Firefighters responded to an alarm at 8:02 a.m. today at the building near Fashion Island, according to the statement.

“At the time of the call, a Newport Beach truck was just arriving to the location for an inspection,” the statement said. “Fire units immediately searched the building and found light smoke on the twelfth floor, with heavier smoke on the thirteenth floor. Firefighters called for a second alarm, or additional units to be assigned to the call. ”

Firefighters located the fire in a computer server room in a thirteenth floor suite. Fire suppression systems kept the fire in check until units arrived, the statement said.

During the 40-minute incident, the statement said, police closed Newport Center Drive from Santa Maria to Santa Rosa.

Firefighters from Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Orange County Fire Authority responded to this fire as well as Newport Beach police.

No injuries were reported.

2. Five restaurants have applied for the Big Corona beach concessions business, and the City Council is expected to make a choice later this month; read our story here.

3. The Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission will discuss the future of beach fire rings at a meeting on Tuesday; read our story here.

4. Corona del Mar High School administrators are trying to figure out a way to combat seagulls that have invaded the campus; read our story here.

5. The Newport Beach Fire Department will hold a meeting on Thursday at the OASIS Senior Center to explain and answer questions about proposed state fire maps and how they affect residents; read our story here.

By Frank Peters

Most days I sit at my desk for too many hours. Sound familiar? But his week was different; I was ahead of schedule on my projects. That gave me time to ride.

It's a beautiful morning at the Balboa Is ferry

My goal would be to ride 100 miles this week. Most people would add a little variety to their rides, but lately I keep heading in the same direction — across the ferry to the Peninsula, the pier and on to Huntington and Sunset Beach. I’m not stuck in a rut; it’s just so beautiful. And it’s fun to ride off-road where there’s lots of people.

Then, here it comes — I love to see the ferry sans autos!

The ferry without cars

Soon I’m on the Peninsula where I notice a new facade to Back Alley Bicycles; I go closer. The Peninsula has the highest mode-share, which means more people ride bikes here than anywhere else in Newport Beach. There are many bike rental stores here, so the competition keeps prices low. The flat terrain is ideal for riding a beach cruiser.

The beach boardwalk is my route today; this time of year it can be quiet.

Did I say 'lots of people?'

As I approach Newport Elementary School, I’m hoping to see lots of bikes, and sure enough I do. Years ago, we all rode our bikes to school; today few kids do. Here on the Peninsula lots of kids still do, but the experience is bittersweet because the House just voted to eliminate funding for Safe Routes to School — how heartless! These kids are fortunate; they have a safe route to school, but without funding few other children will be so lucky.

Kids ride their bikes to Newport El

Pressing on, I pass by the Santa Ana River trail; Orange County’s bicycle freeway. I’ve pedaled to Anaheim Stadium and the Honda Center along this route, but today I continue west along the Huntington Beach board walk.

The off-ramp from the Santa Ana River Trail, bicycling's highway to Central Orange County

As I approach the HB pier I know to look for the concessions. Wahoo’s is here somewhere. They’re smart; they’re closed in the off-season, like any concession at Big Corona should be if they want to survive more than a season or two. There just aren’t enough beach-goers in the winter months to sustain a restaurant.

Wahoo's isn't stupid - they're closed in the off season

This way to Bolsa Chica

Lunch on Main Street, Huntington Beach

I call up Matt O’Toole — yes, he’ll join me for lunch in Huntington Beach at Sushi on Fire. I hadn’t been for awhile, so I forgot that when I bring a new friend, out comes the complimentary saki. “It’ll be a fun ride back! Chin-chin!”

Matt’s suggests a multi-modal ending to our ride, “Want me to drop you across the bay in the Duffy?” Today would be the perfect day for it; besides, I can’t remember ever being in a Duffy.

So that’s my story of a not-so-typical ride up the coast. I’ve been away from my desk for about four hours — that’s a lot of recreation wrapped around a lunch ride.

We’re privileged living in such a beautiful locale. You should try a ride up the coast yourself.

My first Duffy ride? It is for my bike.

Duffy Captain Matt O'Toole

A member of the 2009 Newport Beach Task Force on Cycling Safety, Frank Peters founded bikeNewportBeach.org and writes about his cycling adventures at cdmCyclist.com.

“We’re shooting for midweek at the latest,” said contractor Raymond Acosta.

Crews of up to two dozen workers have been at the restaurant “24/7,” Acosta said. He said they tried to cram 14 days’ work into just ten days, but the job was too big to finish by the planned Saturday deadline, and there also were delays in scheduling county inspections.

The restaurant, located at 3536 East Coast Highway, has been closed since Jan. 23 for a complete remodel, including a new recessed ceiling, a fireplace and television and new floors and showcases.

Read our earlier story here.

2. Load up on fresh reading material at the Friends of the Library quarterly book sale, which opens to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The sale will take place in the Friends Meeting Room of the Central Library at 1000 Avocado Ave. Also, from 10:30 to 11 a.m., the Central Library also is hosting Family Storytime with stories, songs and a craft aimed at children from 3 to 7 years old accompanied by an adult.

3. Roger’s Gardens is hosting its February My Edible Garden lecture from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, with Steve Hampson covering topics including planting the last of the cool season’s vegetables, starting warm season vegetable transplants from seed and insect control and fertilization of fruit trees. Questions as well as your own tips and suggestions are encouraged. Roger’s Gardens is located at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road.

4. Crystal Cove State Park will host a Full Moon Hike at 5:30 Saturday; meet at the amphitheater in the day-use lot below the campground, along with a Tidepool Walk at 2 p.m. Sunday when the tide falls to -.08; meet at Pelican Point lot #2 at the top of the boardwalk. The guided walks and hikes are free, but there is a $15 day-use parking fee.

5. Super Bowl Sunday. Parties are planned for the Crow Bar and Kitchen and Port Restaurant and Bar — or you could stay home and watch the commercials/game. What’s on your menu and which team are you going to cheer for?

The theft occurred sometime between 1:10 p.m. Jan. 14 and 3 p.m. Jan. 16 when items were stolen from the victim’s vehicle while it was not in her possession, police said.

The stolen items included a duffle bag, clothing, shoes, hair dryer, curling iron, jewelry case with jewelry, purse, oil paintings and an iPad.

Police also took a report of a petty theft at 900 Newport Center Drive at 7 p.m. Thursday, a report states. The theft occurred between 4 and 4:10 p.m. with a $50 loss.

At Harbor View Elementary School, Jessica Gardner was honored at a Flag Deck ceremony today, where she showed her apple-shaped trophy and was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a round of applause.

Gardner has taught every grade from kindergarten through eighth except for second grade. She currently teaches fifth grade.

Lincoln Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year is Patricia Liberto.

Corona del Mar High School’s Teacher of the Year, Laura Mayberry, also was named the district’s secondary Teacher of the Year.

By Sofia Pardini, student intern

Corona Del Mar High School seniors all gathered Wednesday in the quad to support their fellow classmates in their national winter signing day. Although many seniors have been recruited by prestigious universities for their athletic performances, only 12 were honored at this ceremony. These athletes were recruited to universities including Yale, Stanford, Brown, Columbia and the University of Los Angeles.

“I am so excited to go to Michigan next year and be a part of their amazing and spirited women’s soccer team,” said Sydney Raguse, a varsity soccer player.

The new student recruits shared their excitement about their future plans with the audience and supported their new university by repping their college shirts and sweatshirts both that day at school and during the ceremony. As they signed their National Letter of Intent forms, the stage filled with parents and friends who gathered to celebrate their accomplishments.

“We go live on Feb. 6,” said Mike Halphide, Junior Lifeguard and Training Captain for the Newport Beach Fire Department.

Beginning Monday, participants who plan to try out for the Junior Guards program should go online to preregister, he said. Returning junior guard families will need to update their information, he said, and everyone should print the swim test form and bring it to swim tryouts. The online registration should take about five minutes.

Swim tryouts are scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday Feb. 19, Sunday March 4 and Sunday March 11, as well as from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday Feb. 27, March 5 and March 12. Families should bring proof of a child’s age — they must be between 9 and 15 years old to participate — as well as proof of residency.

Additional online registration steps, including uniform try-on information, will be provided after swimmers pass their test. But the online system will reduce the time parents have to spend waiting in line to secure time slots.

“It seems silly to do it any other way in this day and age,” Halphide said.

Halphide encouraged families to skip the first tryout, even if they want their swimmers to have multiple testing opportunities to make their time requirements.

“The first one is always going to be more crowded,” he said. “You’re going to have to wait.”

The summer program accepts 1,250 students.