Huntington Beach police, firefighters announce endorsements

The Huntington Beach police and fire unions have endorsed nearly the same candidates for this year’s election, with the two groups differing only on a single council member.

The Huntington Beach Police Officers Assn. and the Huntington Beach Firefighter’s Assn. announced this week that they support incumbent Joe Carchio, former Mayor Connie Boardman and Planning Commissioner Fred Speaker for the council. The police union gave its fourth nod to Jim Katapodis, a sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department, while the firefighters tapped Planning Commissioner Blair Farley as their fourth choice.

The unions also favored incumbent Jennifer McGrath for city attorney, city Treasurer Shari Freidenrich for Orange County treasurer and Mayor Cathy Green, who will be termed out in November, for the Orange County Water District board. The groups also recommended a “no” vote on Measure O, which would amend Huntington Beach’s charter.
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Huntington Beach logistics firm needs to find its niche

Marc Schnell is a fixer.

Companies such as Quiksilver Inc. and Smashbox Cosmetics have hired his logistics firm to take care of problems with incoming goods. He has, to cite some examples, hired temporary workers to replace too-small snaps on a shipment of 10,000 shorts that came into a company from Asia, repair 200,000 kids’ lamps with faulty wiring and shrink-wrap thousands of individual boxes of cosmetics for distribution to exacting retailers.

But now Schnell needs a fixer himself.
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20 illegal immigrants arrested in Orange County beach landing

Border agents arrested 20 illegal immigrants Tuesday morning who were attempting to enter the country by sea at Calafia State Beach in San Clemente.

When the small craft the immigrants were riding in land landed, the occupants attempted to flee. Agents with the U.S. Border Patrol arrested 17 men and three women, all from Mexico.

A 36-year-old woman suffered a broken leg while jumping from the boat, according to a statement from the U.S. Border Patrol in San Diego. She was taken to a hospital for treatment. The others were taken to a Border Patrol station for processing.

No further details were immediately available, but the Associated Press said the incident occurred about 3 a.m.

Taste of Newport needs volunteers

Taste of Newport organizers are looking for volunteers who can help stage the Sept. 17-19 event at Fashion Island.

Sponsored by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and Wells Fargo, the event relies on some 1,000 volunteers. Saturday and Sunday evening volunteer shifts doing everything from working the admission booth to pouring wine and beer are available.

Now in its 22nd year, the event will feature some 30 local restaurants, wine from more than 15 wineries, cocktails and beer and live entertainment that guests. The event will also feature live performances by the Gin Blossoms and Foreigner.

The chamber expects to attract more than 50,000 people to samples of prime rib, tiramisu, chicken empanadas, lobster rolls and other items.

Admission is $25 for the public but free to volunteers.

For information on Taste or how to volunteer, visit www.tasteofnewport.com or contact Jessica Mills at jmills@newportbeach.com or (949) 729-4410.

Mansoor, Nguyen to address Arab American mixer in O.C.

COSTA MESA — Mayor Allan Mansoor and businessman Phu Nguyen, his opponent in the 68th Assembly District race, will appear at an event in Anaheim later this month hosted by an Arab American networking group.

The Network of Arab American Professionals Orange County chapter, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that brings together Arab Americans, whose professions range from the fields of law and medicine to business and engineering, will host the two politicians at a Sept. 29 mixer.

Rashad Al-Dabbagh, a NAAP board member, said the 68th Assembly District has a large Arab American community, one that comes out to vote.
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Indians defeat the Angels with a run in the ninth inning

Shin-Soo Choo drove home Michael Brantley with a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning, and the Cleveland Indians rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Angels on Monday night.

Brantley’s two-out double off Angels closer Fernando Rodney started the final surge for the last-place Indians, who have won three of five on a West Coast road trip.

After Rodney (4-2) hit Asdrubal Cabrera with a pitch, Choo extended his productive trip with the go-ahead hit.

With Angels’ offense flagging pressure is on Mickey Hatcher but Scioscia stands by him

Offenses struggle, and batting coaches get fired. Three — Houston’s Sean Berry, Philadelphia’s Milt Thompson and Seattle’s Alan Cockrell — have been dismissed this season.

As much as the Angels are scuffling — they managed five hits in a 3-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday — do not expect Mickey Hatcher, their hitting coach, to join that list. Not if the manager who hired him in 2000, Mike Scioscia, has the final say.

“All of us are very accountable, but there’s nobody who works harder at this than Mickey,” Scioscia said. “There are only so many circumstances you can control as a hitting coach.

Costa Mesa to consider incresing hotel-tourism tax

COSTA MESA — The City Council on Tuesday plans to discuss increasing a city hotel tax in hopes of better promoting tourism.

If approved, 1% would be added to the Business Improvement Area tax in bills for the city’s overnight hotel and motel guests. The tax is in addition to the transient occupancy tax (TOT), which is also charged for overnight stays.

The Costa Mesa Conference and Visitor Bureau’s board of directors, which is made up of 10 participating hotel general managers, a representative from the City Council and a city staff member, would administer thax. The 1% increase would make the tax 3%, according to a city staff report.

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Newport-Mesa cautiously optimistic about funding

COSTA MESA — Officials with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District said Friday that they aren’t sure the district is going to get $4 million in federal money recently promised the district, given the uncertainties still shrouding the $20-billion budget deficit in Sacramento.

Paul Reed, the chief financial officer for the district, said he’s “tentatively optimistic” because Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger must first sign the bill that would release the funds.

Although state lawmakers have already signed off on it, Reed said that in the absence of a state budget, it’s likely that the availability of the federal money may never come to pass.
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CdM association seeks input about proposed zoning changes

From Corona del Mar Today

The Corona del Mar Residents Association has created a survey seeking members’ opinions and knowledge about recommended changes in the city’s Zoning Code, and how those could affect the Flower Streets.

The survey, which can be found here, must be turned in by Sept. 7. The results will be tabulated by an independent research company.

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