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Corona del Mar Today: Harbor View ranks in top 10%

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Academic Performance Index state rankings have been released, and Harbor View Elementary School, with an API of 950, received a state ranking of 10, said Principal Charlene Metoyer.

“This means Harbor View is among the top 10% of schools in the state,” Metoyer said. “Harbor View also increased its ranking in the Similar Schools ranking to a 10. This means that schools with similar demographics, including socioeconomic, parent education level, school size, etc are grouped together, and Harbor View is in the top 10% of that grouping.”

The API rankings were released Friday. According to an article in the Orange County Register, 22 Orange County schools received a 10/10 ranking out of 562, including two other Newport-Mesa Unified School District schools, Early College High School and Mariners Elementary. Harbor View was 18th.

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“It’s nice when the state recognizes what we already know … that thanks to such great students, teachers, and parents Harbor View is the best of the best,” Metoyer said.

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Crystal Cove utility pole removed

A utility pole overlooking Crystal Cove State Park — which Coastal Commission staff said significantly degraded public views — has been removed.

“It’s gone,” said Ken Kramer, a state park district superintendent. “It was taken down sometime last week.”

Kramer did not know who removed the 30-foot metal pole. The pole was placed by the NextG telecommunications company with a February 2010 permit from the California Department of Transportation.

State park officials and members of the public complained about the pole, and during a Newport Beach City Council meeting in July, then-Mayor Keith Curry told NextG officials that their pole, and requests to add even more poles, was “about as offensive to as many people in the city as it could possibly be.”

The California Coastal Commission had posted a notice of pending permit on the pole, and NextG officials said they might consider moving the pole across the street to the inland side of East Coast Highway. In March, however, Coastal Commission staff said there no longer was a pending permit for the pole.

In a letter dated April 8, the Coastal Commission wrote to NextG and said the pole did not comply with the California Coastal Act.

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Police release CdMHS parking lot break-in notices

The thief who stole from five cars parked in the senior lot of Corona del Mar High School on May 6 smashed windows and stole items in plain sight, police said.

Five cars were burglarized between 11:15 a.m. and 12:35 p.m., police said. Four cars had the passenger windows smashed with an unknown object, and one car had the driver’s side window smashed.

In one case, the damage was estimated at $200 with a loss of $130. Police said all stolen items were clearly visible either on the top of the center console, the front seat or on the floorboard.

The loss from each car was an iPod and wallet; a wallet containing cash and gift cards; a wallet, iPod, gift cards and cash; a book, purse and pack of markers; and a wallet and debit card.

Police have been working with the school resource officer to investigate the crimes and increase parking lot security at the school.

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‘Little Queen’ summer cheer camp planned

Elementary school girls who dream of becoming cheerleaders will have a chance to attend a three-day camp this summer led by members of the Corona del Mar High School pep squad.

The camp will take place on the campus quad. Girls from kindergarten through sixth grade are eligible.

Camp includes a souvenir picture and frame, shirt, hair ribbon plus snacks and drinks each day. Campers also will have a chance to cheer at a Corona del Mar High School varsity football game in September.

The cost is $100 in advance or $125 the first day of camp. Anyone with questions should e-mail Audrey Ivey at mikeandaud@cox.net or Laurie Hudson at lauriehudson@mac.com.

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Pizza restaurant construction underway

Crews have been working to convert the former Stella’s Cafe restaurant space to a New York pizzeria.

Johnny’s New York Pizza has a new sign at the restaurant at 2756 E. Coast Hwy. An opening date is not known, and the owner has not replied to an interview request.

The restaurant will replace Stella’s Cafe, which closed in April 2009. The space remained empty for nearly two years until last month, when a sign for Johnny’s was placed in the window.

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Pen on Fire Event to feature two writers

Novelist Katie Arnoldi and short story writer Marisa Matarazzo will be the guests at the next Pen on Fire Writers Salon, which is scheduled for May 17, organizers announced.

Arnoldi, who was the 1992 Southern California Bodybuilding Champion and is a serious outdoorswoman and survivalist, has published three novels.

The first, “Chemical Pink,” was a national best seller, and her second novel, “The Wentworths,” was a Los Angeles Times bestseller. Her most recent book, “Point Dume,” was released in May 2010, and she currently is writing a book about human trafficking, drug cartels, intoxicants and the destructive power of money.

Matarazzo grew up in Los Angeles and is the daughter of a painter and a linguist. She attended Harvard-Westlake high school and pursued acting as a teenager. She was educated at Yale University and earned her MFA from UC Irvine. Her stories have been published in Faultline, Hobart and fivechapters.com.

Drenched, a interconnected group of short stories, will be the focus during the salon, said organizer Barbara DeMarco-Barrett.

The salon will begin at 7 p.m. at SCAPE Gallery at 2859 E. Coast Hwy. The event is expected to sell out and seating is limited, so early registration is recommended. The cost is $20 and includes refreshments.

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