WEEK IN REVIEW

PUBLIC SAFETY

Fairgrounds becomes haven for fire-endangered animals

Orange County Fairgrounds became an emergency shelter last week for more than 80 large animals seeking shelter from wildfires across the region. The fairground’s equestrian facilities took in 84 horses, two burros and two llamas and then began advising horse owners to tie up their horses outside their trailers. Most of the animals came from areas such as Trabuco and Santiago canyons, which were threatened from a fire raging near Irvine, but some came from as far away as Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County.

BUSINESS

San Diego evacuees and pets fill local hotels in droves

Newport-Mesa hotels had some of their busiest days in memory this week as hundreds of people fled the wildfires in San Diego County and sought accommodation up the coast.

Nearly every hotel in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa reported taking at least some evacuees throughout the week, with some offering reduced rates, suspending their no-pets rules and providing water bottles to tenants who had fled areas with heavy soot in the air.

A number of hotels said they had filled to capacity by Monday evening.

“We have a lot of people coming in who are crying and upset and trying to figure out when they can go back,” said Laraine Lewis, a receptionist at the La Quinta Inn in Costa Mesa.

At some hotels, guests relied on each other — and their laptops — for information on the neighborhoods they had fled earlier in the week.

Susan Mackay, who escaped her home in Fallbrook near San Diego, said she dialed her number every day to make sure that her house was still standing.

“I’ve been trying to talk to everyone I see just to find where they’re from and if they have any news, because it’s hard to get up here,” she said.

“I’ve said hello to everyone I’ve seen and asked, ‘Are you an evacuee?’ Normally, I’m shy, but you can’t be shy on a day like this.”

 In the days after longtime Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce member Art Gronsky passed away in Alaska, friends and colleagues remembered him as a dedicated volunteer and an inspiring mentor.

Gronsky, 87, passed away Oct. 19 while on vacation. He had served with the chamber for 60 years, run the sportfishing company Art’s Landing from 1963 to 1983 and frequently assisted with city events.

One of his most famous jobs was shooting the opening gun for the annual Flight of the Lasers sailing event in Newport Beach.

“I don’t think I ever heard him say anything bad about anybody,” said Seymour Beek, the chairman of the event and co-owner of the Balboa Island Ferry.

“He was one of those people who was just universally liked.”

EDUCATION

Blazes keep school sports and outdoor activities at bay

The Santiago Fire shut down all outdoor student activities in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District this week.

From the fire’s beginning on Sunday, smoke and dust descended upon Southern California and left school and health officials with no choice but to keep kids in doors because of health concerns.

Sporting events including football games and golf tournaments were postponed.

One sport that wasn’t postponed, though, was surfing. On Monday, in particular, the waves came huge.

“The surf is just glorious,” Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Jim Turner said. “Those riding are having the best surfing days of their lives.”

That was especially true for the Newport Harbor High School surf team as they finally defeated state powerhouse San Clemente in league competition. The win put Newport Harbor in first place in the South Coast League at 3-0.

 The district also approved a pilot program with Cal State Fullerton to tutor foster and group home children. Newport-Mesa teachers will visit with students for 90 minutes once a week through March.

The “Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention Services Literacy Program” will nurture a population of students whose reading proficiency is consistently below their grade levels.

Orientation with prospective students are underway and the program should start sometime in November, project director Julie Chan said.

POLITICS

Arkansas presidential candidate hosts fundraiser

About 400 people attended a fundraising party for former Arkansas Governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee at the back bay home of Buck Johns, president of Inland Energy Inc. Lapel buttons that read “Buck for Huck” were available at the entrance to John’s home.

Huckabee has lingered near the bottom of many polls and has struggled to raise money and support.

But Newport Beach backers gave him a financial boost.

 Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to send a letter requesting the water district delay the start of water fluoridation so they can evaluate resident’s concerns.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California said it will move ahead plans to add fluoride at the Robert B. Diemer Treatment Plant in Yorba Linda Nov. 19.

The water district board agreed in 2003 to add enough fluoride to drinking water supplies to provide dental health benefits. The district provides 18% of Newport Beach’s drinking water.

Numerous area residents spoke out against the plan to begin water fluoridation out of concern for negative health effects.

Public health officials and water experts insist fluoridation is safe and has been in use across the country for the past 60 years.