Laguna Beach events promoter Rich Goodwin ushered out 2005 with a bang,make that two bangs. He produced Orange County New Year’s Eve, billing it as the West Coast answer to the Times Square celebration. Wishful thinking, but Goodwin did throw quite a party at the OC Fairgrounds. It featured bands including Sugar Ray and a midnight “orange drop,” drew thousands of paying revelers on a rainy night and garnered plenty of media coverage; Goodwin got his picture on the front page of the OC Register. Unmentioned was Goodwin’s other December activity: He posted $1 million bail after being arrested by OC Fire Authority investigators and charged with arson in the alleged torching of an ex-girlfriend’s Laguna Niguel apartment. He’s also charged with stalking. OC Deputy DA Steve Mitchell said the fire was put out quickly by a neighbor in the complex and there were no injuries. Goodwin said the case is “the result of a relationship that I ended and it wasn’t well received.” He said that he and his lawyers are “confident we will get through this thing once we’ve had a chance to present our side.” As for the party, Goodwin’s colleague Peter Melton says that despite the weather, things went well for a first-time event and there will be OCNYE II …
Seen huddling at the Center Club: Media consultant Bob Magnuson, with a table of UCI folks, including fund-raising chief Tom Mitchell, Med School Dean Tom Cesario and trial lawyer/UCI supporter Mark Robinson. Mitchell said a key topic was how to maintain UCI Medical Center’s $50 million capital campaign amid negative publicity about the defunct liver-donor program …
Magnuson has hooked up with another PR veteran, Meg Waters, to form Magnuson & Waters …
For OC investor George Argyros, DST Systems is the gift that keeps giving. The stock was up 20% in 2005, increasing the value of Argyros’ 12.5% stake to $540 million. DST, a Kansas City, Mo.-based maker of financial software, acquired one of Argyros’ winning venture bets, USCS International, in 1998 …
Nebraska Sen. and intra-party Bush war critic Chuck Hagel is the breakfast speaker Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. Email info@atlaspac.org …
Tory bigwig and Financial Times golf writer Tim Yeo was appearing on “Inside OC” during a Socal visit …
KOCE is working on a PBS documentary about British transplant Sir Eldon Griffith’s life as a player in, and a chronicler of, the Cold War era …
OCers Doug Freeman of IFF Advisors and Jeffrey Matsen of Bohm, Matsen, Kegel & Aguilera made Worth Magazine’s list of the top 100 attorneys … In case of a culture clash, take two Alka-Seltzers: On March 23 and 24 the Anaheim Convention Center will host World Ethnic Market, billed as the first American trade show exhibiting kosher, halal and other ethnic food under one roof. The market is a new addition to the annual Natural Products West Expo.
