Wilson Street

A sobriety checkpoint Costa Mesa police conducted this week resulted in two DUI arrests and 12 towed vehicles belonging to unlicensed drivers or people with suspended driver's licenses, according to a press release. The sobriety checkpoint was held Friday night at Harbor Boulevard, north of Wilson Street. During the checkpoint, 981 cars drove through site. Of that number, police screened 210 cars, and conducted 29 DUI investigations. Costa Mesa police will conduct another checkpoint on Dec. 15 at Newport Boulevard and Flower Street where they will team up with California Highway Patrol officers and members of the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

FLO MARTIN The sign just down Newport Boulevard from our house reads "Welcome to Costa Mesa." So why is it that the Costa Mesa City Council keeps shutting doors? Recently, the council voted to restrict parking on Fordham Drive, Joann Street and Wake Forest Road. Apparently, too many residents from around the corner (College Drive and Wilson Street) were causing problems. The restrictions, the neighbors also hoped, would get rid of the folks who spent daylight hours lounging in Wilson Park and nighttime in their trucks and vans.

Man pleads guilty to bilking investors A Newport Beach stockbroker pleaded guilty Friday to charges that he bilked investors out of about $3 million. Richard O'Leary, 56, entered his plea in federal court in Santa Ana and is scheduled for sentencing July 25, according to a U.S. Department of Justice spokesman. Operating at several different brokerages since 1993, O'Leary promised clients he would double their money but used it for himself and his family, giving forged financial statements to investors, according to a press release.

Police break up bloody brawl Two Costa Mesa residents got into a bloody fight Sunday afternoon near a bus stop, police said. The fight started on a bus as a verbal argument between 34-year-old Raymond Philhart and 50-year-old Martin Frawley, Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Bob Ciszek said. The two men got off the bus at about 2:20 p.m. on Wilson Street near Center Way and continued to fight, Ciszek said. Philhart hit Frawley in the face, cutting the man's nose, Ciszek said.

COSTA MESA Harbor Boulevard: A robbery was reported in the 2300 block at 8:03 p.m. Wednesday. Harbor Boulevard: Grand theft was reported in the 2700 block at 12:11 p.m. Wednesday. Rochester Street: Vandalism was reported in the 200 block at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Wilson Street and Harbor Boulevard: Sale of narcotics was reported at 2:46 p.m. Wednesday. East 17th Street: Vandalism was reported in the 300 block at 6:54 p.m. Wednesday.

Deepa Bharath Harbor Boulevard is like the Mississippi. It traverses several cities from La Habra all the way down to the ocean where it ends in Costa Mesa. And much like the river, the street has a character of its own -- as diverse as strip malls and dinky restaurants in some parts to country clubs and luxury homes in others. The tail end of Harbor Boulevard that runs through Costa Mesa, officials say, is one of the busiest streets in the city with tricky intersections that can be quite dangerous if commuters are not paying attention.

BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS Bicyclist killed by truck identified The Orange County Coroner has identified a bicyclist who died Monday after being struck by a big rig on Harbor Boulevard. Police said Costa Mesa resident Rafael Herrera, 76, was hit by an 18-wheeler that was making a right on Harbor Boulevard from westbound Wilson Street. Herrera was trying to cross the road at that intersection. Police said the driver of the truck, Johnny Cuesta, did not see Herrera and didn't know he had hit him until he was farther down Harbor.

Kohl's store will fall by the wayside We really need a recreation area in Costa Mesa we can be proud of ("Environmental study launched for Kohl's store," Aug. 20). A clean stadium movie theater and an upgraded bowling alley -- these are already at that location and could be improved for the Mesa Verde and Costa Mesa neighbors to use and be proud of. As for the Kohl's department store, we already have a Target and will have an Ikea on the way, a T.J. Maxx and a Kmart all on Harbor Boulevard between the San Diego Freeway and Wilson Street.

Lolita Harper The line of brake lights in the evening gives an eerie illumination to the beaten asphalt and massive machines being used to repave a stretch of Baker Street in Costa Mesa. Major construction on a half-mile portion of Baker -- from Fairview Road to Harbor Boulevard -- will tear out that section of the street and replace it with new, more shock-friendly pavement, officials said. The $1-million project, which also includes a one-block section of Fairview from Newport Boulevard to Wilson Street, will continue for about three months, Costa Mesa Assistant City Engineer Ernesto Munoz said.

-- Compiled by Lolita Harper STREET SWEEPING The City Council on Tuesday will consider implementing a six-month street sweeping program in specific areas of the city to test the effectiveness of "no parking" signs. Public services staff has recommended the streets surrounding College Park School, Pomona Avenue -- between 17th and 18th streets -- and Darrell Street, between Pomona Avenue and Meyer Place. A staff report said the trial will serve as a pilot program to monitor the effectiveness and survey the affected residents for their opinions.