EDUCATION Six Newport-Mesa schools bid farewell to...

EDUCATION

Six Newport-Mesa schools bid farewell to seniors

Thursday was a day of commencement for students at six schools in

the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Estancia, Costa Mesa,

Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar high schools, as well as Back Bay

and Monte Vista alternative schools, honored their students at

graduation ceremonies held throughout the day.

Vivian Liu and Jon Wolfe, both 16 years old, scored perfect 1600s

on their SATs. The two students just finished their junior year at

Corona del Mar High School. They are the only two students in the

Newport-Mesa Unified School District to achieve this feat this year,

but they are not the only students in the Newport-Mesa community.

Katrina Redelsheimer, who just finished her junior year at Sage Hill

School in Newport Coast, also earned a 1600 score this year.

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.

BUSINESS

Omelette Parlor will go on breaking eggs

The Omelette Parlor, which appeared doomed to be ousted from its

shopping center location, got an 11th-hour reprieve as landlords

reversed a decision to kick out the popular eatery to make way for

renovations of the 17th Street shopping center. Vons Companies Inc.

agreed to put Adkins on a month-to-month lease and to renovate the

center with the Omelette Parlor as part of the plan.

In opening its third neighborhood retail center in Newport Beach

in less than a year, the company has also taken a bite out of hunger.

The Bluffs Shopping Center, which opened May 27, includes eight

eateries mixed in with retail shops.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Crime drops in most areas; decreases 5% overall

Costa Mesa saw a significant decrease in crime in most categories

in 2002 from the previous year, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime

Report released Monday.

All violent crime was down -- rape was down 50%, incidents of

robbery plummeted 37%, and aggravated assaults dropped 30%.

The only category that saw a slight increase was thefts, up by 1%.

But other property crimes were down. Burglaries dropped 8%, and auto

thefts, which had increased dramatically in 2001, were down 13%.

In other news, Costa Mesa’s new police chief, John D. Hensley,

started Monday. Former Chief David Snowden retired Friday, June 13.

His retirement party last Saturday was attended by more than 500

people.

County officials have unveiled a series of projects to make John

Wayne Airport safer and more pleasant. Supervisor Jim Silva said that

the improvements will add to the airport’s image as a safe and

friendly place.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.

COSTA MESA

Council adopts budget with one $3,800 change

The City Council adopted a $112-million budget for the 2003-04

fiscal year, after making one adjustment. The council decided not to

give $3,800 to the Orange County Human Relations Committee and

instead direct that money to grad night event celebrations in next

year’s budget.

Skate park fans are chafing at the Planning Commission’s decision

to delay action on a skateboard park as part of the TeWinkle Master

Plan. The commission approved parts of the plan on June 9, but

continued the skate park discussion while it explores other sites,

such as Costa Mesa High School, and to give Bark Park users a chance

to weigh in. Bark Park fans are eyeing one of the sites for an

expansion.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.