NEWPORT BEACH A compromise found for Castaways...

NEWPORT BEACH

A compromise found for Castaways Park’s grass

A polarized battle over how to develop Castaways Park brought

about a compromise solution as council members voted to include a

50-foot-wide swath of sedge grass for picnickers and others. The

compromise will allow the city to accept $150,000 in grants from two

environmental groups. But leaders can, in the future, decide that

they don’t like the 20-year upkeep agreement, they can decide to

return the money at any time.

* Council members will appoint a replacement for Councilman Gary

Proctor, who left his council seat more than a year before the end of

his term. Some residents told council members that there should be an

election to fill the seat, but council members said they disagreed

for several reasons. The replacement will only serve until November

2004, so the $50,000 cost of putting it on the ballot would only fill

the seat for six months. Applications are being accepted through Oct.

9 from District 2 residents who want to be considered for the seat.

* The city has taken its water quality message to the schools and

the streets, now they’re taking it to couch potatoes. A new local

cable program, “Waterwise,” has begun airing to teach residents how

to observe water quality rules when washing cars, watering lawns and

walking pets. The program airs on local cable at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.

COSTA MESA

Planning Commission’s

decision bowls skaters over

The city finally has a site designated for a skate park. Monday,

the Planning Commission approved a swath on the corner of Arlington

Avenue and Junipero Drive as the primary site for a skate park.

* The Parks and Recreation commission approved a plan for

expanding the softball fields at TeWinkle Park that saves eight trees

from an earlier City Council decision. The council will rehear the

issue on Oct. 20.

* City officials persuaded the Orange County Transportation

Authority to postpone a decision on whether to give Fountain Valley

money to study plans for the Gisler Avenue bridge. The delay will

give all four cities involved in the bridge issue -- Costa Mesa,

Newport Beach, Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach -- to try to

resolve their differences. Costa Mesa does not support the Gisler

bridge.

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

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

POLITICS

Schwarzenegger opens

office in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa is now the center of the Arnold universe -- at least in

Orange County.

Recall candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger’s get out the vote

headquarters set up last week in a small office on Newport Boulevard.

Once the recall is over, the office will move to Assemblyman John

Campbell, who has donated it for now and will use it for his state

Senate race against Assemblyman Ken Maddox.

Schwarzenegger was one of five candidates at a televised debate,

and in Newport-Mesa, anyway, he seemed the popular winner.

* S.J. CAHN is the managing editor. He can be reached at (949)

574-4233 or by e-mail at s.j.cahn@latimes.com.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND COURTS

Molestation charges dropped

against Costa Mesa man

The Orange County district attorney was forced to drop child

molestation charges against 42-year-old Cary Smith, an admitted

pedophile who has been locked up for four years in a state

psychiatric hospital, officials said. Smith was put in the hospital

after writing a letter fantasizing about a Costa Mesa boy.

Earlier this year, the district attorney had charged Smith with

performing lewd acts on a different Costa Mesa child between

September 1996 and March 1997. But an Orange County Superior Court

judge on Tuesday dismissed all 30 counts against Smith because the

victim was 14, not 13, when the alleged crimes happened, which caused

the statute of limitations to run out.

After the decision, Smith was sent to a San Bernardino County

hospital for a 72-hour psychiatric evaluation. He will stay there for

two more weeks after which he could be sent back to the state

hospital or released.

* The Orange County Coroner has determined that 32-year-old

Jessica Rothfuss, who was found dead in her Costa Mesa home on Aug.

10, died from alcohol poisoning. Officials said on Thursday she

probably drank alcohol after taking some medication and have closed

the case after determining that it was an accident.

* Federal officials on Thursday charged 38-year-old Daniel Flynn

of Newport Beach with one count of possessing child pornography.

Flynn, who was a teacher with Irvine Unified School District, worked

with children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

at UC Irvine’s Child Development Center. Officials caught Flynn when

he tried to buy a 30-minute videotape containing child pornography

from a U.S. Postal Inspector. He is expected to plead guilty to the

charge during his Oct. 6 arraignment.

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

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