The Newport Beach Public Library is offering residents two festive shows to help celebrate the holidays.

The library is hosting a holiday puppet show at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., and at 2:30 p.m. at the Crean Mariners branch library, 1300 Irvine Ave., and “A Celtic Christmas” at 2 p.m. Dec. 18 in the Friends meeting room in the central library.

The puppet show, “The Night BEARfore Christmas,” will feature handcrafted puppets and classical music from Jim Gamble Puppets.

“A Celtic Christmas” is based on the poem “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas and will feature songs, stories and lots of laughs.

Both shows are free and admission is limited. For more information about the puppet show, call (949) 717-3800, or (949) 717-3860 for the other show.

— Britney Barnes

Twitter: @BritneyJBarnes

Ballots sent out Oct. 20 to the teachers in the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers showed 91.2% voted no confidence in Jeffrey Hubbard, union officials confirmed.

Of the 959 members, 379 participated — a nearly 40 percent voter turnout.

“We hope the school board will pay attention that 90% of the teachers have no confidence in our superintendent,” said union President Kimberly Claytor. “It’s a sad thing. I don’t mean it’s sad that they have no confidence, it’s sad about the whole scenario.”

At the federation’s Costa Mesa office, unions officials counted the ballots, with PTA members overseeing the process for accuracy.

…Continue reading Teachers union vote denounces Hubbard

Joshua Allen Robey, who was living in a Costa Mesa motel, was charged with felony attempted murder, torture and child abuse with a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury to a child under 5 years old.

If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison.

Robey is expected to be arraigned Friday. The Orange County District Attorney plans to ask that he be held ona $1 million bond.

Robey, according to prosecutors, was babysitting his two-year-son Oct. 18 in the Anaheim home of his girlfriend and her mother.

The defendant didn’t realize his girlfriend had set-up a hidden camera because she believed he was cheating on her.

Robey was allegedly caught on video wrapping a blanket around his son’s neck like a noose and then swinging the infant around by the blanket for more than a minute.

The father allegedly put the baby back down to punch him in the chest, slap him, shake him in the air and grab the baby by the throat.

The baby is in the hospital and the extent of his injuries are unknown.

—Britney Barnes

The Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers members unanimously voted no confidence in Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard at its meeting Wednesday and sent out ballots to all 1,000 of its members Thursday to reaffirm the vote, said union President Kimberly Claytor.

About 60 union school site representatives and members voted at Wednesday’s meeting

“This is a sad day for me personally and a sad day for the Newport-Mesa community,” Claytor said.

Claytor met with Hubbard on Thursday morning to tell him of the vote in person.

Hubbard and school district spokeswoman Laura Boss couldn’t be immediately reached Friday.

Hubbard, 54, is awaiting trial for three felony charges of misappropriation of funds while at his previous post as head of the Beverly Hills Union School District.

He was charged with the first two counts in December and the Los Angeles district attorney got a grand jury indictment for the third charge this month.

“The multiple felony counts Jeffrey Hubbard is on trial for have been, and will continue to be, a distraction that hinders his job performance,” according to the union’s resolution.

The call for the vote stems from the inequitable treatment Hubbard received when the school board allowed him to go on more than five months of paid administrative leave for non-district business, Claytor said.

The union has also had issues with the hiring process not being open to everyone, equity in negotiations, and the emails Hubbard sent his former co-defendant Karen Anne Christiansen, who Hubbard is accused of inappropriately giving about $20,000 to and allegedly increasing her monthly car allowance.

The emails contain sexual innuendo and double entendres about oral sex.

“Our teachers have had a difficult time with some of their students reading the mails published,” she said.

Union members have been expressing concern with the issues surrounding Hubbard since last year, Claytor said.

“Truth be told, our office has been getting pretty much nonstop phone calls for months,” she said.

The union is expected to tally its ballots for the final vote of no confidence Nov. 3 before presenting the results to the district’s Board of Education.

Whatever the results, Claytor said she hopes Hubbard is treated fairly, but added that fair treatment isn’t always a pleasant process.

“I think that no matter what, it will speak volumes,” she said.

“Glee” star Lauren Potter is coming to Newport Beach Saturday night for a fundraiser supporting Down syndrome education and awareness.

Potter, who plays cheerleader Becky Jackson on the show, will be the guest speaker at the Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County’s 11th annual Vision of Hope Gala at the Hyatt Regency, 1107 Jamboree Road.

The foundation works to improve education and opportunities for Down syndrome children.

Proceeds will go to expanding the foundation’s education center, increasing services for local children, educational support for parents and professional development for teachers.

The organization is also developing a teen center.

Tickets are $150 a person. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to http://www.DSFOC.org.

Britney.barnes@latimes.com

Twitter: @britneyjbarnes

NEWPORT BEACH — Sunday’s unveiling at Bonita Canyon Sports Park of a statue of Ronald Reagan drew many residents, but one local couple stood in silent protest behind the late president’s throng of admirers.

During the Newport Beach Ronald Reagan Centennial Memorial Dedication, city residents Kirby and Gina Piazza held up signs expressing their opposition to the statue’s presence.

“Reagan: Against civil rights since 1964” and “Keith Curry’s Golden Calf statue not welcome in Newport,” their signs read.

Meanwhile, county, state and congressional representatives joined City Council members at the dedication for the memorial to the Republican Party icon.

… Continue Reading Newport salutes Ronny

The bill also removes the requirement for districts to prove that they can meet their financial obligations for more than one year.

“It is an effort on the part of schools’ boards … to retain local control,” said Trustee Judy Franco.

The resolution was approved, 6-1, with Trustee Katrina Foley dissenting.

…Continue reading Newport-Mesa school board seeks to repeal contentious law

“Red, white and blue. It’s learning that we do. Red, white and blue. Hooray, hooray for you,” sang students dressed in red, white and blue wearing similarly patriotic-colored beaded necklaces.

The teachers also joined in, some with sparkly red and blue stars sticking off headbands and clutching blue and white pom poms.

Parents, students and teachers gathered on the blacktop to celebrate the school’s 16-point gain on the 2011 Academic Performance Index, or API, that boosted the Newport Beach elementary to the highest scoring school in the school district.

“We’re just very excited,” Principal Laura Vlasic said. “I am so proud of the students, staff and the parents. It really takes a team approach. Everybody collectively came together and our focus is on learning — and it really showed.”

…Continue reading Andersen students, faculty celebrate top API scor

State Farm is giving the Newport Coast private school money for its Organic Educational Center, a project that focuses on environmental responsibility.

Sage Hill’s organic garden was created through a service learning project by six of the school’s students and Savannah’s Organic Ranch, an Aliso Viejo-based nonprofit that educates children about organic gardening.

…Continue reading Sage Hill School wins grant for garden

Community leaders, military personnel and Costa Mesa police officers will remember those who lost their lives from 9 to 11 a.m. at the U.S. Army Reserve Base at the Air National Guard facility, 2651 Newport Blvd.

A moment of silence is slated for 9:20 a.m.

Costa Mesa Chief Executive Tom Hatch, Police Chief Tom Gazsi, acting Fire Chief Kirk Dominic and Iraq War veteran 2nd Lt. Thomas Deluccia are scheduled to speak at the event.

…Continue reading Iraq War veteran speaking at 9/11 memorial event