Week in Review

EDUCATION

Kline School celebrates 20-year anniversary

Kline School, one of Costa Mesa’s smallest private schools, celebrated the opening of its new rubber-floored playground -- paid for in part by Newport Beach philanthropist Paul Merage. Thursday afternoon, the school held a ceremony in honor of Merage and the school’s 20-year anniversary.

The 20th Anniversary Campaign Committee, chaired by parents, solicited more than $100,000 for the playground over the last year, with $40,000 coming from Merage’s foundation. The playground includes new swings and a jungle gym, along with a quiet area where adults can sit.

* UC Irvine had a difficult week following the liver transplant scandal, in which the federal government pulled UCI Medical Center’s transplant program certification after it found that more than 30 patients had died while on the waiting list. Ralph Cygan, the chief executive officer of the medical center, went on administrative leave as Chancellor Michael Drake assembled a “blue ribbon team” of health experts to review the center’s procedures.

The five-member committee, which is expected to report back to Drake within 90 days, consists of former UC Board of Regents chair Meredith Khachigian, UC San Francisco chancellor emeritus Haile T. Debas, Assn. of Academic Health Center President Steven Wartman, University of Texas Executive Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Kenneth Shine and UCI chemistry professor Ken Janda.

COSTA MESA

Council limits scope of members’ slush spending

In one of its shortest meetings on record, the City Council on Tuesday approved a new policy that limits how council members can spend the $2,000 a year they’re allotted in discretionary funds. The policy was proposed after Councilman Eric Bever questioned Councilwoman Katrina Foley’s use of her funds to make donations to local nonprofit groups.

The policy, which was approved in a 4-0 vote, says the discretionary funds can only be used for attending conferences and other education or training related to city business. Previously there were no restrictions on the money other than state law and city codes, but council members typically have used discretionary funds for conferences as well as computers, cellphones and other equipment for their council duties.

Councilwoman Linda Dixon was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

* About 500 people received flu shots at the Costa Mesa Senior Center as part of its annual health fair. Residents lined up before 8 a.m., but center staff reported short lines and crowds smaller than last year.

In 2004, a national flu shot shortage forced the center to purchase its doses of serum and charge for the shots. This time around, vaccines were given out free, as the center received 800 doses from the county.

As of Wednesday, the center had a few hundred shots remaining.

NEWPORT BEACH

Committee recommends studying location change

In a surprise move, the City Council’s building committee will recommend that the council form two new committees to study locations for a new city hall and how the project fits in with the city’s other facilities needs. The recommendation came in a report issued Thursday, and the council will vote Tuesday on the $48-million civic center project that includes the city hall, a parking structure and a fire station.

The council has been considering a new city hall since 2001, but until recently attention has focused on replacing facilities at the current Balboa Peninsula location.

* A Newport Beach family and two Newport Coast residents were among those honored across the country as part of the 20th annual National Philanthropy Day.

Started by Doug Freeman, the former chairman of the board of Orange County’s Pacific Symphony, the event is intended to honor donors who have supported multiple organizations.

Tony and Ginger Allen and family were honored as outstanding philanthropists for 35 years of involvement with organizations such as the Orange County Performing Arts Center and Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.

Ronna Shipman of Newport Coast received the award for outstanding founder for her work in starting the Komen Orange County Race for the Cure.

Bobbitt Williams of Newport Coast won the outstanding volunteer fundraiser for her efforts in raising money for the American Cancer Society.

POLITICS

Four House-race candidates face off at Irvine forum

The race for the 48th District Congressional seat is picking up again, with a little more than two weeks until the Dec. 6 general election.

Tuesday four of the five candidates -- Republican John Campbell, Libertarian Bruce Cohen, Green Party candidate Béa Tiritilli and Democrat Steve Young -- discussed the Iraq war, the federal budget and illegal immigration at a forum in Irvine.

Absent was American Independent Party candidate Jim Gilchrist, who boycotted the forum because he disagrees with the views of the forum’s co-sponsor, the League of Women Voters.

BUSINESS

Home prices rise in all but 2 Newport-Mesa communities

A recent set of statistics showed home prices continued to appreciate through much of Newport-Mesa.

The numbers, compiled by La Jolla-based DataQuick Information Systems, compared October 2005 median home prices with October 2004 values.

The figures showed the ZIP Codes that include West Newport and Newport Coast were the only local neighborhoods where median home prices did not increase. There, year-over-year prices dropped by about 13% and by about 10%, respectively.

In other areas, appreciation rates ranged from about 18% around the east Balboa Peninsula to nearly 25% in Corona del Mar.

UC Irvine’s G. Christopher Davis predicted the market will level off over the next year. Next October, he expects home prices will rise at rates around 4% to 7%.

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“I’m not sure Britney Spears could stand that kind of constant coverage for eight years.”

John Campbell, state senator and congressional candidate addressing the Teenage Republicans club of Corona del Mar High School, on 24-hour media coverage and the drop in President Bush’s approval rating to 34%

“Right now there’s just so much else going on in town, and we’re competing with that. These are just things that we wanted to try, and if there’s an interest, if it sparks an interest, great. If not, we need to get more creative.”

Marie Knight, Newport Beach recreation director who is heading up activities for the city’s centennial celebration, on why the centennial hasn’t yet hit a nerve with residents

“If someone says to me, why did you build a new city hall on the existing site, I can say, well, I looked at all these options, and I decided it was the best way to go.”

Ed Selich, Newport Beach City Councilman, on taking another look at city hall sites

“What’s unusual is the community is saying thank you to all of our donors. It has a much louder voice than when the institutions do it on their own.”

Doug Freeman, an attorney and former chairman of the board of Orange County’s Pacific Symphony, on National Philanthropy Day honoring donors who have supported several organizations

“This is not an opportunity for somebody to cross the line who has not met the classroom requirement. This is a completion of the work, not the test.”

Robert Barbot, superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, on a proposal to allow all seniors to walk in the June graduation ceremony if they complete their required coursework but fail to pass the state’s mandatory high school exit exam