WEEK IN REVIEW

Newport Beach Police arrested more than 170 revelers who came to the

beach to celebrate Fourth of July. Most of the arrests were

alcohol-related, police said. Hundreds of people were also cited or

warned for lighting fireworks and a host of other violations.

West Newport residents, who have been gearing up to face the invasion

of the party crowd on the Fourth, said the day went well for some

streets, but was problematic for others.

Although there were no major incidents or riotous conditions,

neighbors said they were still overwhelmed by the huge crowds, which

officials say hit record numbers this year. Residents and city employees

collected tons of trash following the two-day celebration.

On Tuesday, Costa Mesa Police seized 2 grams of methamphetamine,

illegal fireworks and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from a Westside

home. Following the raid, which lasted several hours, six people were

arrested on drug-related charges at the home in the 2000 block of

President Place.

Also, as of Friday, Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol deputies were still

looking for a Costa Mesa man who was reported missing at sea Wednesday

afternoon. Jason Huntress, 33, was last seen swimming in Emerald Bay near

Laguna Beach.

-- Deepa Bharath covers cops and courts. She may be reached at (949)

574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .

Boat issue still floating

Some might say it’s just a boat. But for weeks, Lodwrick M. Cook’s

plan to dock his 55-foot yacht off Balboa Island has irked residents and

brought city officials to scrutinize the proposal.

Two attempts by the South Bay Front property owner to park the boat

parallel to the beach have failed already. At first, a third option to

berth it perpendicular to the shore seemed to get initial approval from

folks down at City Hall.

But after taking a closer look last week, Councilman Steve Bromberg,

who represents the island, said Cook’s latest proposal might involve a

city review as well.

The boat is so wide that it crosses over the property line between

1106 and 1108 South Bay Front and that’s not allowed. Cook would have to

trim back his pier to move the boat over by several feet. And such

remodeling work requires a city permit.

Cook’s lawyer argues that his client owns both properties and a

January covenant recorded them as “a single parcel and building site.”

That might be true for Cook’s property, city officials responded, but the

covenant has no effect on what happens out on the water.

Council members will spend some time talking about the issue as they

take a look at their pier policy during a study session on Tuesday

afternoon.

-- Mathis Winkler covers Newport Beach. He may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 mathis.winkler@latimes.comf7 .

Saying goodbye to Crystal Cove

It was a bash to end all bashes.

The residents of Crystal Cove celebrated their final Fourth of July

holiday Wednesday.

The cottage dwellers must be out of their homes by 5 p.m. today, after

California State Parks finally negotiated their evictions. The residents

in March ended a 20-year court battle to stay on the beach front.

While they celebrated the nation’s 225th birthday, the residents also

mourned the loss of their own homes, which were built on Irvine Co. land

in the 1920s and 1930s.

The state bought the property from the Irvine Co. for $32.6 million in

1979.

Virginia Mergell Smolich, a 73-year-old woman who has spent most of

her adult life in Crystal Cove, vowed never to return to the place.

“It would be too sad,” Smolich said. “It was a wonderful place to grow

up. It was our little world, our little Shangri-La.”

-- Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at o7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .

The joys of reading

School may be out, but reading is in full swing at Whittier Elementary

School. Students began Camp Read-a-lot last Monday at the Westside

school.

Students were offered a fun environment that encourages them to keep

reading through the summer so they don’t forget the precious skills,

which they are still struggling to learn.

On the other side of Newport-Mesa, the Newport Beach Library also

kicked its summer reading programs into gear during the last week in

June. All those programs revolve around a space theme and feature a

chance to win T-shirts, fast food coupons and other prizes for tracking

time spent reading books.

-- Danette Goulet covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 danette.goulet@latimes.comf7 .

An agreement at last

After months of intense negotiation, the Costa Mesa City Council on

Monday gave preliminary approval to a development agreement for

Commonwealth Partners’ portion of the Town Center project.

The agreement requires the developer to provide $200,000 for Theater

Arts District improvements and to make excess parking available to the

public.

Disagreement about the length of time the developer must maintain the

Isamu Noguchi California Scenario sculpture garden was the major

stumbling block to the development agreement, but the dispute was

resolved in May when the council and developer agreed to 50 years.

The council also voted to hold a public forum on proposed changes to

the city’s sign ordinance before it votes on them.

The changes would prohibit signs with animated or moving messages,

require street addresses to be posted on free-standing signs or on the

building, limit the number of signs allowed on businesses and prohibit

permanent banners.

Proponents say the changes will help clean up the city, while

opponents say they will place unfair restrictions on how businesses use

banners.

-- Jennifer Kho covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 jennifer.kho@latimes.comf7 .