Laguna Niguel-Dana Point, CA|News|
Fire Officials Urge Christmas Tree Safety
Every year during the holidays, Christmas trees and holiday decor spark about 400 house fires resulting in 21 deaths across the country.

Email: Nisha.Gutierrez@Patch.com
Phone: 949- 201-0615
Hometown: Baldwin Park, CA
Birthday: Jan. 18, 1980
Nisha Gutierrez-Jaime is the local editor of the Newport Beach Patch and the Corona del Mar Patch. She is a Southern California native and has worked as a print, wire and television reporter for the past eight years.
Nisha discovered her passion for journalism at a young age while watching TV news and listening to radio news reports with her father.
Nisha first began reporting stories for her school newspaper during her junior year at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente. She continued her education at California State University Fullertion where she received a bachelor's degree in print and broadcast journalism and started her professional career while reporting for a weekly newspaper.
After graduating from college, Nisha became the crime reporter at the San Gabriel Valley Tribune in West Covina, and was the producer and host of the newspaper's first daily morning webcast.
Nisha has also worked as a television reporter, producer and videographer at a cable station in Torrance, CA and then at an NBC affiliate in Idaho.
Nisha most recently worked as a staff reporter for City News Service in Los Angeles and has had feature stories published in Inland Empire Magazine and other online news sites.
In May 2012 Nisha received her master's degree in Communications from California State University Fullerton. When she is not digging for news stories or interviewing people, Nisha enjoys traveling with her husband and watching crime documentaries.
Your Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.
Politics: How would you describe your political beliefs? I am a member of the Democratic Party.
Religion: How religious would you consider yourself? I am and have always been a practicing Catholic. I attended Catholic schools throughout my elementary and high school years and I believe Catholicism has played a huge part in my life. One of my favorite things to do is go to Sunday mass with my family.
Local Hot-Button Issues
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community? Education and community development are of high importance to the people of Corona del Mar.
Where do you stand on each of these issues? I am a huge supporter of education and am looking forward to reporting education news. By the same token, I believe community development is important to helping a community thrive.
Every year during the holidays, Christmas trees and holiday decor spark about 400 house fires resulting in 21 deaths across the country.

The 'Babyface Bandit' who robbed the Bank of America on East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar Thursday fled with an unknown amount of cash.
The new Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach boasts intricate details and a spiritual space where people of all faiths are welcome.
The residential burglary took place at a home on Sail Vista in Newport Coast.
Marnie Jo Lippincott was sentenced to seven years in state prison for a crosswalk crash that left a Newport Harbor High School student with a brain injury.
Social security cards, electronic items and cash were stolen this week from locked and unlocked cars parked around Newport Beach. Police urge residents to lock car doors and windows at all times.
Tomoo Kawai, 68, of Newport Coast faces probation or up to six months in jail for allegedly throwing soiled adult-diapers onto Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.
Police say the man known as the 'Babyface Bandit' robbed the Bank of America located at 3300 E. Coast Highway in Corona del Mar Thursday and fled with an unknown amount of cash.
Christmas presents, decorations and other items were recently taken from cars and yards around Newport Beach.
Members of the community have raised $76,000 for the Newport Beach Bike Safety Improvement Fund.
The Newport Beach Police Department says residents should take precautions to safeguard pets from attacks.
Christopher Polovina of Newport Beach pleaded guilty in November to charges related to threatening and stalking his ex-wife. Polovina was arrested in Florida after being a fugitive for three years.
Twenty-seven people have contracted the illness this year in Orange County. It can cause severe headaches, high fevers and confusion, and may require hospitalization.
Newport Beach Mayor Nancy Gardner received an award Monday for being the first mayor to stand-up paddleboard in office.
Authorities say Christopher Byran McKenzie, Sr., of Costa Mesa, sexually abused four boys over several years in Newport Beach. If convicted he faces 45 years to life in state prison.
The attempted residential burglary occurred Friday at a home on Mayflower Drive in Newport Beach.
Forty-eight-year-old Christopher Bryan McKenzie, Sr. of Costa Mesa, was arrested for lewd and lascivious acts with a child. Police say two victims from Newport Beach have come forward with allegations.
Hundreds bid on silent auction items at Surf City Cyclery and generate more than $7,500 for the Newport Beach Bike Safety Improvement Fund.
The Newport Beach Fire Department is collecting new, unwrapped toys for less fortunate children through Dec. 24. Drop-offs can be made at city fire stations and lifeguard headquarters.
Residents packed council chambers, and some threatened to boycott the Christmas boat parade if the City Council increases dock fees. The council decided to hold off on a vote.