Week in Review

POLITICS

Campbell visits border

Newport Beach Rep. John Campbell paid a Monday visit to the U.S.-Mexico border to see firsthand the severity of the problem with illegal crossings. He came away convinced that American authorities have made progress, and he expects more advancements soon.

Border patrol officials told Campbell that in 1995 they only caught about 25% of people who crossed the border illegally, but now they’re able to catch about 80%. While there’s more to be done, Campbell said, border security is better than it used to be.

Panelists at the hearing included Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor and Orange County Sheriff’s Capt. Tim Board, who talked about plans to have city and county law enforcement personnel trained to check felony suspects’ immigration status.

COSTA MESA

Outsiders contribute to council campaigns

City Council candidates have drawn a significant chunk of funding from outside Costa Mesa, recent campaign finance reports show. Mayor Allan Mansoor, who reported the most money collected of the six candidates for two council seats, gathered nearly 57% of his $46,883 from residents and businesses based outside the city.

His closest opponent — the second-most funding was collected by Wendy Leece, who is running with Mansoor — was Bruce Garlich, who raised $26,338. A little more than 15% of Garlich’s money was given by residents and businesses with non-Costa Mesa addresses.

BUSINESS

Tower Records closing;

Service fees on gift cards

Although some have brand loyalty, patrons of the Costa Mesa Tower Records are largely blasé about the impending closure of the store.

All 89 locations of Tower Records are closing after a 46-year run in the music and movie business.

Costa Mesa resident Emily Rollins called it “an end of an era,” but admitted she hadn’t purchased a CD in quite some time. Former employee John Hiber reminisced about learning volumes about music and movies while receiving merchandise and stocking racks.

The store will close in the next six to eight weeks, offering progressively deeper discounts as weeks go by.

This seems to be the way of the future as other shopping centers near Fashion Island — including The Shops at Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills Mall and Main Place Mall in Santa Ana — are also charging a service fee.

The exception to the rule is South Coast Plaza, which is absorbing the service fee charged to them by American Express, the same company Fashion Island partnered with for their cards.

The reason for the fee? Cardholders are able to check their balance and where they’ve spent money online, just like a credit card. It’s also replaceable if lost or stolen — something Senske said she didn’t feel was her responsibility. Fashion Island’s cards also come with upscale gift wrapping.

South Coast Plaza offers the option of upgrading the wrapping for $2.

The coffee shop’s opening comes five years after he opened his House of Tiki, which specializes in all things Hawaiian, including tiki bars, jewelry, clothes and other island trinkets.

Johnson’s shop, unlike other chains of its kind, imports Hawaiian products, getting specialty pastries from a Hawaiian baker in Los Angeles, including items with Spam, as well as Hawaiian sodas and shave ice.

Having lived on the islands for three years before moving back to be close to his son, the former contractor decided to open House of Tiki after working on tiki bars and other Hawaiian-themed construction in homes. He found it difficult to find quality products to put in the homes and took it upon himself to supply them.

The rest is history; he runs his shops ohana-style — all his employees are like an extended family.

NEWPORT BEACH

Bouquets of flowers and candles were left outside Mifflin’s Salt Water Taffy this week in memory of its owner Bobbie Mifflin, better known as “The Taffy Lady” on the Balboa Peninsula.

Mifflin, 77, died on Monday of a heart attack.

She was known to her friends and family as a generous and devout Christian. In fact, her customers knew if they could recite a Bible verse, Mifflin would give them a free piece of candy.

She sold sweets and knick-knacks on Palm Street since 1987. Mifflin was a single mother when she opened for business at the Balboa Fun Zone in 1969. In 1987, she moved her store to Palm Street.

Mifflin is survived by her sons, Dennis and Lee; her daughter, Nancy; 13 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

The agreement wasn’t held up by a provision that lets the city scrap plans for an equestrian trail in Santa Ana Heights. Prior to the agreement, the county had to agree to any changes to development plans for the area, and some residents wanted it to stay that way. Orange County supervisors will discuss the pact this Tuesday.

Irvine Mayor Beth Krom said she’d prefer to resolve the issue out of court, and the lawsuit won’t preclude the cities from talking about development issues.

NOTABLE QUOTABLES

“The greatest thing about tomorrow is I can be better than I am today. That’s how I always approach life. And that’s how I approach golf as well.”

— Tiger Woods, winner of six straight PGA tour events, during a golf clinic at Mesa Verde Country Club to benefit his Children’s Learning Center

“This is going to be a full-blown thing with the support of the city, the support of the convention bureau. We think this is going to be an event that is going to get some national and potentially some international exposure for the city.”

— George Lysak, executive director of sales and marketing for Balboa Bay Club, on preliminary plans to commemorate John Wayne’s 100th birthday next year with a black-tie gala at the resort to benefit a cancer organization

“We’re celebrating more than protecting the environment; we’re also celebrating generosity.”

— Arnold Schwarzenegger, California governor, during a ceremony at Crystal Cove State Park to recognize some 37,000 acres of Irvine Ranch land as a National Natural Landmark

“As controversial as things are, I would have probably run again.”

— Gary Monahan, a Costa Mesa councilman who is leaving the council because of term limits, on the issues that have consumed the community over the last year, among them the council’s plan to train city police to enforce federal immigration laws

“For us to acquire 15 acres in a city that’s virtually built out, I think is a pretty good achievement. We’re 100 years old, and we’re still building new parks.”

— Steve Rosansky, Newport Beach city councilman, on the city’s plans to build a 15-acre park at West Coast Highway and Superior Avenue on land it will buy from Caltrans for $5 million