Week in Review

NEWPORT BEACH

Newport Sea Base rudderless again

The Newport Sea Base is again looking for a director after Charlie Abbott was fired in August for undisclosed reasons, a sea base official said last week. Abbott was hired in February as executive director of the sea base, which is operated by the Orange County Council of Boy Scouts.

Boy Scouts spokeswoman Lara Fisher said Abbott was fired for violating one of the organization’s policies, but she did not elaborate. Other sea base personnel have changed positions recently, but Fisher said those changes have nothing to do with Abbott’s dismissal, and they have not affected the sea base’s programs.

Measure X would require public votes on some development projects that aren’t covered by a similar initiative voters approved in 2000.

COSTA MESA

No need for guards as candidates face off

The six candidates for two Costa Mesa City Council seats faced off for the first time Wednesday, and public safety proved the hot topic. About 200 people attended the candidates’ forum at the Neighborhood Community Center, where the sponsoring homeowners association hired armed guards to ensure no one became unruly.

Candidates talked about the best way to increase safety in Costa Mesa, whether the city should train police for immigration enforcement, and their positions on libraries, bridges and campaign finance. Several more groups promise to hold forums, with the next likely on Sept. 29 at the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

On Sunday night, people gathered at the Huntington Beach Pier for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the 19-year-old who was killed in a car accident in Colorado, where he was set to start college last fall.

The Kapko family started the Brian Kapko Foundation and are still contemplating exactly what money raised will go toward. They have committed to helping Estancia High School football and have talked about starting a scholarship in Brian Kapko’s name. Future information can be found at www.briankapko.com.

BUSINESS

Taking the vacation into their own hands

More people are getting behind the wheel rather than taking to the skies this Labor Day weekend, according to the Automobile Club of America, Southern California.

Despite the Auto Club study, John Wayne Airport is expecting healthy numbers this weekend, although they will be similar to a normal summer weekend, said Jenny Wedge, spokeswoman for the airport. According to the Auto Club survey, airline travel this weekend will be down about 2%.

More than 3 million Southern Californians are heading out of town — a number that may rise as gas prices continue to go down, said Carol Thorp, spokeswoman for the Auto Club.

According to the club, the top five destinations this weekend are San Diego, Las Vegas, California’s central coast, the Grand Canyon and San Francisco.

The store features a series of mock-ups of what their customers living rooms can look like.

Pioneer employees then can install whatever products the customer wants in their home.

One of the advantages the Pioneer store has over other retailers carrying the product is they have complete control over every aspect. The store will also feature the latest technologies that aren’t available elsewhere for consumers to try out.

“Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects for Dummies” comes from a chapter in “Chemotherapy and Radiation for Dummies.”

Co-authors Neil Slatkin and Michelle Rhiner have worked at the City of Hope in supportive care, pain management and palliative care.

The book has educational resources, including drug information about Cesamet and other alternatives, as well as a list of organizations that cancer patients may want to reach out to, including the American Cancer Society and People Living With Cancer.

The free book can be found at www.chemofordummies.com.

EDUCATION

D’Agostino moves on

The Student Political Action Committee at Newport Harbor High School, which has made headlines since its inception in 1999, is seeking a new advisor for the coming school year. Phil D’Agostino, who founded the club, has moved on to become assistant principal of Estancia High School.

The committee achieved a number of milestones over the last year, setting a campus record for pints with its blood drive and successfully lobbying the city to establish pedestrian safety signs around the school.

In the past, the club held town meetings to talk about the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s zero-tolerance policy and the chronic parking problems around Newport Harbor.

At Estancia, D’Agostino replaces Sean Boulton, who is moving out of the district this fall.

“He was everything that made a really great advisor and a really great leader,” said Heidi Schultheis, a former committee officer who now attends Georgetown University. “He could be really demanding of us, but he was really encouraging. As much as he asked a lot of us, he contributed a lot of his own time and effort. That’s just who he is.”

Among the new features in OCC classrooms this fall are white boards, overhead projectors and adjustable thermostats

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“Everybody does golf tournaments, but I thought, ‘We’ve got to try softball sometime.’ They’re paid to stay in shape, so they’ve got the advantage on us.”

— Sandy Segerstrom-Daniels, founder of the Festival of Children Foundation and a managing partner of South Coast Plaza, on a softball game held last weekend between Costa Mesa Police officers and mall security; the event brought in more than $2,000. The police won.

“I think it’s fantastic that so many people brought their children and parents. It’s a very multigenerational group, and it gives one confidence about the future of the center.”

— Terry Dwyer, Orange County Performing Arts Center president, on a preview performance at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

“I would always go to meetings with a bunch of cookies so the producers would remember me. It was all I knew how to make.”

— Wally “Famous” Amos, of cookie renown, on how he got started making his delicacies

“We have a close bond as it is. Now it’s even closer.”

— Paul Hahn, Newport Beach Country Club head pro, talking about the man whose life he saved using the club’s defibrillator

“It’s the next step in my career, I think. Having done two years of summer school as an assistant principal, I think I’m ready to take on the challenge of high school. Estancia is a great place. They have great staff, great administrators, and I’m looking forward to learning from the faculty there.”

— Phil D’Agostino, longtime Newport Harbor High teacher, on becoming an assistant principal at Estancia High this year

“It’s not going to take an officer out; it’s going to take a criminal out.”

— Allan Mansoor, Costa Mesa mayor and candidate for reelection, defending his plan for immigration enforcement during a candidates forum last week