Week in Review

COSTA MESA

City hires interim fire chief, Steven Parker

Costa Mesa City Manager Allan Roeder has hired former Vernon Fire Chief Steven Parker to head the city’s fire department for the time being, officials said.

Parker will serve as interim fire chief, and will be replacing Chief Jim Ellis, who has been on medical leave since June.

Parker has more than 31 years of firefighting experience, according to a news release.

Costa Mesa Firefighters Assn. representatives said they were disappointed at having no input in the selection of an interim fire chief, which they learned of by an e-mail from Roeder late Monday.

The drop-off and pick-up plan for about 30 families will allow Kline to operate for one more year, before closing its doors next August.

The kitchen, the first of its kind in Southern California, has all new appliances and china that must be sealed by a rabbi after every service.

Rabbi Binyomin Fajnland oversaw the creation of the kitchen and will be present at every event, making sure each ingredient used and every cooking method implemented coincides with Jewish rules.

BUSINESS

Costa Mesa residents open Chronic Cantina

Chronic Cantina held its grand opening Friday after over a year of leaping over hurdles thrown at them by the city and Triangle Square owners.

Costa Mesa residents Keith Scheinberg and Daniel Biello, owners of the popular Chronic Tacos chain, worked hard to open the restaurant and bar in a mall that has been plagued with vacancies.

The two plan to help turn that around with their 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio, palapa bar and plans for mini-concerts.

POLITICS

Plan to sell land for $1 too good to be true

Orange County Supervisor Jim Silva pulled from consideration a plan to sell a vacant county-owned site in Newport Beach to the city for $1. Three of five supervisors said they opposed the deal, so Silva took it off the table.

The city intended to turn the parcel, which is two-thirds of an acre, into a park. Silva and city officials aren’t sure what the next move is, but they could try to include the site in a list of city-county issues now being mulled.

NEWPORT BEACH

Firefighters group endorses City Council hopefuls

The Newport Beach Firefighters Assn. announced its endorsements of City Council candidates, including an unusual endorsement of two candidates running against each other. The group endorsed Michael Henn, Mayor Don Webb, Nancy Gardner, and appointed incumbents Ed Selich and Keith Curry.

Association President Jeff Boyles said the group endorsed both appointed Councilwoman Leslie Daigle and challenger Barbara Venezia in the District 4 because each has shown a commitment to public safety in different ways. The association will volunteer precinct walkers and send mailers for candidates it supports.

The suit claims the ballot summary, written by the city attorney, is “lengthy, disjointed and confusing to the average reader.” City officials did not immediately comment because they had not read the suit.

The wording reads: “Shall the ordinance requiring preparation of a specific plan for any development project, except in portions of Newport Coast, that individually or in combination with other projects in the neighborhood approved during the preceding five years, adds more than 100 dwelling units, 40,000 square feet of floor area or 100 peak hour trips when compared to the existing condition of the neighborhood; and action by the City Council; and submittal to the voters, be adopted?”

EDUCATION

School district’s first new campus since 2001 opens

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District opened its first new campus since 2001, Early College High School, on Monday. The school combines high school and college instruction and permits students to graduate in five years with a diploma and an associate’s degree.

The campus, one of 19 early college high schools in California, is funded in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Costa Mesa’s second drive-by shooting in three weeks sends man to hospital

With Costa Mesa residents still reeling from a gang-related homicide less than three weeks ago, a second drive-by shooting left two wounded late Thursday.

A 20-year-old Costa Mesa man was shot twice and a second man was grazed by a bullet when a gunfire erupted from a silver car driving along an alley in the 2900 block of Mendoza Drive, police said.

Although police did not confirm the shooting was gang-related, neighbors in the area said they’ve noticed increased gang activity in the apartment complexes in the area, including recent car burglaries and graffiti.

Costa Mesa city officials say police are working all hours to find the people responsible for the shootings. They also plan to hire more officers and gang investigators. Mayor Allan Mansoor said he would ask the City Council to put up a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of people involved in the recent shootings.

To discuss the shootings and what residents can do to protect themselves, police will hold a community meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sonora Elementary School, 966 Sonora Road in Costa Mesa.