PUBLIC SAFETY Firefighters gather to mourn one...

PUBLIC SAFETY

Firefighters gather to mourn one of their own

A memorial service was held on Monday for Newport Beach Training

Division Chief Randy Scheerer who died on Dec. 20 of a heart attack.

He was 53. More than 1,250 people, including several from the fire

service, attended the service, which was organized by the fire

department.

* Police are looking for a hit-and-run driver who they say hit a

bicyclist at Crystal Cove State Park on Dec. 28. Scott Delameter, 38,

of Newport Beach was riding his bicycle eastbound on Coast Highway

near Reef Point when a golden compact veered into the bike lane and

hit him from behind. Delameter suffered a fractured back and a

concussion and is recovering at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.

Police said the driver didn’t bother to stop. No other descriptions

of the vehicle or the driver were available, but officials said

several people witnessed the incident.

-- Deepa Bharath

EDUCATION

Students explore the great outdoors at holiday program

Newport-Mesa students on winter break took a tour of California at

the Environmental Nature Center.

The center, near Newport Harbor High School, hosts students for

nature hikes, lessons and crafts during school vacations and during

the school year. It has representations of 14 different California

habitats, including wildlife like hawks, squirrels and coyotes.

* University of Phoenix, the largest private university in the

country, is relocating one of its learning centers to Costa Mesa.

The university, geared to working professionals, is moving its

Fountain Valley location to a new, 67,000-square-foot space on

Bristol Street. About 160 classes will take place each week in its 37

classrooms and 17 study rooms.

-- Marisa O’Neil

BUSINESS

Brokers say stock market will be bullish in new year

Newport stock market experts suggested the economy was looking

stronger, given the rise in the three major indexes during 2003.

Their predictions were mixed about how long the good times would

last, however. Some see a fine-looking 2004, while others said

investors might be disappointed by a slow recovery.

* New Year’s Eve was the last chance for hungry folks to get to

Chimayo Grill at Fashion Island. The restaurant closed its doors with

a casual final evening. Owner David Wilhelm will replace the eatery

with Rouge, a French bistro.

-- Daily Pilot staff

NEWPORT BEACH

Citizen committee says parks should be run by the city

Four tiny parks in the Newport Coast area would be better managed

by the city than the county, residents say. The Newport Coast

Advisory Committee will consider whether to ask the city to ask the

county to hand over four little parks they believe the county might

also be happy to get rid of.

* Horse enthusiasts and city leaders could be close to a

compromise on how to keep local trails in line with city clean-water

ordinances. The rules require all animal waste be picked up but

equestrian groups say it’s not practical for someone to pause in the

middle of a trail ride every time they have to clean up after their

horses. Equestrian leaders are implementing an Adopt-A-Trail program.

City leaders are offering to install friendlier signs on the trails.

* The Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau leaders hope to

get a bigger cut of the city’s hotel tax. Though some officials worry

it’s a bad time to spread revenues any thinner, others say that’s why

it’s a good time to invest in attracting more convention business to

the city.

* A day at the beach will cost more next summer for visitors to

Crystal Cove State Beach and maybe Corona del Mar. To deal with

budget cuts, the California State Parks will raise day-use fees from

$5 to $10 at Crystal Cove starting July 1.

The city of Newport Beach, which runs the Corona del Mar State

Beach, may raise its $6 fees to reduce overcrowding and bring it in

line with other state beaches. Fees for camping and annual passes

throughout the camp system will also increase.

-- June Casagrande