Brokers to sell former police helicopters

The Airborne Law Enforcement agency has tapped two private brokers to sell off what remains of the former police helicopter program.

Jack Schafer Aircraft Sales will likely be the first to get a crack at selling ABLE’s three police choppers, which were grounded in July after the Costa Mesa City Council voted to stop funding its half of the agency that it shared with Newport Beach.

Newport quickly followed suit, and ever since the program, which had a run of 30-plus years, has been slowly shutting down.

– Joseph Serna, @JosephSerna, Daily Pilot

…Continue reading Brokers to sell former police helicopters

Three locals make Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclassmen football teams

Estancia High running back Robert Murtha is one of three Newport-Mesa football players making the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclassmen teams. (Kevin Chang, Daily Pilot)

Estancia High running back Robert Murtha made the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclassmen third team for juniors, while Costa Mesa middle linebacker Oronde Crenshaw and Newport Harbor left tackle Sam Bush each made the first team for sophomores.

Murtha, who earned All-CIF Southern Section Southern Division honors and the Orange Coast League Offensive Player of the Year and Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Offensive Player of the Year awards, rushed for an Estancia single-season school record 2,216 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Murtha led the Eagles (10-3, 5-0 in league) to back-to-back undefeated league titles for the first time and to the semifinals of the playoffs for the first time.

Crenshaw, a first-team All-Orange Coast League and Newport-Mesa Dream Team pick, led the area with 130 tackles. He had eight tackles for losses, five sacks and two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown.

Crenshaw kept Costa Mesa (8-3, 4-1 in league) in contention for a league title in the regular-season finale and helped the Mustangs return to the Southern Division playoffs after missing the postseason in 2010.

Bush, a second-team All-Sunset League and Newport-Mesa Dream Team selection, helped Newport Harbor (5-6, 3-2 in league) place third in league and reach the Pac-5 Division playoffs.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza, @DCPenaloza

Newport-Mesa superintendent found guilty on 2 of 3 counts

Jeffrey Hubbard, the superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, arrives at the Airport Courthouse to be arraigned on two felony counts of misappropriation of funds in late 2010. (Scott Smeltzer, Daily Pilot)

LOS ANGELES — Newport-Mesa Unified Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard was convicted Monday on two of three felony counts of misappropriation of public funds. He was acquitted on a third count.

Hubbard, 54, was convicted of awarding a bonus to and increasing the car allowance of a subordinate without school board permission when he served as Beverly Hills schools chief. He was not found guilty of approving a pay raise for another employee without approval.

Hubbard faces up to four years in prison and the loss of his education credentials.

–Lauren Williams, @lawilliams30, Daily Pilot

Hubbard verdict to be read this afternoon

Jeffrey Hubbard, the superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, arrives at the Airport Courthouse to be arraigned on two felony counts of misappropriation of funds in late 2010. (Scott Smeltzer, Daily Pilot)

LOS ANGELES — The jury has reached a decision on three felony charges in the criminal trial of Newport-Mesa Unified Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard.

The verdict will be read about noon or 1:30 p.m. today.

Hubbard, 54, is facing three felony counts of misappropriation of public funds for allegedly awarding illegal bonuses, a car allowance and pay raise to two subordinates while he worked at Beverly Hills Unified School District. He has pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

–Lauren Williams, @lawilliams30, Daily Pilot

…Continue reading Hubbard verdict to be read this afternoon

Costa Mesa man pleads guilty to violent hate crimes

Residents, developer reach compromise

COSTA MESA — Following two public meetings and a wave of criticism from residents, a proposal for a community building in one of the city’s largest apartment complexes has been scaled down.

Neighbors appear to be mostly satisfied with the changes that will be taking place.

“It’s not everything we wanted, but we wanted to be a good neighbor,” said Gary Polodna, principal for Peak West development, the Colorado-based firm tasked with constructing the community building for the 468-unit Villa Venetia apartment complex off Mesa Verde Drive East.

The backlash from residents at Tuesday’s City Council meeting paled in comparison to the fight Peak West and the complex’s property owner, UDR, faced late last year. A line of residents, some from Mesa Verde, took to the council podium to criticize the project — which was, at the time, constructing a two-story, 44-foot tall building that would have removed Villa Venetia’s massive lake and cut off the view from Golf Course Drive. The residents demanded that the council not grant Peak West permission for it.

– Joseph Serna, @JosephSerna, Daily Pilot

…Continue reading Residents, developer reach compromise

Hubbard case goes to the jury

LOS ANGELES — Jeffrey Hubbard misued money meant for schoolchildren when, as Beverly Hills schools chief, he illegally gave funds to two female subordinates, a prosecutor said during closing arguments Thursday.

“We’re talking about a person who voluntarily chose to take a very high-paying job that entrusted him with public money,” Deputy District Attorney Max Huntsman said of Hubbard, who is now superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Huntsman later added that “everybody else testified that every dime that was spent had to go to the board in advance except in [an] emergency,” like if a pipe burst and a plumber was urgently needed.

– Lauren Williams, @lawilliams, Daily Pilot

…Continue reading Hubbard case goes to the jury

Mesa Verde residents, developer compromise on community building

COSTA MESA — Following two public meetings and a wave of criticism from Mesa Verde residents, a proposal for a community building in one of the city’s largest apartment complexes has been scaled down.

Neighbors appear to be mostly satisfied with the changes.

“It’s not everything we wanted, but we wanted to be a good neighbor,” said Gary Polodna, principal for Peak West development, the Colorado-based firm tasked with constructing the building in the Villa Venetia apartment complex off Mesa Verde Drive.

The backlash from residents at Tuesday’s City Council meeting paled in comparison to the fight Peak West and property owner, UDR, faced late last year.

– Joseph Serna, @JosephSerna, Daily Pilot

…Continue reading Mesa Verde residents, developer compromise on community building

Critic’s Choice: Restaurants with wood-burning ovens

Chef and owner Florent Marneau prepares a dish in the open kitchen at Marche' Moderne in Costa Mesa at South Coast Plaza. (Gina Ferazzi, Los Angeles Times / June 7, 2007)

Pizza joints, many boasting wood-burning ovens, are popping up all over the Southland like chanterelles after a rainstorm. But they’re not the only restaurants working with oak or almond wood. Some chefs at other restaurants are lucky enough to have wood-fired ovens in their kitchens. They’re tricky to use, but once mastered can be a formidable tool. Cooking with fire is ancient, and I’m convinced we’re hard-wired to find any dish cooked in a wood-burning oven just that much more delicious.

Ammo: This is the little restaurant that could. Starting out as a tiny cafe grafted onto a catering kitchen, it grew by stages to become a Hollywood fixture. Chefs have come and gone, yet owner and executive chef Amy Sweeney has retained her restaurant’s soulful style. The wood-burning oven is central to that. Pizza is back on the menu now, but that oven does double duty, roasting chickens that are served up with fries and watercress salad, or braising barramundi with baby artichokes, cherry tomatoes, cannellini beans and olives.

– S. Irene Virbila, Los Angeles Times Restaurant Critic

…Continue reading Critic’s Choice: Restaurants with wood-burning ovens

Prosecutors: Supt.’s testimony contradicts six witnesses

LOS ANGELES — Newport-Mesa Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard gave away money meant for schoolchildren when he illegally awarded bonuses, a car allowance increase and a pay raise to two subordinates, a prosecutor said during closing arguments Thursday.

Deputy District Attorney Max Huntsman told jurors that Hubbard’s testimony Wednesday was in direct contradiction with six witnesses who testified that Hubbard would become angry with those who disobeyed or questioned him when he worked at Beverly Hills Unified.

Huntsman also pointed out the witnesses never mentioned additional pay being brought up in closed-session school board meetings.

– Lauren Williams, @lawilliams30, Daily Pilot

…Continue reading Prosecutors: Supt.’s testimony contradicts six witnesses