WEDNESDAY,JULY21, 2021 /// Now including Coastline Pilot and Huntington Beach Independent /// dailypilot.com NMUSD officials put anti-bias training on hold Although the school district has partnered with the fered before the pandemic, under the aegis of NMUSD’s Human Re- Anti-Defamation League to bring training sessions lations Task Force, and the latest to schools in the past, parent fears about critical contract aimed to continue and race theory gave trustees pause at a recent meeting. build upon those sessions. But board members decided to BY SARA CARDINE promoting diversity and con- hold off on discussing a new con- fronting racism and other forms tract with the Anti-Defamation Amid parent concerns about of bigotry — for 25 secondary League, saying they had more critical race theory being brought school training sessions in the questions about course content. into classrooms, Newport-Mesa year ahead at a cost not to exceed “I think we need some more in- Unified School District officials re- $38,600. formation,” said Board President cently tabled a discussion on con- Courses offered for educators, Karen Yelsey. “[This] has language tinuing a series of anti-bias train- school employees and, in one that we had not seen before, and I ings offered by the Anti-Defama- case, student leaders under the think it creates issues in our com- tion League, saying more research league’s “A World of Difference” munity and we need to do a little was needed. program would explore bias, the bit more research.” Photo by Sara Cardine Trustees at a July 13 meeting dynamics of power, privilege and Several parents in public com- were set to consider a contract perspective and combating bully- ments urged trustees to deny the NMUSD OFFICIALS recently tabled a contract with the with the New York-based nonprof- ing. Anti-Defamation League to provide anti-bias training in 2021-22, it — which provides training on Similar trainings had been of- See NMUSD, page A2 amid parent fears of critical race theory being taught in classrooms. No action on filling H.B. seat vacated by Ortiz The City Council fails to name a replacement or agree on a special election during Monday’s meeting. BY MATT SZABO The Huntington Beach City Council did not have enough votes to nominate a candidate. It also did not have enough votes to call for a special election. As a result, Monday night’s spe- cial meeting to appoint a member to the vacant seventh seat could Photos by Susan Hoffman not be resolved. The council adjourned, vowing THIRTY-SIX LASERS navigate into position at the start line of Flight of Newport Beach sailboat race in Newport Harbor on Sunday. to return within seven days to re- sume negotiations. If the panel cannot agree on a replacement by the end of this month, a special Balboa Yacht Club sailboat race election Nov. 2 that City Manager Oliver Chi estimates would cost the city about $1 million will be triggered. carries on an 85-year tradition Monday’s 140-minute special meeting was marked by audience members giving their opinions BY SUSAN HOFFMAN FLIGHT OF loudly, sometimes by talking over Newport council members. Many in the unday found local sailing enthusiasts Beach race crowd were there in support of S vying for bragging rights in the 85th chairman, Gracey Van Der Mark, who fin- annual Flight of Newport Beach, but David Beek ished fourth in last November’s one did not need to be a sailor to appreciate keeps watch election that brought Tito Ortiz, the stirring vision as the race got underway on the Dan Kalmick and Natalie Moser on the south side of Balboa Island. Sunday race onto the dais. ”You’ll never see that many sailboats on a from his Ortiz, whose resignation from start line at the same time,” said David Beek, boat. the mayor pro tem position on race chairman. “They all line up and want to June 1 created the opening, also be the first one across the start line.” attended the meeting in support Beek’s father, Balboa Island resident Sey- of Van Der Mark. Her supporters mour Beek, began racing in the event in 1941 wore shirts and carried signs ask- when it was Flight of the Snowbirds. He was 7 ing the council to “honor the years old and captured the award for the vote” by appointing her, since she youngest skipper. was the first runner-up. Today at 88 he continues to enjoy sailing Councilman Erik Peterson, See Race, page A2 See Council, page A4 FAIR CLOWN, OBITUARY Iyq, juggles as he entertains fairgoers as they Rick ‘Rockin’ Fig’ Fignetti, Huntington enter the main entrance during opening day on surfing local celebrity, dies at age 64 Friday of the O.C. Fair in Costa Mesa. BY MATT SZABO Kevin Chang Huntington Beach native Rick Staff “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti, a fixture in Photographer the local surf community, died Friday of a heart attack at the age of 64. O.C. Fair sells out for first Fignetti was well known in Surf City and beyond for his contrib- time in more than130 years utions to the local surf culture. He owned Rockin’ Fig Surf Head- quarters, on the third block of BY SARA CARDINE arriving to book slots would Main Street in Huntington Beach, have been turned away at the for decades. Orange County residents han- gates. Mourners put flowers there kering for a corndog and pig The month-long event over the weekend as a memorial. races will have to act fast, as O.C. opened Friday and runs Fignetti, who long had a “Wet N Fair organizers reported Mon- Wednesday through Sunday Wild” column in the Huntington day the regional festival sold out each week through Aug. 15. Beach Independent, was also well on opening weekend for the first While exact figures were not known as a surfing announcer. He time in more than a century. available Monday, OC Fair & was the voice of the U.S. Open of Photo by Spencer Grant Demand for admittance on Event Center spokeswoman Surfing for 20 years, a run that Saturday and Sunday exceeded Terry Moore reported first- ended in 2013 when the event RICK “ROCKIN’ FIG” FIGNETTI, the longtime owner of a surf shop 45,000 single-day capacity limits weekend attendance was “abso- changed sponsorships. He was on Main Street, died at age 64 after suffering a heart attack on Friday. earlier imposed by organizers. lutely phenomenal,” as fairgoers also a longtime announcer for the And since tickets must be pur- poured into the Costa Mesa ven- U.S. Pro Tour. goatee, Fignetti was also a voice report on KROQ-FM radio, until chased online in advance, any- Instantly recognizable with his that many grew up hearing. For one who may have waited until See Fair, page A4 thick glasses, long hair and 25 years, he did the morning surf See Fignetti, page A4 A2 WEDNESDAY,JULY21, 2021 DAILY PILOT | COASTLINE PILOT | HUNTINGTON BEACH INDEPENDENT WWW.DAILYPILOT.COM THE DAILY Police arrest 4 on suspicion COMMUTER of evading, obstruction after PUZZLE By Jacqueline E. high-speed pursuit in C.M. Mathews ACROSS BY SARA CARDINE was driven across a center 22, of Los Angeles — were 1Brief haircut median on Bear Street and found hiding together in 5Purple shade Costa Mesa police on into oncoming traffic. the backyard of a home on 10 Fragile edibles Monday arrested four men Johnson reportedly drove the 2800 block of Drake Av- 14 Man of the haus on suspicion of evading through a red light in his enue. police and obstruction af- attempt to flee. Athird passenger, 15 Hot spots ter a high-speed vehicle Although officers lost Dvaryae Deshawn Bryant, 16 Metal fastener pursuit led to a yard-by- sight of the vehicle near 18, of Los Angeles had 17 Broadcasts yard search for the pos- the intersection of Bear been hiding in a storage 18 Vengeful sibly armed suspects near and Baker streets, the bin in the backyard of an- 20 __ nutshell; the city’s Mesa Del Mar sedan was soon located other home on the 800 briefly neighborhood, officials re- near the junction of Bear block of Santiago Road and 21 __ off; annoyed ported. and St. Clair streets, after it was detained, police re- 22 Extend a The incident began at had hit a curb and crashed ported Tuesday. subscription 12:15 p.m. Monday, when into a nearby stop sign, ac- The officer who’d ini- an officer patrolling a park- cording to the release. tially stopped the vehicle 23 Coin toss call ing lot on the 3300 block of But the chase didn’t end identified all four suspects, 25 Evergreen Bristol Street near South there. Johnson and the who were arrested and 26 Somewhat Coast Plaza observed a three passengers fled the booked on suspicion of 28 "Alice __ Live white sedan with dark scene on foot, running evading police, obstruction Here Anymore" tinted windows in violation west into a residential area, and felony possession of a 31 Shed crocodile SUDOKU 24 Garfunkel & of California’s vehicle code according to witnesses. Po- firearm. tears others and initiated a stop, ac- lice reported a handgun Of the four suspects, 32 __ with; implore By The Mepham Group 25 Beer topper cording to a release issued was found in the roadway only Rutledge remained in 34 Actress Joan 26 Crumbly Tuesday. near the suspect vehicle. custody in Orange Coun- Complete the grid so each row, column and cheese The driver of the vehicle, Officers established a ty’s Theo Lacy Facility as of Van __ 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every later identified as Dennis perimeter in the area and Tuesday afternoon.