The
Current
NEWPORT BEACH & COSTA MESA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
AN EDITION OF
THURSDAY, NOV. 1 4, 20 1 3
OCREGISTER.COM/CURRENT
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Somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten what I wanted. My goals.” J O C E LY N LITTLE SISTER
WHAT A RIDE Being there for the ups and downs with Santa Ana teen has made Newport woman California’s Big Sister of the Year.
BY NICOLE SHINE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
T
hey met at Knott’s Berry Farm, matched because both loved thrill rides. Katherine Bland, then 56, a lifelong career woman. Jocelyn, a 12-year-old from Santa Ana without a mom in the picture. That day, some girls taunted Jocelyn, looking for a fight. The Newport Beach woman knew what to say: Take a deep breath. Walk away. Jocelyn didn’t think she needed a woman in her life. Her dad disagreed. Bland wasn’t looking to be a Big Sister. But on a roller coaster, they found each other. “That day changed my life and Katherine’s life,” said Jocelyn, now PHOTOS: STUART PALLEY, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jocelyn, 1 7, left, is attending Orange Coast College to study biochemistry thanks in part to the support of her Big Sister, Katherine Bland, right.
S E E B I G S I S T E R ● PA G E 4
Newport Harbor coach laid to rest Newport approves trash contract At memorial, alumni share how Bob Hailey made a difference. Tears fell from the eyes of mourners who went to say goodbye to longtime Newport Harbor track coach Bob Hailey on Tuesday. But as his WILLIAM D’URSO former stuREGISTER dents began WRITER to swap stories about the guy they called “Uncle Bob,” they all began to
City Council votes to accept CR&R proposal, plans to save $15.8 million.
PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A photo of Bob Hailey is part of Tuesday’s memorial service in Costa Mesa for the former track coach.
laugh. About 50 attendants paid their respects to the former biology teacher, who died over the weekend
at 78, for the last time at Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park & Mortuary in S E E M E M O R I A L ● PA G E 1 5
The Newport Beach City Council on Tuesday narrowly approved a $19.8 million, sevenyear contract with CR&R Waste and NICOLE Recycling SHINE Services to REGISTER replace city WRITER crews with workers
from the Stanton-based trash hauler over the next 18 months. The agreement is expected to save the city $15.8 million. Staff members said contract terms hold CR&R, which beat out Rainbow Environmental Services and Ware Disposal, to high service standards and mandate free pickup of household chemicals and bulky items like refrigerators. The contract makes the city one of the last in the county to privatize the service and came after months of sometimes divisive community discussions. “I don’t think we need to defer this any further,” Councilman Michael Henn
said. “I think this is the right decision.” Council members Nancy Gardner, Ed Selich and Rush Hill voted against the agreement. Selich and Hill oppose outsourcing, while Gardner said she wanted to better understand CR&R’s recycling program before making a decision. Of the roughly two dozen who spoke Tuesday, some residents said Rainbow’s emphasis on recycling made it the best choice, even though the Rainbow contract would cost about $900,000 more annually. “You’ve not heard one person supporting the othS E E C O N T R A C T ● PA G E 3
INSIDE TODAY’S CURRENT CHAIN-LINK CHOICES
CONFLICT SWELLS
LIGHTNING SURGE
Newport-Mesa Unified School District board on the fence – over fences. SEE STORY ON PAGE 8
Competing factions emerge as battle over blackball restrictions intensifies. SEE STORY ON PAGE 1 4
Sage Hill delivers decisive volleyball victory in the first round of CIF playoffs. SEE STORY ON PAGE 1 5
FILE PHOTO: PAUL BERSEBACH, THE REGISTER
JEFF ANTENORE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER