Judge temporarily seals grand jury report on Scott Dekraai

An Orange County Superior Court judge has temporarily sealed a grand jury report about Salon Meritage shooting suspect Scott Dekraai.

Dekraai’s defense team filed a motion Friday to seal the report from public view, arguing that the information could prejudice the jury, especially in light of the media attention the case has received. The Orange County district attorney’s office is expected to file a counter motion to deny sealing the report.

A judge is scheduled to rule April 13 on whether to unseal the report. Dekraai also has a pretrial scheduled that day.

The court tentatively set Oct. 15 as a trial date for Dekraai. Defense attorney Scott Sanders said he didn’t think his team would be ready then, but agreed to the tentative date.

Daigle requests for Newport to reexamine 19th Street Bridge

Despite passionate public outcry from Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa residents about revived talks of the proposed 19th Street Bridge, Newport Beach council members are slow to distance themselves completely from the project.

Councilwoman Leslie Daigle is requesting the city reexamine the bridge — which would alleviate traffic on the Pacific Coast Highway and Victoria Street bridges — ahead of either reaffirming the city’s position to support it or come out against it.

“We’re taking it up as an accommodation to our neighbors in H.B. who are impacted by traffic,” Daigle wrote in an email. “I indicated to them Newport may affirm their position, but I would get them a yes, no or alternative solution.”

–Joseph Serna, @JosephSerna, Daily Pilot

…Continue reading Daigle requests for Newport to reexamine 19th Street Bridge

Enter H.B. Independent’s first-ever Oscar guessing contest!

Everyone has at least one skill that doesn’t have a practical use.

Mine is the ability to name every movie ever to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

I absorbed that knowledge from years of reading critical studies of the Oscars, to the point where, if someone blurts out any year from 1928 to the present, I can pinpoint that year’s winner within three seconds. Go ahead, try me — my number is at the bottom of this column.

I guess having that photographic memory has one practical use: It gives me a leg up in making Oscar predictions. The last time I can remember wrongly handicapping the winner was in 1998, when I picked “Saving Private Ryan” over “Shakespeare in Love,” but I don’t think even Shakespeare’s descendants predicted that upset.

In many ways, the Best Picture race is similar to a presidential primary. Both are contests ostensibly about choosing the “best” candidate, but more often award the most politically prudent and least divisive choice. Sometimes, a movie will top the list because it’s a popular smash (“Titanic”); sometimes, voters will favor it over a volatile contender (“Crash” over “Brokeback Mountain”); other times, the Oscar serves as a consolation prize (would “The Departed” have taken the gold without Martin Scorsese‘s name on it?).

This year, the field seems more open than usual, without one film that seems a sure bet to win it all — you know, like “Saving Private Ryan” or “Brokeback Mountain.” And so, with the Oscar nominations having come out Tuesday, I propose the Independent’s first annual Outguess the City Editor Contest.

…Continue reading Enter H.B. Independent’s first-ever Oscar guessing contest!

Vote for replacement Woman’s Club headquarters postponed

The Planning Commission postponed a vote Tuesday on the Woman’s Club of Huntington Beach’s application to build a replacement headquarters near downtown.

The postponement allows the club to draft a list of conditions to address neighbors’ concerns.

The commission was scheduled to vote on whether to approve a conditional-use permit and several variances for the proposed new clubhouse at 420 10th St. The club’s previous facility there burned down April 30 in a fire presumably caused by an electrical malfunction, and members are seeking permission to build a nearly identical structure in its place.

However, after more than a dozen people spoke during the public hearing and commissioners asked additional questions, the club’s representatives agreed to return at the commission’s Feb. 28 meeting with a list of conditions for reopening.

Michael Adams, a planning consultant representing the Woman’s Club, said the conditions would likely include limits on hours of operation and rules about live music and other noise. He expressed confidence that, regardless of conditions, a new clubhouse would eventually be built.

“There doesn’t seem to be any objection by the Planning Commission to rebuilding the facility,” Adams said.

…Continue reading Vote for replacement Woman’s Club headquarters postponed

Newport woman, Huntington man arrested in burglary

David Sutera (Courtesy Orange County Sheriff's Department)

Brittany Early (Courtesy Orange County Sheriff's Department)

A Newport Beach woman and a Huntington Beach man were arrested on suspicion of burglary in Rossmor after a resident caught a man trying to break into his front door with a wooden chisel, authorities said.

The Rossmoor resident heard someone knock on the door of his home in the 3100 block of Blume Street about 12:45 p.m. Monday, but chose to ignore it, said Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino.

Shortly thereafter he discovered a man trying to break into his home using a wooden chisel and confronted him, but the burglar took off in a gray Dodge pickup, Amormino said.

– Lauren Williams, @lawilliams30, Daily Pilot

…Continue reading Newport woman, Huntington man arrested in burglary

Vote for replacement Woman’s Club headquarters postponed

The Planning Commission postponed a vote Tuesday on the Woman’s Club of Huntington Beach’s application to build a replacement headquarters near downtown.

The postponement allows the club to draft a list of conditions to address neighbors’ concerns.

The commission was scheduled to vote on whether to approve a conditional-use permit and several variances for the proposed new clubhouse at 420 10th St. The club’s previous facility there burned down April 30 in a fire presumably caused by an electrical malfunction, and members are seeking permission to build a nearly identical structure in its place.

However, after more than a dozen people spoke during the public hearing and commissioners asked additional questions, the club’s representatives agreed to return at the commission’s Feb. 28 meeting with a list of conditions for reopening.

…Continue reading Vote for replacement Woman’s Club headquarters postponed

Hyatt Regency Newport Beach GM moves over to HB

Paul Devitt, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, has been selected as the general manager of the resort’s Huntington Beach location, according to a news release.

Devitt officially moved into his new role at the Surf City 4-Diamond resort Jan. 1. He held his former position at the Newport Beach resort for nearly five years.

“The wonderful thing about this is that I’ve had the opportunity to be in Southern California and this area for the last five years,” Devitt said Thursday. “So, I really bring to the resort an understanding of this area, the marketplace and the corporations we have in Southern California.”

– Sarah Peters, @speters01, Daily Pilot

…Continue reading Hyatt Regency Newport Beach GM moves over to HB

Four families displaced after apartment fire Wednesday

Fire crew responded to the fire at 7932 Stark Drive Unit No. 6 shortly before 6 p.m. to find the blaze had extended to the bedroom and bathroom of the apartment, said Deputy Fire Marshal Jeff Lopez. (Courtesy Huntington Beach Fire Department)

Four Huntington Beach families were displaced Wednesday after an apartment on Stark Drive caught fire, causing water and smoke damage to three others.

Fire crew responded to the fire at 7932 Stark Drive Unit No. 6 shortly before 6 p.m. to find the blaze had extended to the bedroom and bathroom of the apartment, said Deputy Fire Marshal Jeff Lopez.

The fire was contained within 25 minutes and no one was injured; the three other apartments sustained damage from smoke and/or water, Lopez said. It’s estimated that the fire caused $75,000 in damage.

It’s not clear what caused the fire, which is under investigation, but maintenance or remodeling was being done on the apartment when it caught fire, Lopez said.

– Mona Shadia, @MonaShadia, Huntington Beach Independent

…Continue reading Four families displaced after apartment fire Wednesday

H.B. councilman gets in Assembly race

Huntington Beach City Councilman has announced he will run for the Assembly's 74th District, which includes Huntington, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine and Laguna Beach.

Huntington Beach City Councilman Joe Carchio has announced that he will run for the newly aligned 74th Assembly District.

Carchio, who has served on the dais since 2006, will face Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa), Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle and former California Republican Party Treasurer Keith Carlson in the June primary. Each candidate is a Republican.

Carchio, 74, said Thursday morning that he has yet to file all his paperwork but has made up his mind to run, more than a month after he first announced that he was considering it.

“I’m excited to get into this, and I think I’m somebody that can sit down and discuss situations and make fair and balanced decisions,” he said. “I’m excited to get started.”

Carchio said late last year that he was considering a run for the new 72nd Assembly District, but found soon after that he lived just over the boundary line in the 74th.

The boundaries were set last year by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission.

The newly shaped district includes the cities of Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Irvine and Laguna Beach

– Michael Miller, @MichaelMillerHB, Huntington Beach Independent

…Continue reading H.B. councilman gets in Assembly race

OC Republicans delay endorsement