Occupy O.C. wins extension

IRVINE — Occupy Orange County protesters have been granted another extension, permitting overnight camping at the Civic Center through noon Dec. 21, according to the city website.

The latest amendment to the agreement between protesters and the city is the third extension since Oct. 25, when an outpouring of protesters filled the City Council chambers and lobbied for the right to remain in the park overnight.

Protesters will still have to conform to rules set out in prior amendments and the original agreement, which requires them to vacate the area from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays for lawn maintenance, pay for their own port-a-potties and trash collection and they must restore the area to its preexisting condition upon vacating.

Protesters are also prohibited the use of cooking equipment and heaters and must confirm to city laws.

The latest amendment places additional limits on the protesters, including restricting the ability of minors, unless accompanied by a legal guardian, to remain overnight and placing a cap of 28 tents.

— Sarah Peters

Twitter: @speters01http://www.twitter.com/speters01

Activists crow, er bark, about ban on pet sales

IRVINE — Jim Gardner had a good reason for wearing a head-to-toe dog suit to City Hall Tuesday night.

His furry alter ego, “Big Dog,” and other animal activists, turned out en masse to the public hearing of an animal welfare ordinance which banned the retail sale of cats and dogs also banned rodeos and circuses featuring exotic animals.

“In normal street clothes, I’m one of 100 in the audience,” Gardner said on Wednesday. “There’s no impact. Sitting there as a dog helps bring forward the impact of issue to the council members. Rather than being an amorphous issue, here is the issue — cats and dogs dying and (being) treated badly within city limits.”

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause when the ordinance passed with 4-1 vote. Councilman Jeffrey Lalloway dissented.

Although Gardner did not speak before the council — removing the floppy-eared costume head would mean breaking character — the arguments presented by more than 50 other activists were well-stated, he said. … Continue Reading

Mesa alumni to walk for ALS

COSTA MESA — Members of Costa Mesa High School’s Class of ’84 will gather Saturday morning to raise awareness about Lou Gehrig’s disease, which afflicts one of their classmates.

A group of nearly 60 is expected to take part in the three-mile walk, which starts at 8:30 a.m. at Irvine’s William R. Mason Regional Park.

Dubbed “Class of ‘84 for Nancy!” the group was formed in support of Nancy Polisso, 44, who was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) more than two years ago.

“I can’t even put into words, when diagnosed with a terminal illness and faced with your own mortality, how amazing this is,” Polisso said.

Polisso will cut the ribbon to launch the walk. … Continue Reading

Cal Camera’s in Costa Mesa to shutter

Irvine bans dog and cat sales

Russo's Sprectrum Pets in Irvine. (Don Leach)

IRVINE—Animal activists, including one man dressed in a head-to-toe dog costume, cheered Tuesday night when City Council members banned the retail sale of cats and dogs.

The ordinance, which was passed by a 4-1 vote with Councilman Jeffrey Lalloway dissenting, also bans rodeos and circuses featuring exotic animals.

“It’s just a win for animals all around,” said resident Wendy Fears, one of a small local group that helped organize supporters of the ban. “I’m just real proud of Irvine for standing up against animal abuse.”

While Lalloway expressed disgust for those capable of animal cruelty, he worried that the proposed ordinance may move pet sales to the Internet and “import a pet problem rather than stop it.”

“Today, tonight, we are here to deal with a problem that simply does not exist,” Lalloway said. “We do not have any mass breeding facilities here in Irvine. We have one pet store, Russo’s, which will not be selling dogs and cats after next year.” … Continue Reading

John Wayne auction raises $5.3 million

The beret John Wayne wore in The Green Beret's generated $179,000 in auction. (Courtesy Warner Bros.)

The wool beret worn by John Wayne in 1968′s “The Green Berets” generated the highest bid at last week’s auction of the late actor’s memorabilia and personal belongings.

That item alone generated $179,000 and led the $5.3 million in total sales for Newport Beach-based John Wayne Enterprises at the auction in a Century City hotel. More than 700 items were sold.

“It felt like a great outpouring of gratitude from the fans for the opportunity to get something that had belonged to John Wayne,” the actor’s son, Ethan Wayne, president of John Wayne Enterprises, said on Monday. “It felt like a great success, not just for John Wayne Enterprises, but for fans as well.”

Other top-fetching items included Wayne’s eye patch for $47,800 and Golden Globe for $143,000, both from “True Grit”; his 1977 driver’s license for $89,625; and his cowboy hat, worn in both “Big Jake” and “The Cowboys,” for $119,500.

“The prices realized show just how beloved John Wayne remains today,” said Greg Rohan, president of Heritage Auctions, which organized the sale with John Wayne Enterprises.

A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation.

More than 2,600 bidders participated in the two-day auction. Bids were accepted online, over the phone and in person.

Wayne, a Newport Beach resident in the later years of his life, died of cancer in 1979.

“We’re happy and they’re happy,” Ethan Wayne said. “People are still thinking and talking about John Wayne, still remembering him, and continued to be inspired so many years after his death.”

Sarah Peters, @SPeters01,  Daily Pilot

Irvine council approves homes project near Great Park

IRVINE — The City Council on Tuesday night approved an agreement requiring a developer of homes near the Orange County Great Park to, among other things, provide $40.5 million in funding over the next six years to the city.

The agreement, approved by a 4-to-1 vote, also requires Aliso Viejo-based Heritage Fields El Toro LLC — developer of Great Park Neighborhoods, a nearly 4,900-home project that will ring the Great Park by 2013 — to speed up construction of park and neighborhood infrastructure, build two hotels and a $5-million joint welcome center for the park and neighborhoods.

Councilman Larry Agran cast the lone dissenting vote.

…Continue reading Irvine council approves homes project near Great Park

Fashion gets a night out

Newport-Mesa shoppers can enjoy one-night deals and entertainment benefiting a New York charity when Fashion’s Night Out at South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island on Thursday.

American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Co. and the city of New York created the international shopping event in 2009.

FNO returns to Fashion Island for the second consecutive year from 5 to 9 p.m., while South Coast Plaza retailers will participate from 6 to 9 p.m., according to the shopping centers.

This is the first year that South Coast Plaza has officially participated.

…Continue reading Fashion gets a night out

Electric car dealership opens up shop

Chamber of Commerce membership director Tom Brennan places an info sheet on an all-electric Porsche Speedster replica at South Coast Electric Cars Wednesday. (KEVIN CHANG, Daily Pilot / August 31, 2011)

COSTA MESA — Were he still alive today, James Dean may have been a rebel with a “green” cause had he cruised the open highways in a 550 Porsche Spyder all-electric replica.

The sleek, semi-automatic, fiberglass vehicle powered by two lithium-ion batteries — one in the front and one in the rear, which provides additional stability though equal-weight distribution — is the newest all-electric roadster launched by South Coast Electric Cars.

The dealership held a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday afternoon, with public and city officials present. The 27,000-square-foot showroom at 1880 Newport Blvd. also features a selection of electric Vectrix motorcycles, Busetti Vortex mountain bikes and a Kandi COCO two-seater vehicle.

…Continue reading Electric car dealership opens up shop

Irvine council approves changes to mixed-use project near Great Park

IRVINE — On Tuesday night the City Council approved general plan and zoning changes to a project planned to ring the Orange County Great Park and provide $40 million in park infrastructure.

With a 3-2 vote, the council approved an amendment to the general plan, which includes the development of mixed-use neighborhoods consisting of 4,894 residential units and more than 1 million square feet of nonresidential space.

…Continue reading Irvine council approves changes to mixed-use project near Great Park