Fashion Island

Federated Department Stores Inc. announced plans Tuesday to shed the Macy's Women's Store at Fashion Island, potentially leaving a significant vacancy at the Newport Beach shopping center. "We don't have a new retailer figured out for this store yet," Irvine Co. spokeswoman Jennifer Hieger said. The Newport Beach-based Irvine Co. owns Fashion Island. Hieger added that she has been informed that the Robinsons-May store at Fashion Island will be converted to a full-service Macy's store.

Federated Department Stores Inc. announced plans Thursday to convert several Robinsons-May stores into Macy's stores. However, the Cincinnati-based company did not reveal its intentions for stores in Newport-Mesa. In March, Federated announced plans to buy St. Louis-based May Department Stores Co. in a $17-billion deal. Federated owns the Macy's chain and May owns Robinsons-May. Federated shed some light on the futures of several department stores by releasing plans to convert Robinsons-May stores into Macy's stores in 2006.

JUNE is a 2-year-old American Kennel Club-registered purebred beagle. Unable to care for her any longer, June's owners are putting her up for adoption through the Animal Network. "She's a loving people puppy. We live in a condominium on a bluff, and we have a long patio.... It isn't enough to keep her interest. She needs a place to run," her owner, Julie Hume, said. June is in need of an active household, preferably with children or other dogs, who can keep up with her energetic nature.

FRANKIE A 2-year-old tabby cat named Frankie had quite a scare Sunday night when he escaped from his caregivers in Fashion Island's parking structure. He had been taken to the mall by the Community Animal Network for an adoption fair. One minute Frankie was under a sport-utility vehicle, but then he vanished. Volunteers combed the bushes and the parking lot seeking to re-rescue Frankie, without success. Searchers returned to the vehicle, hoping to find the missing cat underneath.

Thomas Schriber -- a co-founder of the Costa Mesa real estate company that played a major role in the redesign of Fashion Island -- plans to reduce his activities with the firm at the start of the new year. Schriber, currently chief executive and chairman of Costa Mesa-based Donahue Schriber, announced Monday that he intends to hand the chief executive's post to Patrick Donahue the firm's president and chief operating officer. He is also the brother of company co-founder Daniel Donahue, who died in 2002.

Ozumo, a Japanese restaurant that started business at Fashion Island in December, has closed its doors. The restaurant closed shop Sept. 17, Irvine Co. spokesman Bill Rams said. The Newport Beach-based Irvine Co. owns Fashion Island. The restaurant's closure occurred the same weekend as Taste of Newport, the local food festival at which Ozumo made an appearance. Taste of Newport was organized by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, and chamber president Richard Luehrs said he was surprised when he noticed the restaurant was closed following the weekend festival.

1. Which team won this year's Jones Cup golf pro-am? A. Big Canyon Country Club B. Mesa Verde Country Club C. Newport Beach Country Club D. Santa Ana Country Club 2. The state Democratic Party endorsed which candidate in the special election to fill former Rep. Chris Cox's seat? A. Steve Young B. Marilyn Brewer C. John Graham D. Jim Gilchrist 3. The Orange County Registrar of Voters apologized this week for doing what?

The Four Seasons Hotel Newport Beach will be known as the Island Hotel Newport Beach after the Irvine Co. takes over management of the luxury establishment. Irvine Co. spokeswoman Jennifer Hieger said the new name will take effect Nov. 1. The Irvine Co. announced plans to assume management of the Newport Center hotel in August. Irvine Co. officials have said that the Newport Beach-based company will also manage the planned Pelican Hill at Newport Coast resort, which is expected to open in 2008.

Newport-Mesa shoppers can expect to have a second Bloomingdale's store in the area. The company that owns the chain recently announced plans to set up a Bloomingdale's at South Coast Plaza. Federated Department Stores, based in Cincinnati, announced the plans for Costa Mesa on Tuesday. Federated executives intend to change the South Coast Plaza Robinsons-May store to a Bloomingdale's sometime next year, company spokesman Jim Sluzewski said. In general, Bloomingdale's offerings are more upscale than those sold at Robinsons-May stores.

PETUNIA AND HERCULES Petunia (pictured), a 4-month-old grey and white female, and her brown tabby brother, Hercules, were lucky to have been rescued and home-raised by their caregiver and her family. These sweet and friendly siblings are some of the many cats born in backyards around the county, causing the feral cat population to grow. The Community Animal Network is a community-supported animal organization linking people and pets through community action.

The DVD "Sign-A-Lot: The Big Surprise" was created for hearing children ages 3 to 11. Creators Barbara Granoff and Lee Sher -- specialists in American Sign Language -- developed the first "Sign-A-Lot" DVD to teach sign language vocabulary to children in an exciting, and entertaining way with animation, child performers and fantasy. Research shows that children who sign can improve other skills including vocabulary, reading and spelling, understanding concepts and number recognition.

Ozumo, a Japanese restaurant that started business at Fashion Island in December, has closed its doors. The restaurant closed shop Sept. 17, Irvine Co. spokesman Bill Rams said. The Newport Beach-based Irvine Co. owns Fashion Island. The restaurant's closure occurred the same weekend as Taste of Newport, the local food festival at which Ozumo made an appearance. Taste of Newport was organized by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, and chamber president Richard Luehrs said he was surprised when he noticed the restaurant was closed following the weekend festival.

Actor to speak at Race for the Cure Emmy Award-winning actor Patricia Arquette will be a guest at the 14th Annual Komen Orange County Race for the Cure on Sunday at Fashion Island. Arquette, who stars in the television drama series "Medium," lost her mother to breast cancer in 1997. Sunday she will join an expected crowd of more than 30,000. The race, which is presented by the Orange County affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, has raised more than $11 million since it began in 1992.

Newport-Mesa shoppers can expect to have a second Bloomingdale's store in the area. The company that owns the chain recently announced plans to set up a Bloomingdale's at South Coast Plaza. Federated Department Stores, based in Cincinnati, announced the plans for Costa Mesa on Tuesday. Federated executives intend to change the South Coast Plaza Robinsons-May store to a Bloomingdale's sometime next year, company spokesman Jim Sluzewski said. In general, Bloomingdale's offerings are more upscale than those sold at Robinsons-May stores.

Newport-Mesa stoves and ovens got a well-needed rest Friday night, as the 17th Annual Taste of Newport began. An estimated 75,000 people are expected to attend the three-day food and wine festival. More than 35 restaurants and 15 wineries are participating in the event. Each night, a headlining musical act will take the stage. The 1980s throwback B-52's are set to rock audiences tonight. 1990s chart-toppers Hootie & The Blowfish are scheduled to headline Sunday's festival.

The Four Seasons Hotel Newport Beach will be known as the Island Hotel Newport Beach after the Irvine Co. takes over management of the luxury establishment. Irvine Co. spokeswoman Jennifer Hieger said the new name will take effect Nov. 1. The Irvine Co. announced plans to assume management of the Newport Center hotel in August. Irvine Co. officials have said that the Newport Beach-based company will also manage the planned Pelican Hill at Newport Coast resort, which is expected to open in 2008.

The 17th Annual Taste of Newport -- Newport's three-day celebration of food, wine and entertainment -- starts Sept. 16, and continues through Sept. 18 at Fashion Island. The weekend event brings in more than 70,000 guests, who sample gourmet foods from more than 35 restaurants, while tasting wines, cocktails and handcrafted beers. Throughout the event, visitors can hear live bands, including Grammy Award-winning artist Macy Gray, the B-52's and multi-platinum artists Hootie and the Blowfish.

Fashion Island is a nice fit for new city hall My opinion of the proposed city hall is this: No, we shouldn't proceed with this particular site at any anticipated cost. The civic center needs to be centrally located in our city, and there are existing buildings in which space planners could set up the much-needed one-stop shop for the public and the remaining offices -- perhaps close to a police station. I believe our city doesn't need to necessarily own the building it uses for a city hall, that a lease may even be prudent.

PUBLIC SAFETY Powerboat returning from Catalina runs aground at Crystal Cove A Laguna Beach man's 57-foot powerboat ran aground on the rocks at Crystal Cove State Park early Monday after the owner fell asleep while the craft was on autopilot, officials said. Mark Anton and a woman were aboard the boat, which left Catalina Island around midnight, bound for Newport Beach, officials said. By 4 p.m. Monday, a salvage company had removed the boat from the rocks and had towed it into Newport Harbor.

Thomas Schriber -- a co-founder of the Costa Mesa real estate company that played a major role in the redesign of Fashion Island -- plans to reduce his activities with the firm at the start of the new year. Schriber, currently chief executive and chairman of Costa Mesa-based Donahue Schriber, announced Monday that he intends to hand the chief executive's post to Patrick Donahue the firm's president and chief operating officer. He is also the brother of company co-founder Daniel Donahue, who died in 2002.