $200-billion settlement

against the tobacco companies.

As part of the event, mainly geared toward raising money for

CoastKeeper projects, the group will honor firefighters for their courage

during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The group will auction off an authentic “FDNY” baseball cap and

refurbished old-time fire hydrant. Money raised from the auction will be

sent to the New York Firefighters Fund.