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Photos: An Evening For Autism Raises $170,000

Barry Saywitz transformed his home into a tropical wonderland for the 3rd annual event.

The 3rd Annual Evening For Autism was held Saturday at the Newport Beach home of Barry Saywitz, a real estate entrepreneur whose seven-year-old son was diagnosed with autism at the age of two.  The event raised $170,000. Saywitz's palatial home was turned into a tropical wonderland. Some 600 guests were entertained by live music, enjoyed dinner and dessert from event sponsors Cheesecake Factory, Wildfish and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and bid on items and trips in silent and live auctions.   The live auction, moderated by Kyle and Chris Massey, included a Big Bear Vacation, A Chippendale Experience in Vegas, diamond earrings, playing baseball with the Texas Rangers and at-home dinner parties catered by top restaurants.  Money raised from the …

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Newport Beach Lifeguards Under Fire for Explosive Salaries

Lifeguard captain says cuts to the department would compromise safety. The city will take up the issue again June 14.

As Newport Beach lifeguard captain, Brent Jacobsen oversees a department that patrols six and a half miles of coastline, including some of Orange County's most dangerous beaches. On average, the city's lifeguards perform nearly 5,000 rescues and undertake more than 10,000 preventive actions each year. But lately, Jacobsen has found himself spending most of his time trying to resuscitate the image of his department in the eyes of the public. Recent media reports throughout the state and beyond have focused on the salaries of the city's 13 full-time lifeguards, who average about $100,000 per year, with benefits that can swell their overall compensation packages to more than $200,000 annually.  In addition, it has been widely reported that …

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