Week in Review

EDUCATION

KOCE ownership may return to community college district

Ever since the Coast Community College District sold KOCE-TV in 2004, the fate of Orange County’s public television station has been up in the air — and now, it seems, the channel may soon return to its original owner.

According to the college district’s attorney, Milford Dahl, and several members of the district’s board of trustees, the district may be forced to give back the $8-million down payment that the KOCE-TV Foundation made when it purchased the station. Shortly after the sale, the Daystar Television Network, a nationwide Christian broadcaster, sued the district, saying that its higher cash bid made it the rightful owner of KOCE.

Now, with an appellate court voiding the sale in May, the district may have to find a way to repay the down payment that it has largely spent. Dahl said the district, the foundation and Daystar were trying to appoint a mediator to help settle the dispute, and expected to resolve the matter next year.

For three years, two classes at the school — one first-grade, the other third-grade — have bypassed their annual holiday party to shop for charity. Each student did work at home or in the community to earn cash, then bought a toy to donate to the local fire station.

COSTA MESA

Peanuts characters, Santa Claus come to town

For the 40th consecutive year, Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang are entertaining locals who come to “The Snoopy House” for a little holiday cheer.

Inspired by “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” a 14-year-old Jim Jordan started an annual tradition in 1966 with just a few wooden figures of Snoopy and friends. Now, about 70,000 people flock to the Costa Mesa home each year to see the impressive display.

Even Santa Claus makes his way to Orange County to enjoy the festivities, as hundreds of children line up to meet him.

The Peanuts Christmas display is up for all to see at 2269 Santa Ana Ave. through New Year’s Day.

BUSINESS

Postal Service weathers last-minute mailers

This week marked two important dates in the holiday mailing season, Monday being the busiest mailing day of the year, and Wednesday being the busiest delivery day.

At the Newport-Mesa district post office in Santa Ana, postal workers served more than 1,500 customers scrambling to get their holiday cards and packages out in time for Christmas.

In preparation of the influx of holiday mail, the Postal Service extended its hours and provided lobby directors at many of the larger post offices.

Visitors to the district office waited in line about 15 to 20 minutes before getting assistance at a customer service window.

The small post office on Balboa Island also experienced the mailing frenzy, though customers there were processed within a few minutes.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Second sex-offense conviction for Haidl

Greg Haidl, one of three young men convicted in March 2005 of the videotaped sexual assault of an unconscious teenager in his father’s Corona Del Mar home, pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges of having unlawful sex with a 16-year-old girl in a home in Dana Point in 2004.

In a plea bargain, Haidl, son of former Orange County Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl, was convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and sentenced to six months in custody. The time can be served concurrently with his six-year prison sentence, and Haidl will spend no extra time behind bars.

His no-contest plea cannot be used against him in any later civil proceeding, though the evidence against him can.

Haidl will be eligible for parole in January 2008.

Newport Beach fire officials said a 6-by-5-foot section of dirt pulled away from the slope of the trench and hit both men on the head and chest.

One man was knocked unconscious by the blow and buried up to his thighs, while the other managed to pull himself out.

Rescuers freed the trapped worker in about 25 minutes, Newport Fire Capt. Mike Liberto said.

NEWPORT BEACH

Newport Coast family continues a giving tradition

Newport Coast resident Tony Sclafani and his family started a tradition five years ago of buying bikes for needy kids, and it’s mushroomed from 16 bikes in 2001 to 625 bikes this year. Sclafani planned to help give out most of the bikes Friday to kids at the Santa Ana Boys and Girls Club. About 150 bikes went to the other 15 Boys and Girls Clubs in Orange County.

It took about an hour for a security guard to get the store’s co-owner there with a key to let the women out, but they weren’t upset. While they waited, they shopped more and browsed the store’s fridge hoping to find champagne.

Robert O Hill, the managing partner for the group of investors that owns the racquet club parcel and the adjacent Newport Beach Country Club, on Tuesday laid out an extensive plan to build new clubhouses for the golf and tennis clubs and 27 bungalows to be used by club members and their guests.

O Hill said he intends to proceed with the master plan. Newport Beach city officials are awaiting the results of an appraisal of the property and have said eminent domain is a possibility, but it’s unclear whether a majority of City Council members would support such a move.

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

‘First of all, I don’t sell properties, and second of all, this is something that has a great emotional attachment for me.’

— Robert O Hill, developer and co-owner of the property that is home to the Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club, on the unlikelihood that he would sell the parcel to the city of Newport Beach for a new city hall

‘When you think you’re never going to get done and you’re running out of energy, some little kid runs by and giggles. That’s when I consider the invoice paid in full.’

— Jim Jordan of Costa Mesa on building and maintaining “The Snoopy House” Christmas display at his home every holiday season for the last 40 years

‘My first customer had 76 packages. That’s when I knew Christmas was here.’

— Rick Csurilla, postal worker at the post office on Balboa Island, on helping the large number of customers Monday — the busiest mailing day of the year

‘We decided to open the refrigerator to see if they had any champagne because if we’re stuck, let’s have a drink! But there was no champagne [in the store] — only men’s clothes.’

— Francine Hyan of Yorba Linda on being trapped in Gary’s men’s store at Fashion Island with two friends when Gary’s employees — who didn’t know the women were still inside — locked the store for the night and went home

‘We go out there cold, and Woody calls out the tunes. “It’s sink or swim from there.’

— Jerry Zigmont, trombone player with Woody Allen and His New Orleans Jazz Band, on performing whatever song Allen decides to play at a given moment; Allen and his band appeared Monday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

‘I was the skinniest and the baldest of the available actors at the time. I think that had more to do with it than anything.’

— Hal Landon Jr., who created the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in South Coast Repertory’s “A Christmas Carol” in 1980, and has performed it every year since