School Notes

NMUSD promotes two, naming new director of elementary education and new principal for Harbor View

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) has named Gabriel Del Real as Administrative Director I, Elementary Education and Randall Lempert as principal of Harbor View Elementary.

With 23 years of experience in education, Del Real brings extensive experience through his varied roles as a teacher, school principal and district-level administrator to his new position as Administrative Director I, Elementary Education.

Gabriel Del Real has a deep level of knowledge regarding high-quality programs and instruction. As principal of both Harbor View and Adams Elementary, he developed systems of collaboration and commitments to improve instruction. In his previous role as Coordinator, K-12 Curriculum and Instruction, he supported schools through the development and facilitation of specialized programs in elementary and secondary education.

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Photos courtesy of NMUSD

Gabriel Del Real

He has built long-lasting relationships that foster continuous improvement while creating high expectations in supportive environments. He prioritizes listening and connecting with staff and the community to better collaborate as a team to increase students’ academic performance.

As principal at Harbor View, he was instrumental in developing the school’s Innovation Lab, an environment that combines high-tech, low-tech and no-tech worlds, offering students the opportunity to participate in collaborative, project-based Science, Technology, English, Arts and Math (STEAM) initiatives, including LEGO robotics, 3D printing, and computer coding and engineering concepts.

In the new role, Del Real is responsible for supporting community engagement; overseeing elementary extracurricular athletic programs and school-connected organizations; and facilitating textbook adoption and instructional material for grades TK through sixth, among other duties.

“Gabe’s vast experience and deep knowledge of our district coupled with his thoughtful, calm presence make him a perfect fit to support our elementary education program,” said Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Dr. Kurt Suhr.

Del Real received his Bachelor of Science in Child and Adolescent Studies and his Master of Science in Reading Instruction from California State University, Fullerton, as well as his Education Administrative Services Credential from the University of Irvine.

Randall Lempert, who joined NMUSD in 2021 as principal of Whittier Elementary School, has taken the helm as principal at Harbor View Elementary. In his 12 years of administrative experience, Lempert has proven to be a strong leader who builds trusting relationships with students, parents and staff.

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Randy Lempert

At Whittier Elementary, Lempert was known for being a visible leader with a positive outlook and fostering an inclusive community by collaborating with staff and the community to help students achieve success. He worked in partnership with teachers to strengthen the school’s Positive Behavior and Intervention Support (PBIS) program, Spanish-language dual immersion classes and after-school enrichment program.

Lempert’s experience includes nine years as a principal spanning both the elementary and middle school level, as well as 11 years teaching first through eighth grades, including at an international school in Taiwan.

“Randy is intentional in his visibility as a leader. His deliberateness in collaborating with staff, students and parents is a true asset to any community,” said Assistant Superintendent of Achievement, Innovation and Continuous Improvement Socorro Shiels.

Lempert was named Region 19 Principal of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators in 2019. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Concordia College in Minnesota and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Concordia University in Irvine.

On the Harbor: Harbor Commission’s goals and objectives outlined

By LEN BOSE

I wanted to take the time to update you on what the Harbor Commission has been tasked with in the upcoming year by reviewing its objectives and goals, along with any observations I have made from the commission’s meetings.

Number One: The annual review of Title 17 and recommended updates to the City Council where necessary (Commissioner: Yahn). Title 17 is our harbor city codes. If you have questions regarding our harbor codes and enforcement, your contact is Matt Cosylion at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. What Commissioner Yahn has been tasked with is updates or additions to Title 17. The devil is always in the details, so when you start talking about Title 17, pay close attention when recommendations are made.

Number Two: Collaborate with the Water Quality/Coastal Tidelands Committee to partner on areas within the harbor where both Commission/Committees intersect (Commissioners: Svrcek, Scully). In my interview with Commissioner Scully last month, the interaction between these two committees showed proven results with the Water Wheel, along with working with the county and upland cities’ water runoff. Progress has been made, which I noticed when attending the Huntington Beach Harbor Commission meeting, starting at the beginning of the process.

Number Three: There has been successful implementation of the mooring reconfiguration initiative, including design, testing, permitting, execution and monitoring (Commissioner: Beer). Ira Beer continuous to work through all the different government agencies to start on the test mooring field.

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Photo by Len Bose

Sea lions aboard “Buena Vida”

Number Four: Collaborate with Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission and staff to evaluate the best use for Lower Castaways and make a recommendation to City Council (Commissioners: Marston, Svrcek). Commissioner Marston gave an update on this task at the last meeting. This objective has been on the books for a very long time, and my guess is it will remain on the books for an even longer period of time. One of the issues is this is one of the last open spaces around the harbor with no clear “best use” for this property at this time.

Number Five: Work with staff to identify opportunities to add additional Harbor Services (restrooms, additional pump out stations, dock space, shore boat service, boat launch ramp and development of the mobile app). (Commissioners: Marston, Yahn). There has been a lot of progress with the mobile app, public docks, upgrades to the pump out stations. The harbor desperately needs another boat launch ramp and is a huge task. I have my fingers crossed for this one.

Number Six: Continues with the participation of businesses, nonprofits and the Harbor Department with a Newport Harbor Safety Committee to promote best practices, and address safety issues on the water (Commissioner: Scully). Scully had made huge progress on this task with as many as 35 companies attending the first harbor safety meetings. If you are active on the water you will want to stay tuned to any upcoming meetings.

Number Seven: Review Harbor Department responsibilities, evaluate the department’s readiness and effectiveness to deliver harbor services as necessary for normal operations and during emergencies, and make recommendations as determined necessary (Commissioners: Scully, Williams). From my interview earlier with Newport Harbormaster Paul Blank, much has been done regarding this task with drills with other agencies and equipment inspections.

Number Eight: Work with city staff on an update of the market rent to be charged for onshore and offshore moorings (Commissioners: Cunningham, Beer). This is always a heated topic, and the Newport Mooring Association is always quick to share their concerns and notify the public when this topic is placed on the agenda.

Number Nine. Evaluate establishing day moorings off Big Corona Beach (Commissioner: Williams). This one is dear to my heart, as I have always felt it would be a great idea to have day use mooring off of Big Corona. This would be an opinion, rather than anchoring off of Emerald Bay, or freeing up the anchorages. I need to step forward and work with Williams to make this happen.

Number 10. Support staff in all efforts related to the dredge completion of the Federal Navigation channels in addition to the upcoming agency renewals of the Regional General Permit (RGP54) shallow water dredging permit. (Commissioners: Cunningham, Svrcek). This is the mother of all other objectives, and must be constantly monitored.

I wish there were three other objectives listed: navigation lights on top of the channel markers in the upper bay; the removal of the old fixed channel markers to floating buoys and marine recycling centers.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.

Halloween Tournament at Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club

Yes, it is that time of year – Halloween, and just like many others in Newport Beach, more than 40 club members at the Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club held an early Halloween celebration on Thursday, Oct. 26. Costumes, food and drinks helped set the festive mood.

An eight-end tournament was held prior to the dinner, forming up into 16 three-person teams.

The event was organized by Cynthia Nolan with help from Norma Goodhart, Norm Bianchi, Jo Ramsey, Ginny Barrett, Carrie Reach, Rick Harrington, Mike Allen, Diana Wenzel, Lisa Milligan, Mark Coutee, Dennis Ring and Nancy Santos. A great big shout out to these volunteers.

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Photos courtesy of Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club

(L-R) Club members Carol Petyo, Janice Walters, Lisa Milligan, Mark Coutee, Cynthia Nolan (event director), Rick Harrington and Cindy Pahm

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 (L-R) Front row: Rick Harrington and Fred Robles; Back row: Beverly Ponder, Janis Walters, Lisa Milligan and Mark Coutee

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 (L-R) Diane Wenzel, Sam Wenzel, Norma Goodhart, Beth Bianchi, Norm Bianchi, Carie Reach and Dennis Ring

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 (L-R) John Fearnley, Dave Phillips, Joan Phillips, Jo Remsey, Ben Shaw, Carol Petyo, George Petyo and Norma Goodhart

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 (L-R) Bruce Boycks, Tory Ruppert, Laurie Hoagland and Tom Doolin

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 (L-R) Steven Glyer with Ernie Caponera, the winner of the Spider Bowl

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 Spooky Jack-o-lanterns

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 Ghoulish decorations

For more information about the Newport Harbor Lawn Bowling Club, go to www.newportharborlbc.com.

NBPD Detectives recover electric bikes and more

In August 2023, the victim had his electric bike stolen from Fashion Island. Due to a lack of workable evidence at that time, the case was held in abeyance. Approximately two months later, the victim tracked his electric bike to a house in Garden Grove.

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Photos courtesy of NBPD

Electric bikes stolen from Newport Beach were recovered

During that time, Property Crimes Detectives had been investigating a commercial burglary case where electric bikes were taken from a shop on Balboa Peninsula. The victim from that case was also able to track his stolen bikes to the same Garden Grove address. More investigative work revealed that the resident at the address in Garden Grove (our suspect) was on probation. Detectives also uncovered leads pointing them to a storage unit in Westminster. At the storage unit, they found video footage of a truck registered to the suspect being used to transport bikes that appeared to be the stolen bikes from one of the cases.  Later, they obtained a warrant to search the unit where they recovered around $38,000 worth of stolen eyewear taken during a commercial burglary in Garden Grove.

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NBPD Detectives located around $38,000 worth of stolen eyewear taken during a commercial burglary in Garden Grove

Based on the information gathered thus far, and the fact that the original stolen bike was determined to be the location, detectives decided to conduct a probation search of the Garden Grove residence. On October 17, 2023, a team of detectives and officers responded to the house to conduct the search. With the assistance of her probation officer, detectives made contact with the suspect who confirmed the stolen bike was at the house. Throughout the search, the team located a motorcycle that was reported stolen out of Garden Grove, a room full of narcotics out in plain view (it appeared that narcotics were being manufactured in the home), a trailer filled with illegal fireworks and three additional stolen electric bikes.

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The search team located a motorcycle that was reported stolen out of Garden Grove

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During the search, the team found a trailer filled with illegal fireworks. Orange County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad responded to assist with recovering the fireworks.

The search team called out the Orange County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad to recover the fireworks. The Regional Narcotics Suppression Program and the Orange County Health Department also responded to handle the items used to manufacture the narcotics.

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NBPD detectives inventory narcotics that were recovered during the search

NBPD detectives took the suspect into custody for more than 10 charges related to the stolen bicycles, narcotics and fireworks. Two other suspects involved in the stolen electric bike cases were also identified and taken into custody for commercial burglary and possession of stolen property.

The Sacramento Chronicles

By ASSEMBLYMEMBER DIANE DIXON

November 3, 2023

Hello Newport Beach!

End of session summary: The Legislature sent 1,166 bills to the governor for his signature. He signed 997 and vetoed 169. I had four bills that passed the Assembly and Senate policy committees and both houses. The governor signed all four of them. 

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Courtesy of Diane Dixon

Assemblywoman Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach)

My four bills soon to become law on January 1, 2024:

Assembly Bill 511, signed into law by the governor on September 30, will allow Californians the opportunity to provide funding for California’s brightest minds to research amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) research. Assembly Bill 1025 was signed on October 13 and will protect our Treasurer-Tax Collectors from certain personal liability in performing their vital duties. Assembly Bill 256 was signed on October 4 and provides a much needed 30-day delay before drivers can be penalized for having an expired vehicle registration. Lastly, Assembly Bill 1270 was signed on October 4 and will allow for the successor to the Lake Forest redevelopment agency (RDA) to receive from the Orange County Auditor-Controller redevelopment property tax revenues collected more than 10 years ago for the El Toro Redevelopment Project Area and never used. 

I’m now working with my Sacramento staff to develop my 2024 legislative proposals including six bills that are two-year bills carried forward from this year. I’m mindful that the Legislature proposes too many bills. I intend to focus on critical needs like beach protection, public safety and reducing excessive business regulation. Stay tuned! 

Now that I’m back full time in the district, I have enjoyed spending the last couple of months out and about attending community events across the 72nd District. Earlier this month, I released my four-part docuseries called Save the Ferry. The Balboa Ferry is not only a treasured tourist attraction, vital transportation link and local favorite, but it protects our environment by saving drivers from a six-mile detour around the Balboa Peninsula. This series highlights the problems the Ferry is facing (and importantly, all California businesses large and small are facing as they transition their business models to zero emissions as mandated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). All ferries and commercial vessels operating in California waters are required to be zero-emissions by the end of 2024 or later with an exemption. Please check out the series here: Balboa Ferry YOUTUBE Assemblymember Dixon. Ponder this: a future CARB regulation to require the electrification of all pleasure boats operating on California waters. (It hasn’t happened yet but I’m just sayin’.) 

Mark your calendars: I will be hosting a Senior Town Hall in Merrill Gardens, Huntington Beach – 17200 Goldenwest St. – on Thursday, Nov. 16. Please join me.

Also later this month, please join me for a Veterans Resource Fair with CalVet and the Veterans Resource Center in Huntington Beach at the Central Public Library on November 30; I look forward to seeing you there.

Help me recognize a local hero! Do you have a Veteran friend or Veteran in the family? Someone who has had a positive impact on your community in AD 72? Please take a moment to Nominate your favorite Veteran In honor of Veterans Day and my father, World War II US Army Purple Heart Veteran James R. Brooks (who would be 99 on December 14). I look forward to the opportunity to honor the Veteran of the Year for Assembly District 72. 

For more information or details on upcoming events, please watch your emails. If you would like to sign up to receive Sacramento legislative and District updates, check out my website: Diane Dixon Website link. I am active on Instagram, Facebook and X, so please follow for updates on legislation and upcoming events.

Thank you Stu News! I am honored to reach Stu News readers with highlights about my life and times serving you in Sacramento.

Until next month.

Diane Dixon is a two-term Newport Beach City Councilmember and two-time Mayor. She is currently serving her first term in Sacramento.

Be Well OC names Phillip Franks chief executive officer

Be Well OC announced that Phillip Franks has been named chief executive officer and joined the organization on October 30.

Franks brings to Be Well OC more than 25 years of experience in healthcare and military leadership. He most recently served as the chief executive officer of OC Specialty Health & Hospitals, where he led two simultaneous new hospital projects through a complex and challenging process of planning, construction and operation. Under his leadership, both Anaheim Community Hospital, a 98-bed General Acute Care Hospital and Outpatient Surgery Center and Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health, a 119-bed Acute Psychiatric Hospital in Aliso Viejo, opened their doors in service to the community in 2022.

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Courtesy of Be Well OC

Phillip Franks, new CEO of Be Well OC

Prior to his work in Orange County, Franks served as COO of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the second largest municipal health system in the nation. He began his career with 18 dedicated years of service in the United States Army where he rose the ranks from a medical service corps officer up to chief administrative officer – 40th Infantry Division.

“At a time when the state is transforming behavioral health care, Orange County stakeholders are working together to significantly improve our mental health system. Phil’s notable career has prepared him in developing the skills and competencies needed to lead a diverse and dynamic team in a new paradigm of high-quality behavioral health care and service delivery for this community,” said Richard Afable, M.D., Mind OC Board Chair.

“Phil’s in-depth knowledge of Orange County’s health care industry and his experience in growing successful care systems made him a stand-out candidate from a pool of nearly 200 qualified leaders,” said Michael Hunn, CEO of CalOptima Health, who served on the selection committee.

“At this moment when the state is calling on counties to address an abundance of changes in behavioral health, we believe Orange County is in a position to lead a meaningful transformation,” said Dr. Veronica Kelley, hehavioral health director, Orange County Health Care Agency. “Phil’s familiarity and experience with the public behavioral health system, as well as his knowledge of private healthcare systems will allow Be Well to build upon its prior successes and help Orange County realize its full potential.”

“Collectively, with the County of Orange, CalOptima Health, and many other leading organizations in the county, we are working to affirm the important role Be Well plays in the county’s overall continuum of care and will benefit from Phillip’s leadership, insight and experience,” Afable added.

Franks holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle and an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of San Francisco. He is a resident of Huntington Beach.

“I am honored to join Be Well at a time when the continuum of behavioral health care is being strengthened, both locally and statewide. Be Well is a vital part in our community’s mental health, and I believe that by working together we can transform lives and help more people,” Franks said. “Addressing health equity, particularly when it comes to behavioral health, requires creative thinking and willing collaboration. I am confident in the Be Well coalition built by the Board of Supervisors, CalOptima Health, our hospital partners and many others to facilitate working together to improve the lives and mental health of all Orange County residents.”

Be Well OC is a transformative initiative bringing together public, private, academic and faith-based organizations, as well as others, to create a coordinated system of mental health care and support for all Orange County residents. For more information, visit www.bewelloc.org.

Pet of the Week 

Stu News Newport is delighted to be working with the Newport Beach Animal Shelter to help get the word out in search of loving homes for pets that deserve a warm, nurturing environment and a place to call "home."

The shelter is proud to introduce Mateo, an 8-year-old Chihuahua, who is now available for adoption. Mateo is a true testament to the incredible resilience and unwavering spirit of senior dogs, and he’s patiently waiting to become a cherished addition to a loving family.

Mateo is not your average Chihuahua. His friendly nature extends beyond just humans; he is great with other dogs, making him an ideal companion for households with furry members (or as a single member). While Mateo is in excellent health, he may require dental work down the road. This minor health consideration does not diminish his overall well-being or his capacity to bring happiness to those around him. With a little extra care and attention, Mateo is poised to offer years of life and joy to his future family.

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Courtesy of the Newport Beach Animal Shelter

Meet Mateo

The Newport Beach Animal Shelter encourages the community to consider giving Mateo a second chance and a loving forever home. If you’re interested in making Mateo a part of your family or would like to meet him in person, please contact the Newport Beach Animal Shelter at 949.718.3454, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule an appointment. The Newport Beach Animal Shelter is open daily from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and appointments are required.

The shelter does require completed application forms for their animals, so simply print one up from their non-profit’s webpage at www.fonbas.org. After it is completed, you can email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and upon review, they’ll call you to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions, call 949.718.3454.

Also, consider becoming a member of an incredible nonprofit that supports the city’s efforts with providing wonderful opportunities to stray, injured, ill and owner-surrendered domestic pets. Visit www.fonbas.org.

OCMA announces opening of new exhibition, Start, Start Again, on November 15

During this final week of October, the Orange County Museum of Arts (OCMA) would like to remind you that this is your last chance to experience A Guest, A Host, A Ghost, Yu Ji’s solo exhibition at Mezzanine Gallery. Yu Ji, recently nominated for the prestigious Sigg Prize 2023 by Hong Kong’s M+ Museum, has also debuted her first work of public art at the High Line in New York this year. OCMA is proud to host Yu Ji’s inaugural solo exhibition in the United States, continuing their mission to introduce remarkable international artists like her at pivotal moments in their careers.

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©Diedrick Brackens, Courtesy of the artist

Diedrick Brackens, “the reasoning beast,” 2021, woven cotton and acrylic yarn 80” x 79”

But there’s even more to look forward to. On November 15, OCMA will unveil their latest exhibition, Start, Start Again. The show spotlights two important works from OCMA’s permanent collection: 100 Drawings (1978) by Richard Jackson and 100 lbs. of Clay (2001) by Charles Long. Long’s work offers visitors the exciting opportunity to shape clay into your own creations, which then become an integral part of the installation. This marks a significant milestone as 100 lbs. of Clay is the very first participatory artwork to grace their new building.

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Courtesy of OCMA

Chris Burden, “A Tale of Two Cities,” 1981, mixed media, 144” x 480” x 360”

For more information on events and art-making activities, go to www.ocma.arts.

OCMA is located at 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa.

KidWorks to honor longtime supporters Camille and Tim Strader Jr.  at 17th Annual Foundation for Success Luncheon

KidWorks, a 30-year-old Santa Ana-based nonprofit that provides academic, personal development, and leadership programs for children and teens in under-resourced neighborhoods, will honor longtime supporters Camille and Tim Strader Jr. of Newport Beach at their 17th Annual Foundation for Success Luncheon. The prestigious Dan Donahue Leadership award will be presented to the Straders.

The much-anticipated event will take place on Thursday, Nov. 9, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Santa Ana - Orange County Airport, located at 201 E. MacArthur Blvd., Santa Ana.

The list of the Straders’ contributions to KidWorks over the years are too many to calculate,” said David Benavides, CEO and executive director. “They’ve been generous with time, talent and donations, along with trusted leadership counsel.

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Courtesy of KidWorks

Honorees Camille and Tim Strader Jr.

“This very special, once-a-year award recognizes KidWorks’ most fervent supporters who share our passion and commitment to provide educational opportunities and life-changing experiences for students growing up in some of Orange County’s most overlooked neighborhoods.”

Camille is a founding member of KidWorks Women, an auxiliary group committed to furthering the KidWorks’ mission. For nearly 10 years, she has been a classroom volunteer, positively influencing numerous students with her caring nature and consistent presence. She was named the April 2018 “Volunteer of the Month” and was selected as a 2018 “Orange County Spirit of Volunteerism” award winner.

Tim, president of Starpointe Ventures, has been involved with KidWorks since 2015. He’s served as a member of the KidWorks’ board of directors since 2019. The Straders also serve on the Festival of Chefs committee, and Tim has previously served on the fund development committee. He also volunteers as a mentor for students in the college and career programs.

The Straders join a long list of remarkable Foundation for Success honorees that includes the late Terry Donahue, legendary UCLA head football coach; longtime KidWorks’ supporters Heidi and Ruben Mendoza; Steven L. Craig, president and CEO of Craig Realty; and David A. Pyle, chief executive officer of American Career College and executive chairman of the board of West Coast University.

Keynote speaker Grant Lottering is a motivational speaker and ultra-endurance cyclist from South Africa who went from near death to inspiring millions around the globe. In 2013, his heart stopped beating after a horrific cycling crash in the Italian alps. His injuries were so severe doctors told him he would never cycle again. But 12 surgeries later and nearly 10 years of cycling distances over terrain most would consider impossible, he has raised millions of dollars for underprivileged children, and motivated audiences in more than 13 countries worldwide.

The Foundation for Success Luncheon offers a variety of sponsorship levels ranging from $3,000-$50,000. To be a sponsor, contact Lisa Gels, KidWorks’ Director of Development, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 714.834.9400, ext. 126.

For more information on KidWorks, visit www.kidworksoc.org.

Save the Date: Holiday Gift Faire coming to Sherman Library & Gardens

Get a jump start on your holiday shopping while enjoying complimentary homemade cookies and coffee at Sherman Library & Gardens’ Holiday Gift Faire, taking place Friday, Nov. 10 from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 11 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

The public is invited to Sherman Gardens to shop for seasonal plants, one-of-a-kind handmade items and unique holiday gifts, many from local makers. A collection of vintage Hallmark Keepsake ornaments, all in their original boxes, will also be for sale.

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Photos courtesy of Sherman Library & Gardens

Bejeweled trees are among the one-of-a-kind handcrafted treasures

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Ann Griffith, a Newport Beach resident and member of The Sowers, is holding her hand-sewn aprons

A group of Sherman volunteers that call themselves The Sowers have been busy all year creating an extraordinary assortment of handmade holiday gifts.  The Sowers donate both time and materials creating one-of-a-kind treasures for this annual event. Their handcrafted items will be on display throughout the Tea Garden and available for sale at the two-day Holiday Gift Faire.

Members of Sherman Library & Gardens receive a 15% discount on all purchases. Proceeds from the Holiday Gift Faire will go toward garden projects supported by the Volunteer Association of Sherman Library & Gardens.

Sherman Library & Gardens is located at 2647 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. Garden admission is always free for Members and $5 for Non-members. For more information, visit www.thesherman.org.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts celebrates National Veterans & Military Families Month with free outdoor concert

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is proud to celebrate National Veterans & Military Families Month this November. With gratitude to local veterans, the celebration includes a free outdoor concert on the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. As a special gesture of appreciation, the Center will provide up to 50 free boxed lunches from George’s Café to veterans and active military members with valid identification as a way to express their immense gratitude for their service.

Segerstrom Center has been dedicated to supporting and raising awareness of veterans, soldiers and their families. The Center is thrilled to continue this veterans’ month concert tradition. This free outdoor concert is their way of saying thank you and showing appreciation for their service. They invite the entire community to join in celebrating our heroes.

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Courtesy of scfta.org

A celebratory concert to honor military families takes place on the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza on November 5

Throughout the celebration, country rock/pop band Silver Lining will entertain the crowd. This five-piece band covers some of the greatest songs from the classic rock and country eras. You can expect dynamic lead vocals, exceptional three-part harmonies and creative arrangements. This band enjoys playing together and their energy on stage proves that. All who attend Silver Lining performances have a great time dancing, singing along and creating new memories.

Attendees should plan to bring their own folding chairs, as limited seating will be provided by the Center. Food and beverages will be available to purchase, courtesy of George’s Café. Attendees are welcome to bring their own refreshments, however outside alcohol, glass containers, tables, barbecues and food preparation will not be permitted on the plaza.

The outdoor concert is free with RSVP. Doors one at 1 p.m.

RSVP to reserve tickets at https://seats.scfta.org/single?id=28173.

Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit www.scfta.org.

Regattas and Races…

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Photo by Bronny Daniels | Joysailing.com

2023-2024 Winter Series

Newport Harbor Yacht Club

Sunday, Nov. 5

Harbor 20 A Fleet (3 races)

1 Shana’s Secret, Conzelman/Thompson, NHYC, 2-1-1=4 Total

2 Ping, Wiese/Wiese, NHYC, 1-4-2=7 Total

3 Blue Skies, Throne/Thorne, BYC, 3-2-3=8 Total

4 Only Child, Bose/Elliot, BCYC, 9-3-4=16 Total

5 Sail Dates, Corkett, NHYC, 4-6-7=17 Total

6 Jubilee, Yates/Kincaid, NHYC, 8-5-5=18 Total

7 Wood In It Be Nice, Reed/Reed, ABYC, 6-7-6=19 Total

8 Downhill, Gloege, NHYC, 5-9-8=22 Total

9 Dragon Lady, Kimball/Kimball, ABYC, 7-8-9=24 Total

Harbor 20 B Fleet (3 races)

1 WINGS, Boukather, NHYC, 2-1-1=4 Total

2 MILI’APA, Watanabe, UCISA, 4-2-2=8 Total

3 Spirit, Haynes/Haynes, BCYC, 1-6-4=11 Total

4 Whit’s End, Whitney/Whitney, NHYC, 7-3-3=13 Total

5 Tiger, Bubb, NHYC, 3-4-6=13 Total

6 Sail N’ Win, Fuller, NHYC, 5-5-5=15 Total

7 First in Class, Chan/Logan, NHYC, 6-7-8=21 Total

8 Idros, Duncan/Duncan, NHYC, 8-8-7=23 Total

9 Good to Go, Rastello, NHYC, 10-10-10=30 Total

Harbor 20 C Fleet (3 races)

1 Symbo, Symes/Symes, NHYC, 1-1-1=3 Total

2 Adios, Bretschger/Bretschger, BCYC, 4-2-2=8 Total

3 Friday, Zorayan, LIYC, 2-3-3=8 Total

4 Ferris Lives, Harrison/Hartford, NHYC, 6-4-4=14 Total

5 Flexi Flyer, Hall, NHYC, 3-6-6=15 Total

6 Liberty, Brooks/Allen, NHYC, 5-5-7=17 Total

7 Summerwind, Kovacevic/Kovacevic, NHYC, 7-7-5=19 Total

8 Waratah, Bradley, NHYC, 9-9-9=27

2023-2024 Sunkist Series – Outside

Balboa Yacht Club

Sunday, Nov. 5 – Preliminary

Race #1 – PHRF A Division (7.35 miles)

1 Carbon Footprint, Devling, BYC

   Elapsed 2:03:50, Corrected 2:07:38

2 TNT, Selby, BYC

   Elapsed 2:37:35, Corrected 2:34:39

Race #1 – PHRF B Division (7.35 miles)

1 Radical Departure, Rosene Family, BYC

   Elapsed 2:00:15, Corrected 1:55:06

2 Amante, Richley Family, NHYC/LIYC

   Elapsed 2:04:09, Corrected 1:59:44

3 Doubletime, Andrews/Lynch, BYC

   Elapsed 2:09:52, Corrected 2:02:09

4 Table 9, Newman, BYC

   Elapsed 2:23:07, Corrected 2:18:42

5 Problem Child, Rossen, BCYC

   Elapsed 2:37:59, Corrected 2:30:31

Race #1 – PHRF C Division (4.15 miles)

1 Legacy, Doughery, NHYC/LIYC

   Elapsed 1:25:57, Corrected 1:20:58

2 Rhythm, Gooding, n/a

   Elapsed 1:28:56, Corrected 1:22:18

3 XLR8, Nistor, BCYC

   Elapsed 1:31:17, Corrected 1:25:41

4 Cha Cha Cha, Walter, CYCA/LIYC

   Elapsed 1:33:16, Corrected 1:26:38

5 Violetta, Hartley, BCYC

   Elapsed 1:37:17, Corrected 1:30:39

6 Stella Maris, Barry, NHYC

   Elapsed 1:45:42, Corrected 1:38:39

7 Espirit de I’Eau, Holbrook, BYC

   Elapsed RET

Race #1 – PHRF D Division (4.15 miles)

1 Altheris, Booth, BYC

   Elapsed 1:32:37, Corrected 1:24:19

2 Kaizen, Camerini, WSA-OC

   Elapsed 1:35:30, Corrected 1:27:12

3 Horsefeathers, Fuller, NHYC

   Elapsed 1:40:35, Corrected 1:30:13

4 Silk, Hanscom, SSYC

   Elapsed 1:50:18, Corrected 1:38:28

2023-2024 Sunkist Series – Inside

Balboa Yacht Club

Saturday, Nov. 4 – Preliminary

Harbor 20 A Fleet (3 races)

1 Shana’s Secret, Conzelman/Thompson, NHYC, 3-2-1=6 Total

2 Blue Skies, Throne/Thorne/Thorne, BYC, 1-3-5=9 Total

3 Wood In It Be Nice, Reed/Reed, ABYC, 2-5-2=9 Total

4 Aquavit, Camerini/Cunningham/Holt, WSA-OC, 5-1-4=10 Total

5 Spirit, Haynes/Haynes, BCYC, 7-4-3=14 Total

6 Sail Dates, Corkett, NHYC, 4-6-8=18 Total

7 Downhill, Gloege/Harrison, NHYC, 6-7-6=19 Total

8 Hula Girl, Hill/Manning, BCYC/OSC, 8-8-7=23 Total

Harbor 20 B Fleet (3 races)

1 Dragon Lady, Kimball/Kimball, ABYC, 1-1-1=3 Total

2 n/a, Symes/Symes, NHYC, 2-3-6=11 Total

3 Jubilee, Kincaid/Yates, BCYC, 5-2-5=12 Total

4 Chloe, Campbell, BYC, 3-8-2=13 Total

5 Tiger, Bubb/Quigley, NHYC, 4-5-4=13 Total

6 Comfort Too, Richley/Richley, NHYC, 7-6-3=16 Total

7 n/a, Kennedy/Newman, BYC, 6-4-8=18 Total

8 Whit’s End, Whitney/Whitney, NHYC, 9-7-7=23 Total

Harbor 20 C Fleet (3 races)

1 Friday, Zorayan, NHYC, 1-1-1=3 Total

2 Adios, Bretschger/Bretschger, BYC, 2-3-2=7 Total

3 Independence, Ray/Boullon, SSC, 3-2-4=9 Total

4 Summerwind, Kovacevic/Korvcevic, NHYC, 5-6-3=14 Total

5 Rascal II, Bacon/Wyatt BCYC, 4-5-5=14 Total

6 SkipHer, Waniek, BYC, 6-4-6=16 Total

7 Spiritus, Gable/Vorona, BYC, 8-8-8=24 Total

Thistle Fleet (2 races)

1 Larzelere, BYC, 1-2=3 Total

2 Foreman/Broconstone, BYC, 2-3=5 Total

3 White/Meyer, BCYC/LMVYC, 5-1=6 Total

4 Maxwell, BYC, 3-4=7 Total

5 Simons/Simons, BYC, 4-5=9 Total

ILCA Fleet (2 races)

1 Vandervort, BYC, 2-1=3 Total

2 Cook, BYC, 1-2=3 Total

3 Tilly, DPYC, 4-3=7 Total

4 Luttrell, BYC, 3-5=8 Total

5 Hemphill, BYC, 8-8=16 Total

5 Strasser, DRYC, 8-8=16 Total

5 Andrews, BYC, 8-8=16 Total

Lido 14 A Fleet (2 races)

1 McRae/Gorski, ABYC, 2-1=3 Total

2 Papadopoulos, WSC-OC, 1-2=3 Total

3 Robertson/Batchelor, MBYC, 4-3=7 Total

4 Lange/Mulcaire, ABYC, 3-4=7 Total

5 Long/Biram, BYC, 6-6=12 Total

Lido 14 B Fleet (2 races)

1 Waniek, BYC, 1-2=3 Total

Adult Sabot A Fleet (2 races)

1 Blank, BYC, 1-3=4 Total

2 Finkboner, SDYC, 5-1=6 Total

3 Lynch, BYC, 4-2=6 Total

4 Luttrell, BYC, 2-5=7 Total

5 Coon, MBYC, 3-6=9 Total

6 Beach, BYC, 7-4=11 Total

7 Acosta, DPYC, 6-7=13 Total

8 Ungerland, BYC, 8-8=16 Total

9 Kalscheur, BYC, 9-10=19 Total

10 Heavrin, ABYC, 11-11=22 Total

Adult Sabot B Fleet (2 races)

1 Ware, SSC, 2-3=5 Total

2 Descombes, SSC, 5-1=6 Total

3 Stockman, BYC, 4-2=6 Total

4 Power, BYC, 1-6=7 Total

5 Harmon, BYC, 3-6=9 Total

News relating to racing in or around Newport Harbor should be forwarded to Tom Johnson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

City staff shares proposed changes to city code, council policies at study session

By SARA HALL

During a study session last week, City Council heard a staff presentation on a number of proposed city code and council policy changes.

Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neill said he’s excited about the process. There was a lot of language that needed to be updated in the city code. The proposed redlines show the deletion of about 20,000 words, he said. There are still a lot words that could be removed, clarified, or updated, but that’s a good start, he added.

“That’s what happens when you’re a 100-year-old city, things just kind of accumulate and sometimes you just need to look at it,” O’Neill said.

This process started six years ago when they were reviewing the council polices, he said. They realized at that time there was a lot of information that needed to be updated. For example, a policy that states what button to push for a yes or no vote that referenced the old council chambers, which no longer existed after the new city hall was constructed in 2013. After closer inspection of the various policies, they deleted close to 30,000 words, he recalled.

“I’ve not seen us miss a beat,” after removing the outdated language from the policies, he said.

This time around, they knew there was some updating needed.

For example, they needed to consider rideshare services as they reviewed the code. There’s an arguable point to be made that section 5.12 (vehicles for hire) actually prohibits Uber in Newport Beach, O’Neill pointed out.

“I think that we should probably make sure that that’s not the case,” he said.

It was a “Herculean” task to go through all of this, added Councilmember Robyn Grant, commending the ad hoc committee and city staff who reviewed the documents. She had a lot of questions and input for the city attorney, who helped her understand all of the revisions.

“I’m just really looking forward to – now that we’ve vetted this document – hearing back from the community and knowing that it will serve our community well and be more consistent and more reliable for everyone to work with,” she said.

It was no small undertaking, Councilmember Lauren Kleiman agreed, thanking staff for their hard work on the effort.

“It did definitely need some major cleanup and it will be nice to bring it current and consistent with state law as well,” she said.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Sara Hall

An ad hoc committee and city staff worked on numerous proposed changes and updates to city code and council policies

The council’s Municipal Code and Council Policy Review Ad Hoc Committee reviewed the documents to provide recommendations concerning deleting or reducing language, and the advisability of applying sunset provisions for new and existing code provisions.

The committee was comprised of O’Neill and Kleiman, along with Mayor Noah Blom. They also requested recommendations regarding council policy changes from several city boards and commissions.

In regards to the Newport Beach municipal code, City Attorney Aaron Harp said the ad hoc committee primarily focused on standardizing provisions, protecting the city from liability, eliminating unnecessary and outdated language, and modifying provisions to address existing conditions.

The committee noticed there wasn’t a lot of standardization in the code, Harp said. They focused on putting provisions in Title 1 that could then be used elsewhere. Title 1 has a lot of definitions in it that are used throughout the code, he explained.

“But sometimes the chapters would redefine the same terms or define them slightly differently,” Harp said.

The ad hoc committee is recommending that the city use more definitions in the beginning of the code and eliminate repetitive or conflicting definitions throughout the rest of the municipal code.

Another area that the committee looked at was the standardization of citations, Harp noted. They went through the code and made them consistent. They also added a general provision that allows the incorporation of changes to state and federal law over time.

The way the code is written now, it will oftentimes provide the section and then note “as may be amended” or something similar, Harp explained, so they reduced all that language.

Currently, throughout the code it’s listed that authority can be given for designees to act on behalf of an official or employee. For example, in one specific section it might say that the public works director has the authority to issue a permit for outdoor dining, but then allow someone else to be designated to take action on behalf of the official.

“So rather than have all these issues with designees carried throughout the code, in Title 1 we provided that if you’re given authorization to act then you can designate someone on your behalf to act and then you have to keep a list of those people on file with the city clerk,” Harp said.

Harp explained that there were also a few other general standardized provisions: Process for Consumer Price Index adjustments; and the process for service of notices.

There was also a lot of discussion about ways to protect the city from liability, he noted.

For instance, one way the city can reduce risk is by ensuring that notice of the time to take action to file for judicial review is given in accordance to law. The committee is recommending that they set forth a process for judicial review so that city staff and the public know applicable process and deadlines.

There are many places in the code that give very specific provisions about insurance, Harp said. They are suggesting some insurance and indemnification requirements to be noted in Title 1 and reducing the specificity throughout the rest of the code. People can be referred to the risk manager, who would keep up to date on the amounts and types of insurance requirements, he said. They are also recommending broadening indemnification provisions in Title 1.

Also in Title 1, the section related to the authority of public officers needed a lot of work, Harp said.

“It was really confusing about who had authority to enforce the code and (under) what circumstances,” he said.

The committee worked to streamline that section and is recommending that a list of designees and who has authority to enforce the code be kept on file with the city clerk.

There were also several areas the committee thought where unnecessary language could be eliminated due to changed or outdated conditions. It’s proposed to remove: More than 20 separate provisions related to severability and another 20 related to penalties (all of which can be handled in Title 1); restrictions on home deliveries of alcohol (no longer applicable given current circumstances of groceries being delivered to residences); language about parking meters at city hall; multiple titles for the same position of department directors and provisions for the library fund (it no longer exists).

The committee spent a lot of time working on updating provisions, Harp said. Some didn’t align with state law and others were “lessons learned” from the COVID-19 pandemic, Harp explained. The recommended changes are updates to: Definitions and provisions related to emergency services; clarification on regulations for emergency in non-emergency ambulance providers; reflect rideshares and shift to local regulation regarding taxicabs; reflect changes in state law related to smoking; include horses and dogs as additional service animals and provide exception for police use and allowing the traffic engineer to comply with current standards related to vehicle regulations.

They also received recommendations from city boards and commissions, Harp said.

The Planning Commission recommended making the process of reporting residential building records voluntary instead of mandatory. It would reduce the cost and expedite real estate transactions, Harp explained. It will likely result in a reduction of revenue of around $150,000. It should definitely help realtors close deals quicker, he noted.

Commissioners also recommended a change related to fast and casual take-out service. The group suggested that a minor use permit be required if the project is within 100 feet of any residential zoning district, rather than the current 500 feet. This was suggested primarily because it doesn’t come up very often but it is a barrier to get a business started, Harp explained.

The PC also recommended to: Reference Title 21 (Local Coastal Program implementation plan) for bluffs in the coastal zone within the bluff overlay district in Title 20 (planning and zoning); eliminate chapters 20.34 and 21.34 (both related to the conversion or demolition of affordable housing) because they aren’t applicable in the city and clarify irrigation requirements for planting parkway trees.

In regards to City Council policies, the committee focused on consolidating provisions, eliminating conflicting provisions, aligning the council policies with city department practices, and updating provisions to reflect current circumstances.

There were five city boards and commissions that reviewed council policies for potential changes, added Assistant City Manager Tara Finnigan.

The most substantive modifications came back from the Parks, Beaches, & Recreation Commission, Finnigan noted. They recommended a few changes to policy section “B” (related to recreation and senior services). The ad hoc committee made no changes and forwarded the recommendations from the boards and commissions as they were suggested.

PB&R suggested the city eliminate section B-3 related to co-sponsorship of events. It’s unnecessary as it’s already covered in policy A-12 about discretionary grants, which includes special and community events.

The group also recommended eliminating language in section B-6 about the Newport Theater Arts Center regarding a waiver of fees because it is also captured in A-12.

Commissioners also recommended that language in section B-8, regarding bike, foot race and surf contest event policy, align local school surf league competition requirements with city department policy.

Under B-17, regarding parks, facilities, and recreation program donations, the commission recommended that the city remove the Santa Monica-style bench donation options. They also realigned the policy with the donation catalog.

Outside of section B, the commission also recommended: Updating the list of dedicated trees in section G-1, the policy that covers the retention, removal and maintenance of city trees; adding a requirement for irrigation of new parkway trees in G-6, a policy for the maintenance and planting of parkway trees, and adding requirements related to artificial turf and parkways under L-6, the policy regarding encroachments in the public rights-of-way.

They also suggested changes to B-1, B-12, B-13, B-14 and B-16. Those were primarily about clarifying and updating language, she explained.

During public comment, a few speakers made additional suggestions, cautioned about burying the substantive changes within the nearly 500-page document, and asked for more time to review the proposed changes.

There will be plenty of time to review this document, O’Neill replied. It’s available on the city website and attached to the agenda. This was a study session for review and discussion only, he reiterated, a vote won’t happen until the item returns to the council during a regular meeting.

“Given the scope of it, I 100% understand the need to spend some time reading through this one,” O’Neill said.

A hard copy will also be available at the city clerk’s office, Harp confirmed.

~~~~~~~~

Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.

Guest Column

Hon. Robyn Grant

City Councilmember, 4th District

City of Newport Beach

Halloween Edition:

Some of the Scariest Things to Happen (or Almost Happen) in Newport Beach

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of City of Newport Beach

Robyn Grant

People all over the world dream of visiting Newport Beach with its beautiful harbor, expansive beaches and enticing year-round climate. In fact, millions come each year, sometimes in the summer months the city’s population of about 87,000 residents can more than double with almost 100,000 additional daily tourists.

Yet many do not realize that since its incorporation in 1906, the beautiful coastal playground known as Newport Beach has also experienced its share of scary happenings which seem apropos to share on this Halloween night.

The Rendezvous Ballroom Burns – Twice

The iconic Rendezvous Ballroom was the site of not just one, but two of Newport’s most notable fires.

The Rendezvous was a popular dance hall built in 1928 during the Roaring Twenties. People came from all over Southern California to enjoy the big bands booked to play at the venue. Tragically, an unexplained fire broke out early one Sunday morning in 1935, extensively damaging the popular landmark.

Re-built with state-of-the art design and materials including concrete arched ceilings and a 12,000-square-foot floating hardwood dance floor that could accommodate 1,500 couples, for the next 30-plus years the Rendezvous was one of Orange County’s most important venues, even hosting celebrated “local” bands like the Righteous Brothers and Beach Boys.

Over time, the Rendezvous drifted in and out of favor, eventually falling into disrepute in the 1950s. The Newport Beach City Council revoked its license for a time in 1957 in response to complaints of wild melees and unsafe proclivities of the patrons. Eventually the venue’s license was reinstated under strict new rules.

But nothing lasts forever, and the Rendezvous caught fire a second time in August 1966. The blaze started in a janitor’s closet and quickly reduced the block-long brick structure to a charred shell, forever ending its historic run.

This former landmark is all but a memory and the site is now occupied with beachside condominiums.

Yacht Explosion and a Notorious Trial

Most people have never heard of it, but the 1940s were infamous for Newport Beach’s most high-profile “celebrity” murder case. This included a 133-day court trial with a circus-like murder mystery including its fair share of greed, packed courtrooms and a highly speculative verdict.

Courtesy of murderpedia.com

Buelah (Louise) Overell and George (Bud) Gollum, right, are shown on their way to the courtroom for attempted murder

The victims were Walter E. Overell, 62, and his wife Beulah, 57, who were killed on their 47-foot yacht, the Mary E, which exploded in the harbor east of Bay Island. The trouble began when the Overells’ daughter, Louise, became engaged to a local resident, George “Bud” Gollum. The Overells didn’t trust Bud and threatened to disinherit Louise if they married.

Newport Beach’s first Fire Chief, Frank Crocker (yes, a relative of the owners of what is now Crocker’s Hot Dogs on Balboa Island), investigated the crime scene and found unexploded sticks of dynamite and a time clock. The autopsy report revealed both Overalls suffered skull fractures that could not have been caused by the explosion.

Louise and Bud had been aboard the Mary E and rowed to shore just before the explosion. The coincidence seemed too convenient, murder was suspected and the young couple arrested. Evidence like proof of purchase of the dynamite, bloody shoes, and inconsistent stories linked the Louise and Bud to the explosion.

What at first seemed like a watertight case proved otherwise after the defense discredited the evidence and prosecution witnesses and the jury voted not guilty.

After the acquittal, the lives of Louise and Bud were never the same. The couple didn’t marry. Louise’s inheritance diminished considerably due to the cost of the trial. Their fame quickly faded and they both lived the remainder of their lives in obscurity with Bud dying in 2009 in Alaska and Louise in 1965 in Las Vegas, a victim of alcoholism.

Upper Newport Bay Could Have Been a Public Marina

In the early 1960s, proposed development of Upper Newport Bay included a sprawling public marina and hundreds of homes, boat slips and businesses. North Star Beach, now the site of the Newport Aquatic Center, was in jeopardy of becoming a private shoreline.

Courtesy of Newport Bay Conservancy

Upper Newport Bay, a globally significant hotspot of diversity

Local residents Fran and Frank Robinson, recognizing the site as important for public recreation and access, initiated a “Save the Bay” movement. After garnering resident support, litigation ensued as well as considerable aggressive lobbying at the city, county and state government level. Eventually, the Robinsons prevailed, and the invaluable Upper Newport Bay tidelands were designated as permanent public open space thereby protecting one of the few remaining saltwater estuaries on the California coast.

Not Well Deserved…

The Thomas and Jackie Hawks murder in 2004 was definitely not “well-deserved,” the name of their 55-foot yacht which figures prominently in their demise. The Hawkses lived on the Well Deserved as they sailed around the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California, but eventually decided to convert to land dwellers and advertised to sell the yacht.

The couple was last seen alive sailing out of Newport Harbor shortly after they met with Skylar Deleon and his pregnant wife, Jennifer, who feigned an interest in purchasing the Well Deserved. The yacht returned, but the Hawkses did not. A police inquiry led to the Deleons who claimed to have paid the Hawkses cash for the yacht.

An accomplice, Alonso Machain, eventually confessed to the crime testifying that during a sea trial of the boat, the couple was bound and thrown overboard, tied to the yacht’s anchor. The Deleons maintained their innocence publicly, speculating the Hawkses were killed over a bad drug deal.

Skylar was definitely a bad guy as he was also charged with soliciting the murder of his father and cousin and killing another unlucky victim, John Jarvi.  Skylar was found guilty of triple murder and sentenced to death. Jennifer Deleon was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.

Peter Chadwick Almost Got Away with Murder

Peter and Quee Choo (QC) Chadwick almost seemed like the perfect pair. Married for 21 years, the couple was raising three sons in Newport Coast.

Everything changed on October 10, 2012, when the Newport Beach Police Department learned that QC was missing. At the family home, police found an open safe and blood spatter. Detectives observed scratches on Chadwick’s neck and dried blood on his hands and he refused to answer questions about QC’s death. He was arrested in San Diego and charged with murder on October 11 after he fled to the Mexico border.

Click on photo for a larger image

File photo/Courtesy of OC Sheriff’s Dept.

NBPD’s social media campaign helped keep pressure on Peter Chadwick

Ultimately, Chadwick took authorities to a dumpster in San Diego County where QC was found. Chadwick posted $1 million bail, but vanished and remained a fugitive from justice for seven years. He was finally caught on August 4, 2019 after living off the grid near Puebla, Mexico.

In February 2022, Chadwick pled guilty to the second-degree murder of his wife. He was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison where he remains today.

Happy Halloween!

Robyn Grant is a member of the Newport Beach City Council. First elected in 2022, she represents the 4th District. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or @robynbgrant.

Regattas and Races…

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Bronny Daniels | Joysailing.com

2023 Corkscrew Cup

Newport Harbor Yacht Club

Saturday, Oct. 28

Harbor 20 (5 races)

1 Dahl, NHYC, 4-1-1-1-5=12 Total

2 Sail # 5, NHYC, 1-4-2-4-2=13 Total

3 Person, NHYC, 2-2-4-2-4=14 Total

4 Aschieris, NHYC, 3-5-3-3-1-15 Total

5 Hause/Peter/Peterson, NHYC, 5-3-5-5-3=21 Total

News relating to racing in or around Newport Harbor should be forwarded to Tom Johnson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Fair Game

By TOM JOHNSON

Chamber delves into the ugly impacts of fentanyl on our community with this week’s WAKE UP! Newport

Boo! Happy Halloween! Have fun with the kids tonight. And most importantly, everyone be safe.

• • •

Unfortunately, fentanyl is a huge problem. How big? Well, it seems everyone is talking about it…and for good reason. It’s scary! People are losing lives…many of them far too young.

The Newport Beach Chamber at their WAKE UP! Newport morning event on Thursday, Nov. 2, will feature Janice M. Celeste, president & CEO of FentanylSolution.org. who will address The Economic Impact of Fentanyl in Newport Beach.

FentanylSolution.org strives to raise awareness, provide education and mobilize action to prevent the spread of fentanyl. Their goal is to bring together individuals, families and organizations to work towards creating a safer future for everyone, especially our children.

WAKE UP! Newport features a complimentary continental breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by Janice’s program from 7:45-8:30 a.m. It takes place in the Friends Room at the Newport Beach Public Library and is free. RSVP to www.newportbeach.com so they may account for breakfast foods and coffee.

• • •

Mark it down: the Newport Harbor High School Parent Teacher Association will hold a Harbor Holiday Market on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The market will be held in the NHHS Small Gym and Courtyard.

Shop an artfully curated collective of home goods, locally crafted jewelry, hostess gifts, holiday gifts, clothing & accessories, gourmet treats and more.

A percentage of all purchases goes back to support the Newport Harbor PTA. It’s open to the public, with a $3 admission.

• • •

Next Wednesday, Nov. 8, Speak Up Newport will present a program discussing State Regulations on Group Homes in Newport Beach, along with other state mandates in California requiring cities to allow group homes in all residentially zoned neighborhoods.

Assemblywoman Diane Dixon and Mission Viejo Councilwoman Wendy Bucknum will be on hand to explain the state regulations and what is being done by local agencies to try to give cities better control over these facilities.

Topics will include:

–State mandates

–Types of group homes

–Licensing requirements

–Enforcement

The program will take place beginning at 5:15 p.m. with a reception (hosted by The Bungalow), followed by the program from 6-7 p.m. Two ways to attend – first, see and share during the event live at the Civic Center Community Room at 100 Civic Center Drive; or register here to view the meeting via Zoom.

Speak Up Newport is the non-profit community forum designed to present important issues to residents of Newport Beach.

There is no charge to attend.

• • •

The Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina and Cal Tri Events collectively present the 2023 Cal Tri Newport Dunes, the “world’s longest running triathlon operating from the same location,” this Sunday, Nov. 5 from 7 a.m.-12 p.m.

Registration is reportedly approaching 1,500 participants, bringing together athletes ages 9 to 81 and their supporters from 25 states and abroad.

Newport Dunes will be the site for the swim and run portions, with cycling taking place along Back Bay Drive and Eastbluff Drive between Jamboree Road and Vista del Oro.

Event organizers estimate the event will bring “a $5 million economic impact to the community.”

For more information about the triathlon and to register, go to https://newportdunes.californiatriathlon.org.

• • •

Speaking of economic impacts, a spokesperson for John Wayne Airport released information last week detailing a comprehensive Economic Impact Study for calendar year 2022 noting that JWA contributed more than $5.7 billion to the OC economy.

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of JWA

Flying our friendly skies

Further breakdowns show that this comprised $3.4 billion in direct impacts, $1.2 billion in indirect impacts and $1.2 billion in induced impacts.

Total employment exceeded 45,000 jobs, with $2.3 billion in labor income, with JWA directly impacting another 32,000 jobs, which resulted in another $1.4 billion in other labor income.

JWA achieved these results operating as an enterprise fund, where all costs to construct, operate and maintain JWA are generated through airline, concession and parking revenues, and various grants. There are no city, county, or state general funds used.

In 2022, JWA served more than 11.3 million passengers, including more than 314,000 international travelers, while air cargo exceeded 34.6 million pounds. JWA recorded 304,000 aircraft operations, with general aviation (privately owned aircraft) comprising 202,000 operations and commercial operations accounting for 101,000.

A comprehensive overview of JWA’s contributions is available online here.

• • •

This in from Terrilee Stevenson concerning Love Our Schools Day coming up this Saturday. Love Newport Beach and neighboring Love Costa Mesa are hosting the first annual Love Our Schools Day this Saturday, Nov. 4.

“The vision is to bring the community together to serve alongside the families of our local schools, so they know how valued they are by the community. We also want this day to be a catalytic event that helps bring more support around schools throughout the year,” said Stevenson.

Love Our Schools will be doing 40 projects at 17 schools this weekend throughout the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. The projects will take place from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. All volunteers will then be invited to a free lunch celebration at Vanguard University from 12-1 p.m. where there will be food, T-shirts, a bounce house, illusionist, balloon artist, face painting, a photo booth and more.

The projects are family friendly for people of all ages. You can sign up to volunteer at www.lovecostamesa.org.

The schools in Newport Beach that will have projects are Newport Elementary, Newport Heights, Lincoln, Mariners, Eastbluff and Harbor View.

• • •

Gloria Zigner, 92, a fixture in the local public relations field and arts community, passed away this past week following an extended illness, according to those close to her. Zigner is perhaps best known as the founder and executive producer of the CHOC Follies that annually raised money for Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Newport Beach – A Look Back

Photo series courtesy of Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach

Click on photo for a larger image

The Balboa Fun Zone was constructed in 1936 and entertained many visitors. It attracted many high school and college kids for spring break during Bal-Week, with its carousel, Ferris wheel, bumper cars, old-fashioned arcade, and different concessions like Balboa Bars and frozen bananas.

Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach and the Museum Store are located at 210 B Marine Ave., Balboa Island. They are open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free general admission on all days. Two-hour parking is available on Marine Avenue. For more information, call 949.675.3952, visit www.balboaislandmuseum.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Huntington Beach HS beats Newport Harbor and advances to win Laguna Beach sand invitational

Huntington Beach High School won the inaugural Laguna Beach High School Boys Sand Volleyball Invitational featuring 16 teams from some of the best boys’ volleyball programs in Orange County. The one-day, double-elimination tournament was for “King of the Beach.”

Huntington Beach won all matches, including over Newport Harbor #1 in the winner’s final, knocking the Tars to an elimination match with Edison #1. Edison prevailed in the match, 15-7, to advance to battle Huntington Beach for the Championship.

Corona del Mar and Pacific Christian (with two teams) also participated in the event.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Scott Brashier

Newport Harbor’s Grayson Springborn (right) prepares to hit over Huntington Beach block attempt

Championship

Huntington Beach beat Edison1, 21-16

One-Loss Each Final

Edison1 beat Newport Harbor1, 15-7

Winner’s Semifinal

Huntington Beach beat Newport Harbor1, 21-15

Winner’s Semifinals

Huntington Beach beat Edison1, 21-18

Newport Harbor1 beat Mira Costa1, 21-15

Loser’s Semifinals (added Edison1, Mira Costa1

Edison1 beat Edison2, 21-16

Mira Costa1 beat Laguna Beach1, 21-17

Loser’s Third Round (added Corona del Mar, Edison2, Laguna Beach1, San Clemente)

Corona del Mar beat Laguna Beach2, 21-11

Edison2 beat Newport Harbor 2, 21-14

Laguna Beach1 beat Mira Costa2, 21-10

Santa Margarita beat San Clemente, 21-18

Winner’s Second Round

Huntington Beach beat Laguna Beach1, 21-8

Edison1 beat San Clemente, 21-14

Mira Costa1 beat Corona del Mar, 21-14

Newport Harbor1 beat Edison, 21-15

Loser’s Second Round

Laguna Beach2 beat Pacifica Christian2, 21-12

Newport Harbor2 beat Capistrano Valley Christian, 21-11

Mira Costa2 beat Crean Lutheran, 21-13

Santa Margarita beat Pacifica Christian1, 21-12

Opening Round

(1)Huntington Beach beat (16)Pacific Christian2, 21-12

(8)Laguna Beach1 beat (9)Mira Costa2, 21-14

(5)San Clemente beat (12)Newport Harbor2, 21-14

(4)Edison1 beat (13)Capo Valley Christian, 21-9

(3)Corona del Mar beat (14)Crean Lutheran, 21-13

(6)Mira Costa1 beat (11)Laguna Beach2, 21-14

(10)Edison2 beat (7) Santa Margarita, 21-18

(2)Newport Harbor1 beat (15)Pacifica Christian1, 21-7

Financial literacy for teens workshop at NBPL

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Courtesy of NBPL

In partnership with OC Credit Union, the Newport Beach Public Library invites teens age 13 and up to come and learn about essential money matters including: spending/making/borrowing money; setting up a budget; the good, the bad and the ugly of credit cards; student loan basics; the best way to pay for college and more. Registration is recommended for this free event. Sign up here. Takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 1 from 5-6 p.m. in the Central Library’ Friends Meeting Room, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach.

Fast facts from Newport Beach Police to keep our community safe

A series courtesy of the Newport Beach Police Department

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Courtesy of NBPD

Going out of town?

The Newport Beach Police Department offers a free vacation check service for residents of Newport Beach. During your absence, as time permits, their volunteers will come to your home and perform a perimeter check of all doors and windows. To request this service, you may call 949.644.3717, or submit the request here: www.nbpd.org/what-we-do/services/vacation-check-request.

Halloween Spooktacular – a ghoulish good time at Mariners Park

The 6th Annual Halloween Spooktacular, presented by the City of Newport Beach’s Recreation & Senior Services Department, was a haunting day of eerie fun at Mariners Park on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 3-6 p.m.

Attendees enjoyed the trunk-or-treat, a haunted house, live music, games, bounce houses, food trucks and the ever-popular costume contest.

Judges for the Costume Contest, who had the difficult task of choosing their favorites from so many fun and clever entries, were Newport Beach City Councilmember Robyn Grant and Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commissioners Heather Ignatin and David Granoff.

Congratulations to these Costume Contest Winners!

–Spookiest:

~1st Place: Annabelle - Evie T.

~ 2nd Place: Sassy Skeleton - Catherine H.

–Funniest:

~1st Place: Parrot – Donovan N.

~ 2nd Place: Eminem - Elliot Courage

–Most Original:

~1st Place: Batman with Bat Mobile - Keegan and Lauren A.

~ 2nd Place: Hash Brown, Pancakes and Egg - Ryder Ye

~ 3rd Place: Mother Earth - Tiffany Lewis

–Best Duo:

~1st Place: Parrot – Police Duo – Shiva and son

~ 2nd Place: Eminem - Princesses - Nadya Denisoua and daughter

–Best Family:

~1st Place: Parrot – Monsters Inc. Family - James, Haven and Lori

~ 2nd Place: 101 Dalmatians Family - Tori Segura Family

–Howl-o-ween (dogs)

~Skeleton dog - Rosco Martinez

~Lion

~Hot dog

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Photos By Ed Olen

Two vampires awaiting some treats

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Alice in Wonderland and three colorful witches

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(L-R) NBPD Officers Ben Arnett and Jeremy Dutton with a SWAT “junior trainee”

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King Neptune and his family – dressed in their “all about the sea” costumes

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NBPD Sgt. Steven Oberon (left) and NBPD Officer Heather Thompson with a happy trick-or-treater giving the day a thumbs up

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(L-R) Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board Trustee Michelle Barto, Newport Beach Director of Recreation & Senior Services Sean Levin, NB Parks & Recreation Commissioner David Granoff, Newport Beach City Councilmember Robyn Grant and NB Parks & Recreation Commissioners Heather Ignatin and Diane Daruty

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Buzz Lightyear is joined by two cowgirls

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This family rocked the ‘80s

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A superhero and parrot hanging out

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Two sweet cowpokes

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Move over for this Superkid in his Whitty’s Wastemobile

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Spookiest Costume Winners (L-R): 2nd Place – Sassy Skeleton was Catherine H. and 1st Place – Annabelle was Evie T.

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Best Duo Costume Winners (L-R): 1st Place – Police Duo was Shiva and son and 2nd Place – Princesses was Nadya Denisoua and daughter, pictured with PR&B Commissioners David Granoff and Heather Ignatin and City Councilmember Robyn Grant

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City Councilmember Robyn Grant with Best Family Costume Contest Winners (L-R): 1st Place – Monsters Inc. Family (James, Haven and Lori), PR&B Commissioners Heather Ignatin and David Granoff and 2nd Place – 101 Dalmatians Family – Tori Segura Family

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Funniest Costume Winners (L-R): 2nd Place – Eminem was Elliott C. and 1st Place – Parrot was Donovan N. with PR&B Commissioner David Granoff, City Councilmember Robyn Grant and PR&B Commissioner Heather Ignatin

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This NASA astronaut is having fun at the cone toss

For more Halloween Spooktacular photos by Ed Olen, go to the slideshow below:

{gallery}halloweenSpooktacular2023{/gallery}

The Week in Review

A weekly newsletter from City Manager Grace L. Leung

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Courtesy of City of Newport Beach

Newport Beach City Manager Grace Leung

Community Members:

To help ensure a safe holiday, I encourage parents to review the Newport Beach Police Department’s Halloween Safety Tips, which include:

–Trick-or-Treat in your own neighborhood.

–Trick-or-Treat in a group of two or more, accompanied by a parent or adult.

–Stick to well-lighted areas.

–Stay on sidewalks and look both ways when crossing the street. Never cross the street between parked cars or mid-block.

–Don’t allow your child to enter any house.

–Discuss the importance of respecting the property of others.

–Establish a specific route for trick-or-treating (so that you can find your child, if necessary).

–Establish a time that your child should return home.

As a reminder, curfew in Newport Beach is 10 p.m. and all fireworks are illegal.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

City Manager, Grace K. Leung

Free Document Shredding, E-Waste Disposal and Mulch Giveaway on November 18

Newport Beach residents are invited to bring documents for shredding and household electronic waste for disposal on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Public Works Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave.

In addition, free mulch will be offered at two locations on November 18: the Corporation Yard and Bonita Canyon Sports Park, 1990 Ford Road. Please note that the Bonita Canyon site will be for mulch giveaway only (no shredding or e-waste disposal).

Mulch is being provided by OC Waste and Recycling, which creates high-quality mulch from residential organic (green) waste collected in Newport Beach. Mulch pickup is limited to 60 gallons per resident, per vehicle, for residential use only; commercial trailers and vehicles will not be permitted.

The mulch is not bagged, so come prepared with shovels, as well as bags, tarps, or containers. Be prepared to load the mulch into your own trunk or truck bed.

Newport Beach residency will be verified, so please bring identification. No hazardous or medical waste will be accepted.

For questions, call the city’s Public Works Department at 949.644.3311.

Proposed Municipal Code Changes Available for Public Review

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, the Newport Beach City Council held a study session to review potential changes to the city’s Municipal Code and Council policies.

The proposed revisions delete, reduce or clarify language and apply sunset provisions for new and existing code. The City Council will consider adopting the proposed changes at their November 14 meeting. The proposed changes are available for public review on the city’s website.

Balboa Island Bridge to Close for Street Repaving November 5-6 Following Water Main Replacement

Replacement of a water main line that serves Balboa Island, which required shutting down the Balboa Island bridge to vehicle traffic for several nights earlier (last) week, has been completed.

The bridge will be closed again, for two nights on November 5 and 6, from 10 p.m.-5 a.m., for final connection to the new water main and street repaving.

As with (last) week’s bridge closure, the Balboa Island Ferry will run throughout the night to provide access to and from the Island. Residents and visitors should plan to access Balboa Island via the ferry. Arrangements have been made to allow emergency vehicle access as needed.

This replacement water main work is being done in advance of the Balboa Island utility undergrounding improvements, which property owners approved in 2021. Older water mains are being replaced ahead of the undergrounding work planned for January 2024 on North Bayfront.

For questions, contact the city’s Public Works Department at 949.644.3330.

Mosquito Season Tips from OC Vector Control

Warmer than usual fall temperatures, Hurricane Hillary, late summer rains and an invasive mosquito known as the “ankle biter” or the Aedes egypti have conspired to make this mosquito season one of the most difficult to date.

Beyond the nuisance factor, mosquitoes can cause sickness and even death through the disease agents they can carry, including Zika and West Nile virus. While cooler weather will eventually put a damper on mosquito activity, the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District offers the following tips to protect yourself and your family.

Take steps to prevent mosquito bites:

–Before going outdoors, apply mosquito repellent containing DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin. Reapply as recommended.

–Close all unscreened doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home or space. Repair broken or damaged screens.

–Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and opt for lighter colored clothing.

Eliminate mosquito breeding sources from your property:

–Dump and drain any containers filled with water at least once a week.

–Clean and scrub bird baths and pet water bowl weekly.

–Dump water from potted plant saucers.

–Do not grow, transport, or share plant stems rooted in water.

–Drill a hole or puncture containers to eliminate standing water.

For more information or to schedule a free mosquito inspection with Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, visit ocvector.org or call 714.971.2421.

Mobile Café Brings NBPD, Residents Together to Discuss Public Safety Issues

The Newport Beach Police Department held another successful Mobile Café event on Saturday, Oct. 21 at the Newport Beach Fire Station on Balboa Island. NBPD officers, volunteers and staff enjoyed meeting with residents to discuss public safety and community issues.

Thank you to all those who participated, including partners Irvine Ranch Market, Balboa Island Baking Company and Balboa Jerky Company, who brought a taste of Balboa Island to the event.

Stay tuned for information on the next Mobile Café.

Be Well Mobile Crisis Response Update

The Be Well Mobile Crisis Response team operates in Newport Beach 12 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to mental and behavioral health crises. The mobile unit is staffed with mental health specialists and works closely with the city’s police and fire departments.

(Last) week, the Be Well team:

–Transported three people to the sobering station at the Be Well campus for treatment.

–Transported a person to the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter for an intake.

–Transported a person to a hospital for treatment after resolving a mental health crisis.

–Transported three people to services in other cities after resolving mental health crises.

TO REACH BE WELL: The mobile crisis team is dispatched through the Newport Beach Police Department. To request service, dial 911 or call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 949.644.3717.

Homelessness Update

(Last) week, the city’s homeless outreach and response teams:

–Continued to shelter people. Twenty-four people who had been experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach were sheltered in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.

–Transported a client to the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter for an intake.

–Transported a client to social services to obtain a new photo ID and federal benefits card.

–Transported a client to a medical appointment required for his housing process.

–Met with two clients to follow up on the status of their Housing Choice Voucher applications.

–Submitted housing documents and an apartment application for a client.

–Enrolled a new client into City Net’s social services.

Click here to view the latest homeless dashboard, which includes key monthly and yearly data on the city’s homeless response.

Click here for information on the city’s Good Giving program.

This Week’s Events

Thursday, Nov. 2

Water Quality Coastal Tidelands Committee Meeting

Crystal Cove Conference Room, Bay 2D

100 Civic Center Drive – 3-4:30 p.m.

See Full Schedule

Editor’s Note: City Manager’s Updates was received Friday, Oct. 27 and is subject to editing so the information is current.

How does an East Coast transplant wind up in Orange County painting global landscapes?

Sherry Marger is an acrylic landscape painter, born in New York City, but raised in New Jersey. As a youngster, never having been to an airport or on an airplane, little did she suspect that in the future, she would be able to fly to far off places of more interest and experience firsthand the astounding beauty that awaited her.

After graduating from a teacher’s college with a BA degree in Art Education, Marger had a brief junior high school teaching career. But her basic abilities for representational artwork developed over the years by teaching others and observing many artists from a variety of different geographical areas.

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Photos courtesy of Sherry Marger

Balboa Pavilion is captured in “Balboa’s Best” by Sherry Marger

Studying computer graphics and layout design, led to a position at a public health department working on instructional materials for educators. Eventually, she started her own business designing custom invitations.

It wasn’t until much later in life, when she started traveling that she began to paint more seriously. Always having photographed, catalogued and then assembled albums of trips, she realized how painting could further interpret her traveling world experiences to herself and to others. Traveling became her inspiration. Destination Art has become her passion. As a studio artist, she works in an impressionistic style with acrylic paints. Plein air watercolor sketching is done on location to lay the groundwork for the finished paintings done on either canvas or paper in her studio.

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Sherry Marger’s “Misty Bluffs Orange” of Upper Newport Bay

Marger’s professional affiliations have been with Orange County Fine Arts and the Huntington Beach Art League. She has held one woman shows, entitled “Destination Art” in Orange County, Calif. In September and October of 2015, a showing of her artwork was exhibited in the showcases as a participant in John Wayne Airport’s (JWA) Community Focus Space Program. Her paintings are in private collections in California, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Sweden.

Her last show at the Newport Beach Central Library was right before COVID. Since traveling was limited the next couple of years, she decided to make the local scenery subjects of her artwork.

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Sherry Marger’s “Looking beyond Corona” takes in a view of Little Corona’s Arch Rock

Marger’s current show at Newport Beach Central Library, entitled “The Art of Travel,” has 30 paintings, eight of which are Upper Newport Bay, as well as a few iconic scenes in and around Balboa and Corona del Mar. And of course, several from trips abroad and around the U.S. She encourages you to take a scenic tour and maybe be inspired to check out these views locally or even recognize some places that you have visited or might want to travel to eventually. The exhibition, presented by the City of Newport Beach Arts Commission, runs through December 15. Works on display are available for purchase.

Newport Beach Central Library is located at 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach.

For more information about Sherry Marger, visit sherrymargerart.weebly.com.

Newport Chamber Honors – A special evening to celebrate 2023 Citizen of the Year and Business Person of the Year

On Friday, Oct. 27, the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce honored the 2023 Citizen of the Year Laird Hayes and the 2023 Business Person of the Year Robert “Bob” D. Olson at Newport Beach Honors – a gala reception and sit-down dinner and program at the Balboa Bay Resort.

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Photos by Ed Olen

(L-R) 2023 Citizen of the Year Laird Hayes and the 2023 Business Person of the Year Robert “Bob” D. Olson

Attendees enjoyed the camaraderie of gathering together to mix and mingle during the reception, then proceeded to the ballroom for a delicious three-course dinner of roasted beet and goat cheese salad, glazed short rib and Madagascar vanilla panna cotta for dessert.

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Steve Rosansky welcomed the audience and recognized past Citizens of the Year, dignitaries and table sponsors, followed by comments from Newport Beach Mayor Noah Blom.

Honorees Laird Hayes and Bob Olson were introduced by Rush Hill, 1997 Citizen of the Year, who noted their many accomplishments and contributions to Newport Beach, along with videos of community leaders sharing their heartfelt sentiments and congratulations.

Both Hayes and Olson were awarded plaques and gifts (including a mounted hammer for Olson and a signed football for Hayes). David Beek, 2022 Citizen of the Year, presented Hayes with his Citizen of the Year pin. Both Olson and Hayes made endearing acceptance speeches (and shared entertaining stories). Adding to the festivities, Hayes handed out Orange Coast College memorabilia to Rosansky, Olson and Hill.

The memorable evening culminated with closing remarks from Rosansky.

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(L-R) 2022 Citizen of the Year David Beek, Newport Beach City Councilmember Robyn Grant and Steve Rosansky

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(L-R) Newport Beach City Manager Grace Leung, Steve Rosansky, Marin Blom, Newport Beach Mayor Noah Blom and Newport Beach Fire Chief Jeff Boyles

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State Assemblywoman Diane Dixon and Seymour Beek (2005 Citizen of the Year)

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(L-R) Former NBPD Chief Jon Lewis, Harbormaster Paul Blank and Newport Beach Police Chief Joe Cartwright

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(L-R) Laird Hayes and David Beek

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(L-R) Newport Beach City Councilmember Lauren Kleiman, Walt Howald (2021 Citizen of the Year) with his wife, Karen

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(L-R) Gary Sherwin, President & CEO of Visit Newport Beach and Newport Beach & Company with Assemblywoman Dixon and Newport Beach City Councilmember Joe Stapleton (2020 Citizen of the Year)

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(L-R) Police Chief Joe Cartwright, Laird Hayes and Fire Chief Jeff Boyles

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Rush Hill (1997 Citizen of the Year/NB Chamber Commodore) with NB Chamber Commodore Marie Case

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(L-R) Nancy Scarbrough (NB Finance Committee member), Nancy Gardner (2019 Citizen of the Year) and Nancy Skinner (2014 Citizen of the Year)

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(L-R) Councilmember Joe Stapleton, Laird Hayes and Julie Jacobs

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(L-R) Newport Beach Lifeguard Captain Andy Hayes (Laird’s son) and Fire Chief Jeff Boyles

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Citizens of the Year, past and present (L-R) Front: Joe Stapleton, Rush Hill, Lula Halfacre, Laird Hayes, Nancy Skinner, Nancy Gardner and Paul Watkins. (L-R) Back: Tom Johnson, Debbie Snavely, Seymour Beek, Scott Paulsen, Homer Bludau, Walt Howald and David Beek.

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Steve Rosansky at the podium welcoming attendees

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(L-R) Steve Rosansky, Rush Hill, Bob Olson (with mounted hammer) and Andy Smith, Chamber board chair presenting the Business Person of the Year plaque

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(L-R) David Beek presented Hayes with his Citizen of the Year pin

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(L-R) Steve Rosansky presented Laird Hayes with a signed football, heralding back to his NFL referee days

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(L-R) Steve Rosansky, Laird Hayes (holding Citizen of the Year plaque) and Rush Hill

For more Newport Chamber Honors photos by Ed Olen, go to the slideshow below:

{gallery}newportChamber2023{/gallery}

Fall is in the air

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Photo by Mary Hurlbut

Leaves on the ground are a sign that autumn has arrived

Historic voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa to visit Newport Beach, October 30-November 4

Legendary Hawaiian canoe Hōkūleʻa, known for reviving the lost art of Polynesian voyaging and navigation, is currently docked in Marina Del Rey, Calif. The traditional double-hulled canoe has been sailing from Southeast Alaska down the Pacific Coast since June 2023, when the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) launched the Moananuiākea Voyage and began its four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific. Weather-permitting, Hōkūleʻa will depart Marina Del Rey on Monday, Oct. 30 and set sail for her next stop: Newport Beach!

The canoe is expected to arrive at approximately 4 p.m. that afternoon at the Newport Sea Base, where the crew will receive a ceremonial welcome by the community. After Newport Beach, Hōkūleʻa will stop in Dana Point and San Diego before heading back to Hawaiʻi prior to continuing the circumnavigation of the Pacific.

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Photos courtesy of Polynesian Voyaging Society

Hōkūleʻa on the open water

A tentative schedule of public events can be found at hokulea.com and @hokuleacrew on Facebook and Instagram, giving the public several opportunities to join in the celebration of Hōkūleʻa’s awe-inspiring voyage and the movement to care for the earth and its oceans. (Check back at hokulea.com regularly. Schedule is weather dependent and subject to change.)

Newport Beach Schedule (subject to change, weather-permitting)

Newport Scout Sea Base – October 30-November 4

–Monday, Oct. 30

4-6 p.m.

Welcome Ceremony at Newport Scout Sea Base, 1931 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. A flotilla is expected to greet the sailing ship.

–Wednesday, Nov. 1

9-10:30 a.m. – Public Canoe Tours at Newport Scout Sea Base.

2:30-5 p.m. – Public Canoe Tours at Newport Scout Sea Base.

–Thursday, Nov. 2

6-8 p.m.

Crew presentation at Orange Coast College Boathouse, 1801 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.

The last time Hōkūleʻa sailed down the coast of California was 28 years ago in 1995. For more information, go here.

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A view of the rigging

The Moananuiākea Voyage will cover an estimated 43,000 nautical miles, 36 countries and archipelagoes, nearly 100 indigenous territories and more than 300 ports. Led by the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), the voyage is a global educational campaign that will amplify the vital importance of oceans and indigenous knowledge through port engagements, education and storytelling. The goal of the voyage is to ignite a movement of 10 million “planetary navigators” by developing young leaders and engaging communities around the world to take part in navigating earth towards a healthy, thriving future.

Last month, PVS CEO Nainoa Thompson announced a major change to the Moananuiākea Voyage sail plan. In the wake of the devastating fires on Maui, Hōkūleʻa will return home from San Diego, Calif. in late December, before continuing on the circumnavigation of the Pacific. Click here for more details.

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Hōkūleʻa’ revives the traditional art and science of wayfinding – navigating the sea guided by nature using the ocean swells, stars and wind

A symbol of cultural revival, Hōkūleʻa’s story is being shared on this journey to inspire other indigenous communities. This replica of an ancient Polynesian voyaging canoe was built 49 years ago and revitalized voyaging and navigation traditions throughout the Pacific. The canoe’s twin hulls allow her to handle large ocean swells and recover easily in the troughs of waves, and her triangular canvas sails can harness winds up to 20 knots. Hōkūleʻa first set out on the Pacific Ocean in 1975. Through the revival of the traditional art and science of wayfinding – navigating the sea guided by nature using the ocean swells, stars and wind – Hōkūleʻa sparked a Hawaiian cultural renaissance and has reawakened the world’s sense of pride and strength as voyagers charting a course for our Island Earth. Hōkūle’a continues to bring people together from all walks of life. She is more than a voyaging canoe – she represents the common desire shared by the people of Hawaii, the Pacific and the world to protect our most cherished values and places from disappearing.

Fair Game

By TOM JOHNSON

The 2024 local election scene is officially underway as Nancy Scarbrough throws hat in ring for Council seat

You heard it here FIRST – the Newport Beach local elections are officially underway! Nancy Scarbrough, a community activist and member of the Newport Beach Finance Committee, has officially launched her campaign to replace termed-out City Councilmember Brad Avery for his open District 2 seat in 2024.

I asked Nancy to explain her community involvement:

–“For the past 5+ years I have immersed myself in the important issues facing our city. The Finance Committee reviews the City’s budgets and revenue projections and makes recommendations to the City Council.  As a member, I have the opportunity to learn about Newport’s revenue sources, capital improvement projects, investment policies, department functions and structure. It’s all fascinating.

–“I participate in the planning for the future of Newport Beach as a member of the Newport Beach General Plan Update Committee and several of the subcommittees (Safety, Natural Resources, Recreation and the Vision Statement). I follow housing issues handed down by the State in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) and I regularly speak at City Council and Planning Commission meetings on housing issues.”

–I am on the Formation Committee for the Newport Beach Housing Trust, whose purpose is to provide funding for workforce and senior housing (think police and fire, hospital workers). Since the State is mandating that we provide affordable housing (a very difficult task in a city with high property values like Newport Beach), we should define what type of housing that can be, and where we want to put it. We should devise a well-thought-out plan for that growth. You can learn more about the Housing Trust at https://nbhousingtrust.org.

(I would like to know that my children and our seniors could continue to find housing in the neighborhoods where they have grown up and raise their families.)

So Nancy, in your mind, what are the biggest issues facing NB?

–Mandates from the State of California. We are being told that we have no voice in planning developments in our city. This is unacceptable and there are efforts underway to get a California Constitutional amendment on the ballot that would return zoning and land use decisions back to local government.

–The proliferation of Group Homes and the recent laws passed by the State that limit our ability to regulate them. There are recently signed laws that will make it more difficult to deal with this issue.

–The intendant traffic that comes with the increased housing mandates. The concerns regarding e-bikes and the consequences that are bound to arise. More cars and more bikes sharing the same roadways needs to be managed more thoughtfully.

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Courtesy of NancyforNewport.com

Nancy Scarbrough announces run for Council seat

The last election cycle got ugly at times, what do we do to rid Newport Beach of that?

I would like to focus on the job in front of us. There is so much work to be done and we have bigger battles to deal with. I want to talk about what I can do for Newport Beach.

Spending time tearing others apart doesn’t seem productive. I am a founding member of Good Neighbor Newport (www.goodneighbornewport.org). We have written a Code of Ethics for candidates. It’s completely voluntary and I plan to sign it."

To find out more about Nancy Scarbrough or to connect to her, go to https://NancyforNewport.com.

• • •

I checked in with friend Jack Jasper at Campus JAX with a simple question: anything going on over there?

His response, “Tuesday night is Halloween and a singer-songwriter night with local musicians playing originals; Wednesday night is a Corvette Club evening, with no music but about 50 to 60 Corvettes that come for a once-a-month meeting the first Wednesday of the month; Thursday night is a fantastic Steamers Jazz night with an amazing group; Friday night is a local country artist; Saturday night is our own Matt Mauser doing his Sinatra and Sunday a.m. is a spiritual living church service from 10:30-11:30 a.m., with an Americana/roots/rockabilly Deke Dickerson and the Whippersnappers Show.”

And he reminded me that this kind of stuff goes on all month long, with great musicians, events and food.

Well, okay! Sounds like we all need to be hanging out more at Campus Jax.

The reason I even asked is that Jack is celebrating 34 years of being a localrestaurateur serving his unique “CaliforniCajun” cuisine and doing wonderful things in this community to help those in need.

Campus JAX is located at 3950 Campus Drive in Newport Beach.

• • •

It’s that time of year for boat owners to register for the Christmas Boat Parade and for on-the-water residences to sign-up for the Ring of Lights.

The 115th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights runs from December 13-17.

Go here to register.

• • •

Chrysanthemum Show & Sale is at Sherman Library & Gardens this weekend, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Dating back to the 15th century, the Chinese first cultivated the Chrysanthemum as a culinary herb in teas, salads and other foods; the plant quickly made its way to nearby Japan, where it still holds a place of reverence. The Supreme Order of The Chrysanthemum is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Japanese citizen, with only seven non-Imperial citizens having received the award within their lifetime, with eight others receiving the award posthumously.

However, opinion of the Chrysanthemum changed in Europe and carries over into American culture, where both associate it with death and funeral practices.

In any case, explore the beauty and variety of the “Queen of the Fall,” the Chrysanthemum in “myriad of shapes, sizes and vibrant colors.”

• • •

The Sixth Annual Halloween Spooktacular is tomorrow (Oct. 28) from 3-6 p.m. in Mariners Park. It’s a free community event, includes live music, a trunk-or-treat area, a haunted walk-through, carnival games, bounce houses, costume contests and food trucks.

It’s organized by the Newport Beach Recreation & Senior Services Department.

• • •

Reading in the Redwoods is this Sunday (Oct. 29) at the Environmental Nature Center. It’s a family-friendly nature exploration where participants read a book and then engage in hands-on activities around what relates to the book’s particular theme.

This weekend, Kass DeBoer, the Early Childhood Education Specialist, will read Aaaarrgghh, Spider by Lydia Monks.

Attendees should bring your own towel or blanket to sit on. Parents are expected to remain with their children at all times. All ages are welcome. Participants can register via the link here.

Adults are free, children – pre-registered members are $5; pre-registered non-members are $7.

Check-in is from 9:45-10 a.m.; story reading is from 10-10:15 a.m.; followed by hands-on activities from 10:15 to 11 a.m.-ish.

• • •

Still need more?

It’s all about costumes, cars and Oktoberfest when the Knights of Columbus Balboa Council presents the Fifth Annual Newport Beach Classic Car and Truck Festival tonight (Friday, Oct. 27) from 4-10 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 28 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Festivities include:

–Friday, Oct. 27: Friday Night Trunk or Treat Fright Cruise-in at the Newport Pier from 4-6 p.m. with candy in the cars for the kids. There will be a costume contest, drinks and food specials during a poker run (Mutt Lynch’s and Blackie’s at the Pier, and also at the Helmsman Ale House and The Alley from 6-8 p.m.) Poker run stops earn you points for prizes. There is also a car pre-show, where you can register your car early at the Pier.

–Saturday, Oct. 28: The Car Show (unique classic and exotic cars and trucks) takes place from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Car prizes will be awarded at 2 p.m. The car show takes place on the large, paved area in front of the beach at 1327 W. Balboa Blvd. (accessible from 13th and 14th streets on the beach side). Vendors will be open until 4 p.m.

–There is an Oktoberfest Beer Garden with bands at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church parking lot at 1441 W. Balboa Blvd. They will be selling brats and beer as you enjoy live music, courtesy of The Chris Farmer Jimmy Buffet Tribute Show, The Beach Boys Tribute Band and Ready or Not Band. Enjoy raffle prizes and giveaways, a costume bike parade, best costume contest, games for the kids, trophies for car show winners and trick or treat. Free admission.

Also, check out the Newport Beach Annual Snow and Surf Expo and Sale from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the car show venue, 1327 W. Balboa Blvd. While a DJ spins the tunes, come explore the Village of Vendors with ski and snow retailers, and info on resorts & travel.

Event proceeds benefit the Knights of Columbus Balboa Council’s charities.

For more info and to register your classic car or truck, visit https://newportbeachclassiccarfestival.org.

Commission again continues tennis club project; frustration builds with disputing operators under same permit

By SARA HALL

After nearly three hours of discussion last week, a frustrated Planning Commission once again continued a contentious item following an appeal against a staff-approved use permit for a tennis court project, previously allowing for an extension after the appellant couldn’t attend the hearing, and a dispute involving pickleball and parking couldn’t come to a mutual resolution.

Commissioners voted 5-0 (Chair Curtis Ellmore and Vice Chair Mark Rosene were absent) to continue the appeal hearing of the staff approval of a use permit for the Champion’s Club project, located at 1107 and 1171 Jamboree Road, until the December 7 meeting.

Although the facility has historically been run by one operator, the club is located on two parcels which now have two separate property owners. Parking is exclusively located on the lot proposed to be operated by the Champions Club, whereas Palisades Tennis Club does not have any on-site parking. The staff-approved permit included a condition that ensured parking would be made available to the Palisades. It also included conditions which prohibit pickleball and ensures that restrooms are available for Champions Club members at the Hyatt Hotel.

Last week, staff recommended several notable conditions for the commission to consider: Condition three requires that all spaces in parcel are dedicated to tennis club use. A minimum of 78 parking spaces dedicated between parcel #2 and the hotel site are for tennis club use; condition four states that any special events for tennis clubs are to be coordinated with the Hyatt Hotel to avoid parking issues; condition five allows members of Champions Club to have access to restroom facilities at the Hyatt Hotel, and condition six directs that no pickleball activities of any kind were allowed within the tennis clubs, unless an amendment is approved.

They are reviewing an acrimonious situation with a lot of competing interests, said Commissioner Brady Barto, and they need to evaluate the context of a planning commissioner, which relates to land use decisions. This unusual situation involves a split piece of property that was contemplated to be a single property, he explained, and the dispute is ongoing.

“I’m frustrated by the situation,” Barto said.

His goal is to ensure that the courts are fully operational and accessible and there is compliance with the permit, he said.

“As I look at these permits, I’m concerned that neither club – with what’s being proposed tonight – is satisfying the permit,” Barto said. “I think both clubs need to be thinking about that and they should think about the importance of working together on this because I think after the lease was split, I think it put everybody in jeopardy under this permit. I hope that it isn’t impossible to resolve because if it is that’s bad for everyone.”

Assistant City Attorney Yolanda Summerhill asked if the commission would like a proposed modification to condition three (associated with the parking) that would provide more assurance that Palisades would have parking available.

Looking at the totality of it, the use permit is about parking, but also events that they’ll share and other “operational impossibilities” that are being set up, noted Commissioner Jonathan Langford.

“I just don’t want to set them up to fail and then everyone comes back here soon because now we’ve made it impossible for these two acrimonious groups to fulfill the obligations of their use permit,” he said.

If they’re going to add more conditions, they should write up all of them, he said, so they can look at how each facility operates and their parking needs. Due to the nature of the dispute, they likely won’t “play nicely” and share for events, he pointed out.

“If we do want to approve it, then we need to address all of the conditions and really put together a whole new use permit (instead of) trying to duct tape it all together, otherwise it’s going to fall apart right after tonight,” Langford said.

It’d be difficult to piecemeal a lot of different conditions together and not miss something, added Commissioner David Salene.

“It’s very apparent that the conditions as they’re written now are simply inadequate. They just don’t address so many concerns that have been brought up tonight by so many groups,” Salene said.

They can try to patch it up from the dais or let staff and the involved parties work it out, he said. Then the commission can review it when it’s more complete.

They could rule on it and let the cards fall where they may, or give it a couple more weeks to let staff work over some of the concerns they have, suggested Commissioner Lee Lowrey.

Assistant City Manager Seimone Jurjis recommended they bring it back at the next commission meeting.

“We need time to figure it out too,” he said.

Click on photo for a larger image

Rendering submitted by CMG/courtesy the city of Newport Beach

Project plans for “The Champions Club,” by Champion Management Group, on courts previously used by Palisades Tennis Club

The key issues are access, parking and events, he pointed out.

Obviously, the parking needs to be worked out, Salene said. They’ve discussed one possible idea that Champions Club can’t operate until they’ve worked out an agreement with Palisades on the parking.

Also, access is inadequate, he noted, but there are options that the Champions Club could utilize. The condition regarding tournament schedule and limitations should also be discussed, he added.

“If staff could address some of these key issues, I think we could come up with a better specific land use-based decision,” Lowrey said.

The original use permit was approved in 1973 and authorized the construction of a private tennis club with lighted courts, known then as the John Wayne Tennis Club. At the time, the club consisted of two separate parcels jointly owned by The Irvine Company. TIC sold the parcels to two separate owners in 1992, but the courts remained under a single operator, which was renamed the Palisades Tennis Club.

Palisades operated a total of 16 tennis courts under two separate leases to use both pieces of property until parcel #2, which is now owned in common with the adjacent Hyatt Hotel, was recently discontinued. Palisades previously faced issues with the land lease on the property.

In a letter to the city dated August of this year, Gary Stougaard, a representative for WCP Newport LLC, the owner of the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Hotel, said they are finalizing a sublease with Champion Management Group for use of the land, which WCP leases from JGKallins Investments Newport, LLC. Stougaard wrote that CMG plans to convert the courts for future pickleball use, but have applied to the city for an interim use agreement for their continued current use as tennis courts.

While they work on the terms of the agreement and related parking facilities with CMG, Stougaard confirmed that they will provide interim access to on-site parking to Palisades Tennis Club members while negotiations proceed on a new parking lease with the Palisades.

On August 3, the community development director agreed with staff finding substantial conformance with the previously approved use permit and authorized a new operator, Champion Management Group, Inc., to separately operate six courts on parcel #2 under the name “The Champions Club.” These six courts were previously part of the Palisades Tennis Club.

There are no physical improvements proposed for the continued tennis operations, and pickleball activities are not proposed at this time and are prohibited within the operation. The Palisades Tennis Club will continue to operate the remaining 10 courts and adjacent clubhouse on parcel #1.

On August 14, Tom Duddy filed an appeal of the staff-approved permit for the Champions Club project. In the appeal application, Duddy noted several points which he stated as grounds for the appeal. He claimed:

–The director’s decision did not proceed in the manner required by law.

–The director’s decision was an abuse of discretion and was not supported by the findings and the findings were not supported by the evidence.

–The director’s decision violated the California Environmental Quality Act because it did not consider the “whole of an action,” as required by CEQA guidelines.

–The director’s decision did not properly consider the relevant provisions of the coastal act as it did not properly consider the whole of the action.

Use of the six courts for tennis play and instruction has not commenced pending resolution of the subject appeal.

At their September 21 meeting, commissioners voted 5-2, with Vice Chair Mark Rosene and Commissioner David Salene dissenting, to continue the appeal. The appellant was unable to attend the hearing and requested the continuance. The appellant’s representative, who had indicated he would attend the meeting, was also absent.

Staff believes the appellant is concerned the applicant will convert the courts to accommodate pickleball and that the city has not adequately examined the whole of what the applicant intends. The applicant has not filed an application to change the existing use, but has indicated they want to continue the existing authorized use. The staff approval preserves existing rights to continue tennis use consistent with the previously-approved permit. If they want to modify the allowed tennis use of the site in the future to potentially accommodate pickleball, other permits and/or an amendment would be required.

There’s a two-pronged test the commission needs to consider, Summerhill said.

First, is whether or not future expansion (including the addition of pickleball) needs to be contemplated as part of a project. Once they hit that prong and analyze what’s in front of them, the answer is no, she said. Pickleball is not part of this project, it’s prohibited under the proposed modification to the CUP, she explained. In the future, if requested, they would need to return to the city with additional land use entitlements, which may take some time to complete along with any necessary CEQA analysis.

In the interim, tennis is already established and will continue to be authorized, Summerhill said.

Right now, they are only looking at tennis, Lowrey agreed. If pickleball comes later, they will address it at that time. The pickleball argument won’t sway him, Lowrey added.

Second, Summerhill said, is that parking has consistently been held not to be a CEQA impact, she added, noting recent decisions that have reiterated that point. So, to the extent of piecemealing as it relates to parking, they need to not consider that as part of the analysis.

As staff evaluated the application, which is a continuation of the existing use but under a separate operator, they didn’t see any violations of any of the conditions of approval, explained Deputy Community Development Director Jim Campbell. At that point they didn’t require an amendment to the permit and proceeded through the staff approval path, which they felt was consistent with the zoning and the use permit, and all the findings and specific conditions were still satisfied.

“We still believe that today,” Campbell said.

Both parcels are under the same use permit, which requires 78 parking spaces to be available for the entire tennis facility, and the staff approval mandates that, Campbell said.

The use permit does contemplate overflow parking onto the broader Hyatt parcel, he added.

“We feel there are 78 spaces available through the staff approval, currently as it’s crafted, and overflow parking is being allowed,” based on public testimony and actions they’ve seen, Campbell said.

That arrangement is still sufficiently consistent with the use permit to warrant the staff recommendation.

From the original 1973 approval, the conditions included that “a document satisfactory to the city attorney and the director of community development shall be recorded which guarantees that the two parcels will be maintained for the duration of the lease as a single development. The use of parcel #2 for off-street parking and perpetual access to parcel #1 shall be maintained.”

“Who could’ve foresaw the predicament we’re in?” questioned Commissioner Tristan Harris.

Regarding the last sentence, staff argued it is maintained with the parking spots allotted, even if there’s not a contractual agreement in place.

“We feel that the staff approval provides for the parking consistent with the permit. And if it isn’t available through a lease and then they have to park on the Hyatt parcel at a further distance, then that is unfortunate, it’s inconvenient and it is everything that Palisades wouldn’t like it to be, but the use permit also contemplates overflow parking in that parking lot,” Campbell said.

Rather than finding them in violation of the permit, they would have to examine it to ensure that it is still consistent with the permit.

Clearly, the use permit contemplated all 78 spaces to be on the facility with maybe a few off-site, but at least adjacent or proximate, Campbell said. But without the Hyatt’s permission to allow that added use through some lease arrangement, the parking for Palisades will be in the lot close to Back Bay Drive, he noted.

“We may not be able to come to a resolution to that in a couple of weeks or ever,” Campbell said. “If the commission is looking for the parking for all the tenants to be right there in front, we may not be able to achieve that.”

It would be preferable to have all the parking right in front, but there may be a circumstance where that doesn’t exist, he noted. If they can’t do it through the staff approval process, there will have to be an amendment filed and a new use permit will be hammered out.

He’d rather have an inconvenient parking arrangement before shutting anyone down, he said.

“My initial thought is that we need to make some accommodations as these are very unique circumstances. This is the only time in my 35-year career where we’ve dealt with two parcels in one use permit and they’re actually owned by separate (owners) and now they’re going to be separated by operation. It’s a very, very unique circumstance,” Campbell said. “The key thing for us is: Is there parking for this use so that it’s not creating a detriment to the community? Those are the basic tenets of the use permit. And I think, while inconvenient as it may be to park in that larger parking lot near Back Bay Drive, if that’s the end result of this, then I think we’re going to have some sort of accommodation to allow continued use at Palisades because we want continued use at Palisades.”

They’re hopeful that they can come to an agreement so that there’s a much more convenient parking arrangement, Campbell said. He’s also hopeful that the Planning Commission discussion and debate sparked additional conversations that will lead to some resolution of the dispute.

“It’s not our prerogative to judge what people can charge for a lease or who they can rent to, but I’m also caught that if these six courts came in by themselves, as constructed today with the access and with everything they have, would they get approved? So, I’m a little bit torn, to be honest,” Harris said. “I don’t want to violate someone’s private property rights, but I also don’t know if this an adequate or a viable project that we would ever approve.”

If they came before the commission with a project of six satellite courts that they wanted to build in the middle of a parking lot, with amenities spread out in different locations, they likely wouldn’t approve it as a club, Barto agreed. But, at the same time, just letting it sit there doesn’t make sense either, he added.

City staff has had to deal with maintaining a “broken situation,” Barto said.

Staff was right in approving it at the time, it was a justified call, Langford noted. From their perspective, this could be imagined to be an easy professional and respectful relationship where the two operators work together and share parking. But in light of recent events, someone will have to referee it, he added.

“We’re kind of put in that position a little bit,” he said, “where we need to put it in place now or else it’s going to bubble up later.”

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Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.

You Must Remember This: Fifty Golden Years – A History of the City of Newport Beach, 1906-1956

By NANCY GARDNER

To celebrate Newport’s 50th anniversary, a book was issued: Fifty Golden Years – A History of the City of Newport Beach, 1906-1956. It was compiled by Samuel A. Meyer, who was the publisher of The Newport News from 1921-1946. He must have played a considerable role in the city, because in the book’s introduction Ben Reddick (another local newspaper man and one credited with coining the term “Okie”) states that Meyer with his “friends, fellow workers and compatriots…has built the city of Newport Beach of today.”

Meyer may have been a mover and a shaker in the city, but as a historian he was somewhat lacking. 50 Golden Years has no index, a problem for any researcher. To further the confusion, although there is a table of contents, it’s at the back of the book. The tone is rather boosterish: “In 1939 there were 1,176 telephones in the city. Today, including business, there are 18,931.” “Newport holds the record for the largest striped marlin swordfish ever caught, 692 pounds on August 1931 from a local charter boat.” Speaking of large fish, one writer is quite awestruck by the Newport Harbor Lady Anglers, because its “fem. [sic] members…charming and active girls…who take a lusty and spirited delight…in going after game fish, the largest in the deep.” Aren’t they spunky little things! Then there is the intriguing introduction of a contributor who is noted as the widow of H. Cardoza Sloan, “one of the city’s former earnest and God-fearing councilmen.” Does this mean former as in unlike current councilmembers who are neither earnest nor God-fearing? One can’t tell from the entry, but one hopes the sitting councilmembers had not succumbed to hypocrisy or suffered a crisis of faith.

Despite the odd organization and the gee whiz attitude, with a little perseverance one finds interesting tidbits like the former town of Fairview. Why it is included in a history of Newport Beach can be questioned, since it was located near what is now the intersection of Fairview Boulevard and Baker Street in Costa Mesa. But one learns that Fairview boasted a hot springs and a 25-room hotel catering to those visiting the hot springs. Unfortunately, an earthquake in 1918 destroyed the hot springs, the hotel was abandoned and Fairview eventually disappeared except as a street name. Closer to home was Gospel Swamp. One can only ponder the derivation of such a place name. It is the gospel (the truth) that the area is a swamp? The area attracted fervent believers who preached the gospel in and around the swamp? Whatever the derivation, at some point those residing in Gospel Swamp tired of the name and changed it to Greenville which has also disappeared, but is memorialized in the Greenville/Banning channel.

The book also provides what may be a helpful perspective on a current issue. There is a great deal of residential building planned for the airport area, most of which is in the Santa Ana School District. Overtures have been made to have Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) cede the area to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, overtures which have reportedly been rejected. Ancient history may be in play. For many years, there was no local high school. Newport and Costa Mesa were in the Santa Ana District, and that’s where local high school students went. A desire grew for this area to have its own high school, but Santa Ana wasn’t interested in spending funds on a school outside its own city limits, and it also wasn’t interested in letting Newport withdraw from its school district. There were nearly seven years of legal battles, which Newport consistently lost before finally getting state legislation passed which provided the opportunity for Newport to leave the SAUSD and take control of its own educational fate. Perhaps this explains Santa Ana’s recalcitrance?

It is doubtful if 50 Golden Years will ever be required reading in a history course, but it’s nice to have a snapshot of attitudes and interests all those years ago. And for those interested in delving deeper into the Lady Anglers with their charming and active members, Sherman Gardens has all their minutes and scrapbooks.

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Nancy Gardner, former Mayor of Newport Beach, long-time resident and daughter of Judge Robert Gardner, is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.

Suspicious Activity

By NBPD Crime Prevention Specialist Sara Verschueren

In a safe city like Newport Beach, it can be easy to get a little lax about implementing crime prevention measures. The truth is that crime does still occur – yes, even in beautiful Newport Beach. It is important for community members to be diligent about getting the right tools and habits in place to protect ourselves, our homes and our valuables.

October is National Crime Prevention Month. Each Friday this month, we have shared tips you can implement to avoid being the victim of a crime. We hope that you’ve tuned in each week and have implemented some of the suggestions to help make our homes and our community less attractive for crooks. Remember, crime prevention is a team sport – police and community members have to work together to keep our community safe. We hope you’ll partner with us!

For the final week of National Crime Prevention Month, we’re going to talk about one of the most important things residents can do to help police do their jobs effectively: reporting suspicious activity.

What to do if you Observe Suspicious Activity

Photos courtesy of NBPD

To report suspicious activity to the NBPD, keep their non-emergency dispatch number in your cell phone

If you have attended a Neighborhood Watch meeting or read almost any communication from the Newport Beach Police Department, you have probably heard us ask you to “report suspicious activity to the police immediately” and to save our Non-Emergency Dispatch number in your cell phone. (If you have not done that yet, please pause reading this article to do so now! The number is: 949.644.3717). This is because we rely on our residents to be our eyes and ears when we are not present.

While we would love to have a police officer on every corner 24/7, I’m sure we can all understand that is not the most practical option. It is much more feasible to have community members all over the city who can let us know when and where we need to direct our attention. For those who live and work in our city, you know your neighborhoods and you can tell if something seems off about a situation.

If you are wondering what types of activity you can look out for, here is a list of some things that could be considered suspicious:

–A person or vehicle remaining in stationary position for a long period of time.

–A person behaving in a manner that may not be considered normal.

–A vehicle frequently driving in an area with no apparent destination.

–An individual concealing property or him or herself from public view.

–Vehicles driving without headlights after dark.

–Individuals leisurely walking around parked vehicles.

–Individuals running through an area for no apparent reason.

–A vehicle being driven recklessly.

–Observing many traffic violations committed by a driver on the road.

–A vehicle transporting objects during the night.

–Abandoned or occupied vehicle with the engine running.

–Persons dressed in dark clothing during the night.

–Persons loitering around schools, parks, secluded areas or neighborhoods.

–The sound of breaking glass or a loud explosive noise.

While some, if not all, of the suspicious situations described may have innocent explanations, the Police Department would rather investigate suspicious activity than be called when it is too late. That is why it is best to call immediately if you can. Police can most effectively address a suspicious person or situation when notified right away.

Should you need to call Dispatch, stay on the phone with them until they tell you it’s okay to hang up

When you call Dispatch, do your best to answer the dispatcher’s questions and stay on the phone with them until they tell you it’s okay to hang up. Helpful information to provide to Dispatch includes:

–Your location and/or where you saw the suspicious person or activity.

–What was suspicious about the behavior.

–The number of subjects.

–The direction the subject(s) went if you don’t have them in view.

–Clothing description (hat, shirt, pants/shorts, shoes).

–Vehicle Description (license plate, make, color).

Community safety requires residents and the Police Department working together. Your phone call to the police could keep a neighbor from being the victim of a crime or help police take a criminal into custody. We hope that you will partner with us to help keep Newport Beach safe!

Thank you for joining NBPD this month in learning more about phone scams. For more details on how you can work with us to reduce opportunities for crime, check out our website at www.nbpd.org/what-we-do/information/crime-prevention-and-safety.

State regulations on group homes in Newport Beach focus of meeting on November 8

Along with other state mandates, California requires cities to allow group homes in all residentially zoned neighborhoods. With the proliferation of Group Homes in Newport Beach, residents are increasingly concerned about how they are regulated.

Newport Beach recently asked the state to deny a social rehab license to a mental health facility for being too close to another facility. The city says that because they’re so close, the state cannot issue a license without Newport Beach’s consent.

Hear Assemblywoman Diane Dixon and Mission Viejo Councilwoman Wendy Bucknum explain the state regulations and what is being done by local agencies to try to give cities better control over these facilities.

The program will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 6-7 p.m., with a reception starting at 5:15 p.m. It will be held at the Civic Center Community Room, 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach.

Topics include: State Mandates, Types of Group Homes, Licensing Requirements and Enforcement.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of Speak Up Newport

Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, 72nd District

Assemblywoman Dixon is working in Sacramento bring about change. She recently made an audit request for facilities licensed and regulated by the California Department of Health Care Services.

Councilwoman Bucknum is chair of the California Sober Living and Recovery Task Force (CASLAR) who is working with communities to collaborate and find effective solutions for Sober Living and Recovery Homes across California.

Dixon spent 40 years in the private sector as a business executive before being elected to the Newport Beach City Council in 2014, where she served two terms as mayor. Her leadership helped deliver budget surpluses, pay down pension liabilities, improve public safety and complete infrastructure projects on time and within budget and greater cooperation between residents, businesses, and government to resolve community problems. A regional leader, Dixon is past president of the Association of California Cities-Orange County. She served (2019-2022) on the regional council of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and as a board member of Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG). Dixon has been an active member on several philanthropic community-based boards of directors for nearly four decades, including United Way Orange County, YMCA, public television, USC Board of Councilors and Alumni Association, educational institutions, child service agencies and health-related organizations.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts with honors in political science from the University of Southern California.

Click on photo for a larger image

Mission Viejo Councilmember Wendy Bucknum

Councilmember Wendy Bucknum was elected to serve as a member of the Mission Viejo City Council in 2014.  She brings a wealth of practical business experience, a long history of community involvement, and a solid record of volunteerism in our schools, community and youth sports programs.

Bucknum has a strong business background from her almost 30 years serving in the community association industry and is a champion for city policies that are fair, understandable, cost effective and good for the economy. She is a mom who understands and values partnerships with schools to give Mission Viejo youth a meaningful educational experience and safe place to learn. As an active volunteer she understands the unique needs of kids, families and seniors, and supports programs to serve all.

Bucknum’s primary goals are to maintain Mission Viejo’s public safety record, create a healthy local business economy, streamline governmental processes, preserve parks, trails and open spaces, to protect Mission Viejo’s schools and neighborhoods, and to maintain and enhance city infrastructure and the community facilities Mission Viejo residents use and enjoy.

To participate in the free Webinar, register by clicking here.

No registration required for the live event.

SCAPE Gallery to hold Artist Reception on October 28

SCAPE Gallery in Corona del Mar is holding an Artist Reception to meet photographer Jacques Garnier, sculptor Christopher Georgesco and painter Jimi Gleason on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 4-6 p.m.

The exhibition continuing through November is titled 90^o and features Jacques Garnier – Hymns To the Silence Series – New Photographs; Christopher Georgesco – Sculpture and Jimi Gleason – Paintings.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of SCAPE Gallery

“Field of Dreams,” chromogenic print, 40” x 26 2/3” by Jacques Garnier

Click on photo for a larger image

“Polyrhythms,” painted steel, 40” x 10 1/2” by Jacques Garnier

“Untitled,” silver nitrate with acrylic paint, 88” x 76” by Jimi Gleason

SCAPE Gallery is located at 2859 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. For more information, visitwww.scapesite.com.

School Notes

District seeks input on school & district facilities for future

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) is seeking community members to provide input about the future of the school and district facilities. Those interested may attend any of the meetings to provide input.

The first meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 1 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Newport Harbor High School Library. Facilities will be primarily focused on Kaiser, Mariners, Newport, Newport Heights, Whittier and Woodland elementary schools, Ensign Intermediate, and Back Bay and Newport Harbor high schools.

The second meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board Room (2985 Bear St., Costa Mesa). Facilities will primarily be focused on Back Bay High School, Harper Preschool, Davis Magnet School, Lindbergh, Monte Vista Independent Study, Early College High School, District Office and Rea Elementary School. However, input will be accepted on any school or district facility.

For more information, visit the Facility Master Plan website at www.nmusdplan.org, or contact the NMUSD at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Obituary

James Lawson Pirdy

March 14, 1948 – October 21, 2023

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Jim Pirdy with his wife, Deborah

Jim Pirdy passed away in his sleep in the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 21 in his residence in Newport Beach next to the love of his life, Deborah Pirdy. They were married for 40 years.

According to his sons, Spencer and Travis, in his final days their dad was swimming four times a week. He would come home and say, “Got 1600 in,” meaning 1,600 yards or roughly a mile. He loved his walks in the morning above Big Corona with their mom, always coming home to inform his sons that, “looks like there’s some swell in the water.”

Although he was never a Newport Beach Lifeguard, both of his two sons were, and he absolutely loved the department and the people in it. He always loved having his sons home and near him. He wanted to know what they were doing, how their days were and let them know how much he loved them.

As Spencer and Travis added, as their dad sat on the couch with one hand around our mom looking back towards us, he’d say, “It’s so good to have you both here.” He just wanted his family to be in one place. He wanted his family to be happy and loved. He gave us that and so much more.

Our dad is now gone from this earth, but his spirit and memories stand tall like the many buildings he created as a brilliant architect, such as the Newport Beach Central Library. James Pirdy was a humble architect who wanted few things in life other than to raise a happy, healthy family in a beautiful coastal town like Newport Beach. He achieved this, and in the process was the greatest father and husband that his family could have ever dreamed of. They all agree that he gave them a life that is simply incredible and beyond their wildest dreams.

“We will always miss our dad, Jim, so much, and continue to live in his memory and make him proud. May he Rest in Peace,” Spencer and Travis.

A service was held for James Lawson Pirdy on Thursday, Oct. 26 at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the Pirdy family suggests to make a donation to the Ben Carlson Foundation at www.bencarlsonfoundation.org.

New batch of cottages at Crystal Cove about to be released to visitors, after a long, hard-fought effort

By GARY SHERWIN

I’ve been writing about all the new glitz and glamour of our city for several weeks now, given the truly epic grand opening party of the new Pendry Newport Beach last Thursday and, before that, VEA Newport Beach, which opened last year.

But there is another side to our community that is just as important but completely different, yet is also very Newport Beach.

I’m talking about the Crystal Cove Cottages, a truly wonderful asset that many people wrongly believe is in Laguna Beach. Even many travel guidebooks get this incorrect, perhaps because they are situated on the border of the two cities.

And this past week, those little cottages made big news on a couple of fronts.

It’s important to note that the cottages are not only a historical asset, but they also pay transient occupancy room tax to the city, meaning they are very much a financial contributor to Newport Beach’s general fund and our tourism industry.

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Photos courtesy of Visit Newport Beach

Gary Sherwin

If you are only vaguely familiar with them, the cottages have been a long-time essential part of the local tourism fabric, dating back nearly 100 years. They were first longtime beachfront residences and then became rental cottages under the control of the California State Parks system, where they are by far the most popular part of their lodging portfolio.

After the residents moved out years ago, the homes sat vacant, and most fell into disrepair. That’s where the Crystal Cove Conservancy stepped in and started a fundraising program to restore the cottages to their original charm. And ever so slowly as money came in, they have been renovating the cottages and getting them open to rentals.

They have been making great progress. But last week, it was announced that by Thanksgiving, the first batch of eight newly renovated cottages will be ready for overnight stays, allowing more visitors to experience the cottages and the magic of Crystal Cove.

For five years, the quaint cottages at the north end of Crystal Cove have been a construction zone, tucked behind fencing as an elaborate effort to revitalize the historic structures.

Many visitors are familiar with the cottages since one of them was the centerpiece of the famous 1980s-era film Beaches starring Bette Midler. That cottage on the far south side of Crystal Cove has already been restored and pays tribute to the movie.

But the news gets even better.

The Conservancy also announced that the final $10 million of the $55 million project to finish the North Beach cottages at Crystal Cove has been secured. This means that the first batch of eight units expected to open next month is among 22 units set in 17 cottages, all of which are expected to be open by 2026.

With each opening, construction and fencing will move northward up the beach – the wooden boardwalk in front of each completed cottage will also be opening to the public.

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Quaint and affordable, the Crystal Cove Cottages offer a one-of-a-kind lodging experience

“It’s remarkable how many people have been involved in making this happen and how long they’ve worked to make it happen,” said Kate Wheeler, president and CEO of the conservancy.

In 2006. the cottages became a place for vacationers to have a unique getaway on the sand. The 29 south-end cottages were restored within the 2.3-acre Crystal Cove Historic District over the last few years and joined the State Parks’ inventory of overnight offerings.

If you go to the California Parks site, you can see cottage rentals going for a few hundred a night depending on the time of year, which is an unbelievable bargain when you consider the fabled luxury Montage resort down the road offers rooms almost on the sand for thousands of dollars a night. It’s perhaps the best bargain in Newport Beach lodging.

What got them over the line with fundraising came through a Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit to the tune of $10 million with an investment from Bank of America. The credit is a method that incentivizes investment in the restoration of historically significant structures and provides a means to secure capital for construction and tax relief for the investor.

While there were many financial contributors to the project, the heroine in all this is Crystal Cove Conservancy founder Laura Davick, once a resident at the cottages who fought against a luxury hotel proposed in the late ’90s for the site before it became part of State Parks.

Due to her dedication and hard work, she led the funding efforts through the years as chair of the capital campaign. She enlisted the help of Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris to secure more than $30 million in state funding, as well as the Bank of America investment that got the project to the finish line.

While initial plans called for bulldozing the cottages and putting up a fancy hotel, Davick knew the quaint charm and history of the cottages would be a huge pull for visitors looking for a family-friendly and utterly unique beachfront experience, and boy, was she right. Her herculean perseverance pulled the project through to completion.

While Newport Beach is blessed with some amazing upscale assets, I’m glad we have an affordable lodging alternative that speaks to our culture and history. There is nowhere in the state where you can find anything quite like the cottages and that gives our city a wonderful complement to our luxury hotel options.

Anyone who ventures down to Crystal Cove knows how special it is. Even Visit California, the state’s tourism marketing agency, was there last week with a huge production crew to shoot their latest commercial.

The challenge of course, is just getting a reservation to stay there. During the limited booking window, you must act fast once it opens, and if you aren’t quick on your keyboard, the cottages fill up for months in just a few minutes.

With more cottages now available, that pressure may ease a bit, but I suspect they will only drive even more interest. It’s a good problem to have.

This was no easy task to get here and bravo to the Crystal Cove Conservancy and the numerous donors for giving our visitors a truly memorable experience that they will find no place else on earth.

Because being unique and magical is what Newport Beach is all about.

Gary Sherwin is President & CEO of Visit Newport Beach and Newport Beach & Company.

Crystal Cove Conservancy raises $710,000 for Education Programs during 21st Annual Soirée

On Saturday, Oct. 7, Crystal Cove Conservancy (The Conservancy) welcomed more than 250 guests and sponsors on the blufftop of Crystal Cove State Park’s Pelican Point for the 21st Annual Soirée. The annual event, with Title Sponsor, Bank of America, raised a record $710,000 in support of The Conservancy’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education programs, which bring more than 10,000 students to Crystal Cove each year.

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Photos courtesy of Crystal Cove Conservancy

Guests enjoying al fresco dining

As the sun set on the blufftop, guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, al fresco dinner, a lively auction that helped raise funds for The Conservancy’s extensive education programs, and an after-party with music and entertainment from electric violinist Amy Serrano and DJ Marco providing a soundtrack to a magical evening under the stars. The evening also included remarks from special guests, including California State Parks Director Armando Quintero and Bank of America’s Senior Vice President Shari Battle.

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Crystal Cove Conservancy Board of Directors

Crystal Cove Conservancy President & CEO Kate Wheeler surprised guests when she announced the last tranche of funding had been secured for the North Beach Cottage Restoration Project, ensuring the restoration of the 17 North Beach Cottages, and allowing the first eight cottage rental units to be available for public reservation in the coming weeks.

“In 1995, no one knew what would become of Crystal Cove, the cottages, or the Historic District. Today we do,” said Wheeler. “They will all be restored. They will all be reopened. On Thursday, we closed a deal that will have Bank of America invest more than $10 million in the project, providing the final tranche of funding needed.”

Wheeler continued with a Champagne toast to celebrate the remarkable accomplishment and the impact it will have on The Conservancy’s education programs providing both earned revenue and new facilities for those programs.

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Guests bidding during the live auction

“Our students learn by working alongside scientists, engineers and researchers gathering data on real ecological restoration and research projects. They’re learning about the water cycle, and they can prove it because their shoes get wet and their clothes get muddy,” Wheeler said. “Our STEM education programs really do one essential thing, one kid at a time, in one park at a time – they allow students to see themselves as an essential part of the solution.”

Generous sponsors for the event included Bank of America as the Title Sponsor; Eva and Doug Le Bon; Marisla Foundation; Michael and Tricia Berns; Bonnie Gregory; Stacy Schlinger and the Schlinger Family Foundation, Karen and Alan Bedekar, Christine L. Carr LoveLight; Laura Davick, the founder of Crystal Cove Conservancy; Lucy Donahue; the Hexberg Family Foundation; Mara and Keith Murray; Stephanie Quesada and Vince Jackson; Teddie Ray; Wendy and Fred Salter; Michael and Sally Schreter; Karen and Eric Steen; Cyd and Steve Swerdlow; Shelley Thunen; Monette and Steve Zotovich; Archarios Foundation in Honor of Madeline Swinden; Jennifer Steele and Jay Bauer; Glenn Bozarth; Meriam Braselle; the Cheng Family; the Carol and James Collins Foundation; the Crevier Family Foundation; Michelle and Tim Dean; Barbara Hamkalo; Jenny and Will O’Neill; Doniel and Jerry Sutton; Sheets, Paquette & Wu Dental Practice; Spectra Company; Whittier Trust; Michelle and Claude Yacoel and several anonymous supporters.

This event was also generously supported by Brian Dobbin, Inc.; Buchanan Brand + Design; Davey’s Locker and Newport Landing Sportfishing; Firebrand Media, LLC; Foley Family Wines; Fork, Knife and Spoon Catering; Pacific Pearl Café; The Resort at Pelican Hill; The Ranch at Laguna Beach; Zinc Café; zpizza and Zotovich Vineyards and Winery.

For more information about Crystal Cove Conservancy, visit www.crystalcove.org.

Council agrees to fill funding gap for next phase of Sculpture Exhibition

By SARA HALL

City Council this week agreed to fill a funding gap for the next phase of the rotating sculpture exhibition in Civic Center Park by re-allocating money eartagged for another arts project.

Councilmembers voted 6-0 (Councilmember Brad Avery was absent) on Tuesday (Oct. 24) to re-allocate funds to fill the $24,000 gap for Sculpture Exhibition Phase IX, as requested by the Arts Commission.

The Arts Commission reviewed the funding and discussed the upcoming phase of the Civic Center Park’s rotating exhibition at their October 12 meeting. The FY 2023-24 budget includes $135,000 for the next phase of the sculpture garden and the Newport Beach Arts Foundation has committed $10,000 to support the project.

At the October meeting, the commission reviewed two proposals submitted by Arts Orange County for project management of Phase IX of the Sculpture Exhibition. The first called for the installation of the usual 10 sculptures at a total cost of $169,000. The second proposal called for the installation of eight sculptures at a total project cost of $145,000. The exhibition Commissioners ultimately approved the proposal for 10 sculptures.

The program rotates sculptures at the Civic Center Park for a two-year period. Sculptors are provided with a small honorarium, not to exceed $5,000, to loan their work to Newport Beach. The city is responsible for installing the art, while sculptors are responsible for the transportation, maintenance and repair of their work. Phases overlap for a one-year period so that 20 pieces are typically on display.

During public comment, Arts Commission Chair Maureen Flanagan explained the situation.

“We would not be in this position if the request for $45,000 had been approved last year. We received no increase and, in fact, we haven’t had an increase in our budget in five years,” she said. “We all know inflation is with us and it is sticky. Prices have increased, yet we received $26,000 less than we did five years ago.”

Several councilmembers have encouraged her and the Arts Commission to find other funding sources, but she was advised by the city that policy A-2 does not allow a commission to raise funds.

“Our ask is simple: Fill the gap for this year and approve an increase in our budget in the next cycle,” she continued. “If you choose not to fund the gap, there will be two empty pads in the sculpture garden, which will look unfinished, but more importantly you’re setting a precedent to make our ‘museum without walls’ less than the stellar attraction it has been for residents and visitors to Newport Beach since the first installation in 2014. We all want Newport Beach to remain as beautiful and vibrant as it has. Don’t diminish the sculpture garden. Fund the gap.”

The unallocated $24,000 is earmarked for another project on the books, wrapping of utility boxes, she explained.

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Photo by Sara Hall

Council approved a request for additional funds for the next phase of the rotating sculpture garden at the Newport Beach Civic Center (pictured is “Prey” by Lisa and Robert Ferguson from a previous phase)

Councilmember Robyn Grant said she doesn’t want to reduce the sculpture collection, but she would consider holding off on spending money on a new project.

“I am not in favor of empty pads out in the sculpture collection, but I am also not in favor of extending additional budget resources when we knew what the budget was. So I’m having a little problem finding a good landing spot here,” Grant said.

A few councilmembers asked if wrapping the utility boxes could be tabled for the time being so the funds could be re-allocated for the shortfall with the sculptures.

Library Services Director Melissa Hartson confirmed the money could be re-allocated. This is the exact same action taken last year to fund the Sculpture Exhibition, she noted. They were $24,000 short last fiscal year and they reallocated programming and professional services money to fund the exhibition for 10 sculptures.

They have approximately $30,000 left in programming to cover the Newport Beach Art Exhibition (last year cost about $20,000) and the Student Art Exhibition (costs about $2,000), she added.

They also have about $16,000 unallocated for professional services, which is to cover any maintenance for public art within the city, as well as transcripts and services for Arts Commission meetings.

Ultimately, Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neill made a motion to approve the re-allocation of $24,000 to cover the shortfall to allow for 10 sculptures to be installed.

In addition to Tuesday’s specific item, Grant highlighted what led to this point, past actions and what they need to do moving forward.

“I’d like to just dial this back for a minute, maybe add a little context and maybe expand the conversation to the extent we can within the agenda item,” Grant said.

First, they need to immediately deal with the current shortfall. They should also discuss concepts about properly budgeting in the future. She also emphasized the need for a discussion about council policy I-10 (financial support for culture and arts) and how it applies to the Arts Commission and their duties and obligations, with respect to spending the city’s money.

Before she could pinpoint the previous changes that were made to the I-10 policy, which she said are a part of the problem, City Attorney Aaron Harp interjected with a reminder for the council to stay focused on the item that was noticed, specifically the request for additional funding. Discussion of the broader issues, like council policy, will have to be agendized separately, he said.

The only reason she brought it up is because she believes the problem with the shortfall extends from what’s in the I-10 policy, Grant replied. She withdrew her specific comments and spoke more to the overall issue as it relates to the current funding gap that council reviewed on Tuesday.

“Very generally, there’s a commitment required from the arts commissioners to get the shortfall in funding from the community,” it’s the obligation of the Arts Commission under I-10, Grant explained, “So I do think that that comes up under this agenda item. They’re asking for additional money and that’s where it’s supposed to come from.”

Commissioner Joe Stapleton said he loves seeing the sculptures at the Civic Center Park and that the community can pull together to do better on this project.

“I love the fact and I’m proud of the fact that the City of Newport Beach invests into their public arts,” he said.

There are plenty of people in the community that could cut a check for $24,000, he pointed out. He’d like to see an engaged conversation about working with the NB Arts Foundation.

“Yes, there are thousands, tens of thousands of people in this community that could cut a check and they don’t. It’s been true for years and it’s been the issue that has been popped up over and over and over again,” O’Neill responded.

There’s an entire budget process that the city has gone through and the Arts Commission has the amount of money that they knew they had the entire year, O’Neill said. The council creates a budget framework and every department has to stay within that, he emphasized.

“It bothers me, as chairman of the Finance Committee, to have a budget allocation made at the council level and then come to us saying we don’t have enough when they’ve known the amount that they had the entire time,” O’Neill said. “(They) either need to cut back or they need to go out and request the funding from another source. That other source obviously hasn’t materialized. There’s just not the support, there just isn’t. And we should be recognizing that the private money on that is voluntary, tax dollars are not. And we need to be doing a little bit better on it than what we’re talking about right now.”

Although Grant agreed that “the budget is the budget” and everyone lives with it (unless there are extenuating circumstances, which aren’t occurring here), she didn’t think the budget process was properly applied in this circumstance, with respect to policy I-10.

“I do think that there’s a different disconnect here and specifically that I-10 says something that we didn’t do and I think that that’s why we get to this point every fall, maybe, is that we aren’t really identifying the right way to deal with this budgeting for this particular enterprise,” she said. “It just doesn’t seem like we’re doing what we say we’re doing and it’s confusing.”

She supports the programs, but the process didn’t seem to work very well this year, Grant added.

The process includes the Arts Commission requesting a certain amount of funds for a budget. In this instance, “there was less money given than was asked for and the Arts Commission went ahead and programmed their year,” which includes a lot of popular events and activities, she explained.

“I just want to make sure that there’s not a frustration and a disconnect on how we fund and how we spend,” Grant said. “So we didn’t necessarily budget for everything that the Arts Commission wanted to do and now we’re at this juncture where we either have to cut back on what we’re going to do or extend the additional budget.”

Although $24,000 is a relatively small number compared to the overall budget, Newport Beach does have some high-level ambitions and grandiose ideas, said Councilmember Erik Weigand.

“I would love to have the Arts Commission think strategically outside of the box for this,” he said.

Answering a council question, Harston confirmed that leadership at the Newport Beach Arts Foundation has changed this year and there is an attempt to grow and raise additional funds to help support the Arts Commission with the Sculpture Exhibition.

Their goal is to raise additional funds beyond what they’ve been raising previously to supplement this project, Weigand said.

“They’re starting off in this phase of trying to raise money and here we are in the early stages of it. The hope is to start doing a little bit greater and greater when it comes, especially, to this because of this continual shortfall. It seems to be kind of a pattern here that we’re addressing this little gap,” Weigand said.

They could partner with local schools or other regional agencies, Weigand suggested, which could “bring this new level of engagement to the city and maybe that could perk the interest of the Arts Foundation at a local level.

“These are just suggestions. I’m just thinking outside the box for us later, but let’s get this done with and move on so we don’t deal with it again,” Weigand said. “This is a problem that we keep coming back to have to address.”

He warned against setting a precedent of only installing eight sculptures instead of the usual 10, but they also need to tackle this issue so it doesn’t keep returning to the council.

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Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.

Pet of the Week 

Stu News Newport is delighted to be working with the Newport Beach Animal Shelter to help get the word out in search of loving homes for pets that deserve a warm, nurturing environment and a place to call “home.”

The shelter is thrilled to introduce Tanner, an adorable 7-month-old tuxedo cat, to the public. This charming black and white feline is ready to find his forever home, and his playful personality is sure to win the hearts of those looking for a new furry companion.

Courtesy of the Newport Beach Animal Shelter

Meet Tanner

His tuxedo markings give him a dapper and distinguished look that is sure to turn heads. But beyond his stylish attire, Tanner is a sweet and affectionate cat who loves to play. He’s equally content curling up in your lap for a cozy cuddle or chasing after a feather toy for hours of fun.

The Newport Beach Animal Shelter takes pride in providing top-notch care to all its residents, including vaccinations, spaying/neutering and regular health check-ups. Tanner is no exception, and he’s now ready to embark on a new journey with a loving family or individual who can offer him the care and attention he deserves.

If you’re interested in making Tanner a part of your family or would like to meet him in person, please contact the Newport Beach Animal Shelter at 949.718.3454, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.to schedule an appointment.

The shelter does require completed application forms for their animals, so simply print one up from their non-profit’s webpage at www.fonbas.org. After it is completed, you can email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and upon review, they’ll call you to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions, call 949.718.3454.

Also, consider becoming a member of an incredible nonprofit that supports the city’s efforts with providing wonderful opportunities to stray, injured, ill and owner-surrendered domestic pets. Visit www.fonbas.org.

Corona del Mar Residents Association celebrates early local history, recognizing first structure built in CdM

The Corona del Mar Residents Association (CdMRA) is celebrating early local history by recognizing the very first structure built in Corona del Mar as a historic landmark – Hotel Del Mar, 1907.

A special ceremony is planned for Friday, Oct. 27 from 2-3 p.m., with the dedication program beginning promptly at 2:15 p.m. The festivities take place at 314 Carnation Ave. (Enter the cul-de-sac on foot from the corner of Carnation and Seaview avenues.)

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Photos courtesy of Sherman Library

Hotel Del Mar on the Corona del Mar bluff

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Hotel Del Mar, built in 1907 by George E. Hart, was located at the corner of present-day Carnation and Seaview avenues

Background of Hotel del Mar:

George E. Hart, a Los Angeles Real Estate developer envisioned the hotel as the centerpiece of the new community that he laid out. He sold the hotel in 1915 and it was at different times, a private club, a tavern and finally apartments. Silent movie stars and actors frequented the Palisades Tavern when they were on filming location at Pirates Cove during the 1920s. The structure was demolished in 1991 and replaced with a condominium development.

The ceremony will be held outdoors, so dress accordingly. There is no parking available on the Carnation cul-de-sac. Adjacent street parking is at a “premium,” so allow enough time to find a spot and walk to Carnation and Seaview. Carpooling is encouraged.

Calling all costumed pooches…

Dress up your favorite four-legged pup for a thrilling outdoor experience at the 2nd Annual Howl-o-Ween costume contest at the Balboa Bay Resort’s signature restaurant A+O Restaurant | Bar, on Halloween – Tuesday, Oct. 31. The restaurant is open from 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

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Photo by Susan Hoffman

All day long, dogs will receive special “Wag Bags” full of treats, access to a homemade gourmet dog menu, and the chance to win an A+O gift card by entering the costume contest in their “Paws and Repeat” red carpet.

To enter, guests can tag the resort on Instagram for a chance to win.

For more information, visit www.balboabayresort.com/event/howl-o-ween/.

Balboa Bay Resort and A+O Restaurant | Bar are located at 1221 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach.

Council agenda includes review of sober living, funds for sculpture exhibition, proposed code changes, pickleball courts in Newport Coast

By SARA HALL

There are several interesting items on the Newport Beach City agenda tonight.

At the meeting (Tuesday, Oct. 24), council will consider or hear: Annual review of the zoning agreement for Sierra by the Sea; a request for an additional $24,000 to fund Civic Center Park Sculpture Exhibition Phase IX; a study session on proposed city code and council policy changes and a $1.09 million contract for pickleball courts at Newport Ridge Park in Newport Coast.

During public hearings, council will conduct the annual review of the zoning agreement for Sierra by the Sea.

This is the 14th annual review of the zoning implementation and public benefit agreement between the city and Sober Living by the Sea (doing business as Sierra by the Sea for all programs in Newport Beach).

The agreement includes a provision that a periodic review be conducted at least once every 12 months. Other terms of the agreement are related to the SBTS office operation, reporting on facility location and bed counts, status of police calls for service and other complaints, parking violations and more.

According to the staff report, despite minor parking citations, no significant violations have been observed or reported.

City staff reported that they conducted a thorough review SBTS’ operations and requirements of the agreement and found that the company is in compliance. Staff is recommending that council find that Sierra by the Sea has demonstrated good faith compliance with the terms of the zoning implementation and public benefit agreement.

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Photo by Sara Hall

Council will consider a request for additional funds for the next phase of the rotating Sculpture Garden at the Newport Beach Civic Center (pictured is “Prey” by Lisa and Robert Ferguson from a previous phase)

During regular business, council will consider the Sculpture Exhibition Phase IX funding.

Council will provide direction to staff regarding the Arts Commission’s request for $24,000 in additional funding in fiscal year 2023-24. If approved, the council will also authorize staff to execute a budget amendment, maintain the current budgeted funding level, and install eight sculptures, or reallocate funding within the total budget for arts.

The Arts Commission reviewed the funding and discussed the upcoming phase of the Civic Center Park’s rotating exhibition at their October 12 meeting. The FY 2023-24 budget includes $135,000 for the next phase of the Sculpture Garden and the Newport Beach Arts Foundation has committed $10,000 to support the project.

At the October meeting, the commission reviewed two proposals submitted by Arts Orange County for project management of Phase IX of the Sculpture Exhibition. The first called for the installation of the usual 10 sculptures at a total cost of $169,000. The second proposal called for the installation of eight sculptures at a total project cost of $145,000. The exhibition Commissioners ultimately approved the proposal for 10 sculptures.

Tonight, city staff is seeking council direction on how to address the Arts Commission’s desire for an additional $24,000 in funding for the exhibition.

The program, which first started in 2013, rotates sculptures at the Civic Center Park for a two-year period. Sculptors are provided with a small honorarium, not to exceed $5,000, to loan their work to Newport Beach. The city is responsible for installing the art, while sculptors are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their work. Phases overlap for a one-year period so that 20 pieces are typically on display.

ArtsOC has managed all previous phases of the exhibition and has strong working relationships with the Arts Commission and city staff.

Earlier in the meeting, during the study session, council will hear proposed city code and council policy changes.

The council’s Ad Hoc Municipal Code and Council Policy Review Committee reviewed the Newport Beach municipal code and council policies to provide recommendations concerning deleting or reducing language, and the advisability of applying sunset provisions for new and existing code provisions. The proposed NBMC and city council policy changes will be presented for council review and discussion during the study session.

The committee, comprised of Mayor Noah Blom, Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neill and Councilmember Lauren Kleiman, also requested recommendations regarding council policy changes from several city boards and commissions.

Per the agreement, the full salary and benefits for three school resource officers will be funded equally through the police department’s budget (50%) and the NMUSD (50%). Funding for the three police officers is included in NBPD’s FY 2023-24 budget, as are revenues from the NMUSD in the amount of $283,598.

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Courtesy of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire

Players at the “Pickleball for Wishes” 2022 tournament at the Tennis and Pickleball Club at Newport Beach. Next week council will consider an agreement to build public pickleball courts in Newport Coast

On the consent calendar (items considered routine and usually voted in one motion without discussion unless a councilmember pulls the item), council will consider a $1.09 million contract for Newport Coast pickleball courts with La Habra-based Green Giant Landscape, Inc.

If approved, the action will also approve a budget amendment to appropriate $231,236 in new revenue and expenditures from the California Department of Parks and Recreation to a city account and appropriate $58,364 in increased expenditures in that same account from the Building Excise Tax unappropriated fund balance.

This project constructs eight new pickleball courts on Newport Ridge Park, in accordance with the lease agreement the city has with Newport Ridge Community Association.

In the agenda report, staff notes that the sport of pickleball has grown in popularity in Newport Beach and around the country in recent years.

The city currently has four public pickleball courts and due to the increase in demand from residents, an opportunity to add a pickleball complex was identified at 11.32-acre, private Newport Ridge Park at 6331 Newport Ridge Drive in the Newport Coast community.

A Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission ad hoc committee worked collaboratively with NRCA board members, city recreation and senior services department staff, and the public works department staff to develop plans for the project.

According to the staff report, in May 2022, the city entered into a lease agreement with NRCA to develop, operate and maintain eight, unlit courts to be located along the eastern edge of the park adjacent to the city-owned Newport Coast Community Center parking lot.

The eight pickleball courts will be constructed to industry specifications and the site will be provided with a shaded viewing area, benches, trash cans, a bike rack and a water fountain/bottle filling station. The existing Newport Coast Community Center will provide public parking with its 120 available parking spots. Two of the courts will be equipped with a key fob system for NRCA resident access only.

The city received 11 bids for the project. The lowest bidder was non-responsive and didn’t submit the required documents. Green Giant Landscape was the second lowest bidder. The company possess a California state contractor’s license classification “A” (as required by the project specifications), and has satisfactorily completed similar contracts for other municipalities, including Newport Beach’s existing Bonita Sports Park pickleball courts.

The contractor will have 80 consecutive working days to complete the work, which is scheduled to start in December.

Also on the consent calendar, council will consider a school resource officer program agreement with Newport-Mesa Unified School District. If approved, the action will renew the existing terms and deploy three SROs.

Council first approved an agreement to provide two, full-time police officers to work as SROs at the local high schools in 1999. The agreement has been revised (including adding a third SRO in 2018) and renewed several times (annually reviewed since 2018).

According to the staff report, the proposed agreement allows the Newport Beach Police Department to assign one SRO each to Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar high schools, and one SRO to cover the schools when the designated officer is not on duty. The “cover SRO” is based at Ensign Middle School and also serves NMUSD elementary schools within the city as needed. These SRO assignments are subject to change at the discretion of the chief of police.

“The goal of the SRO program is to work collaboratively within the school community to provide safe learning environments, foster positive relationships with students, educators, parents and community members, and to develop strategies to resolve problems that affect our youth, so that they can reach their full potential. The role of the SRO includes promoting a positive image of law enforcement to school children and school communities,” the staff report reads.

The council agenda is available online here. The study session starts at 4 p.m., followed by the closed session, and the regular meeting at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting can be watched live on the local NBTV channel (Spectrum 3 or Cox 852) or on the city’s website here.

Members of the public may speak in person in council chambers (there is not a remote or online option to participate).

Questions and comments can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to the city clerk at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the council adequate time to review comments, written comments were submitted by 5 p.m. on October 23 (the day before the City Council meeting). Correspondence received by this deadline were uploaded to the agenda packet by October 23 at 5:30 p.m. and can be viewed here.

Material received after the deadline and prior to 2 p.m. today (the day of the meeting) will be provided to the council in hard copy and will be available to the public at the meeting.

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Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.

The Week in Review

A weekly newsletter from City Manager Grace L. Leung

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Courtesy of City of Newport Beach

Newport Beach City Manager Grace Leung

Community Members:

The Newport Beach Fire Department (NBFD) has updated the City of Newport Beach’s “Ready, Set, Go!” web resource with important information on wildfire and evacuation preparation, including:

–How to “harden” your home by creating a line of defense against airborne embers, and other steps to defend your property against wildfires.

–How to plan and prepare in advance for evacuations.

–Safety measures to help protect your home when wildfires are approaching.

–How to evacuate your home safely and efficiently.

–Evaluating the wildfire risk to your home through a self-assessment tool, along with strategies to mitigate those risks.

–Scheduling a thorough, detailed home evaluation with an NBFD fire inspector.

–Obtaining a permit through the SAVERS (Screen and Vent Electronic Reporting System) program. Homeowners can obtain a permit through online self-certification to present to their insurers.

Taking steps now to become more prepared will greatly benefit you, your family and your community in the event of a wildfire or other natural disaster.

City Manager, Grace K. Leung

Balboa Island Bridge to Close Nightly, October 22-25

The Balboa Island Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic every night, from 10 p.m.-5 a.m., from October 22 through October 25, as a city contractor works to replace the main water line that services the Island. The city has made arrangements for the Balboa Island Ferry to run throughout the night during the bridge closure periods to provide access to and from Balboa Island. Arrangements have been made to maintain emergency vehicle access.

June Treasury Report Now Available

The June 2023 Treasury Report is available on the city’s website atwww.newportbeachca.gov/treasury.

As of June, the city’s investment portfolio totaled $384.4 million when measured at amortized cost. The current market value of the city’s portfolio of $374.3 million incorporates price fluctuations, due to the changing interest rate environment, that are typically irrelevant since the city usually holds its securities to maturity and receives the full principal value at that time.

The city’s Liquidity Portfolio is sized to meet the city’s cash flow needs over the next 12 months. Approximately $46.5 million, or 12% of the portfolio, was invested in liquid investments available for day-to-day operating expenses and the costs associated with ongoing construction projects. An additional $56.4 million, or 15% of the overall portfolio, was invested in a portfolio of securities with targeted short-term maturities, which earns a higher yield than the city’s more liquid investments.

Balboa Island Bench Replacement Completed

The city recently finished replacing 58 aging teak benches around the perimeter of Balboa Island. The old teak benches have been replaced with new jatoba wood benches, similar to those on Marine Avenue.

The older teak benches were previously donated to the city. Donors have the opportunity to retrieve their benches and/or dedication plaques. Unclaimed benches may be auctioned off or disposed of at a future date.

If you are a donor and would like to claim a bench or plaque, call the city’s Public Works Department at 949.644.3055.

Be Well Mobile Crisis Response Update

The Be Well mobile crisis response team operates in Newport Beach 12 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to mental and behavioral health crises. The mobile unit is staffed with mental health specialists and works closely with the city’s police and fire departments.

(Last) week, the Be Well team:

–Collaborated with the County of Orange Crisis Assessment Team to place a person into a psychiatric facility for treatment.

–Transported two people to a crisis stabilization facility to resolve mental health crises.

–Transported two people to the sobering station at the Be Well campus for treatment.

TO REACH BE WELL: The mobile crisis team is dispatched through the Newport Beach Police Department. To request service, dial 911 or call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 949.644.3717.

Homeless Update

(Last) week, the city’s homeless outreach and response teams:

–Continued to shelter people. Twenty-four people who had been experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach are sheltered in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.

–Transported a client to tour apartment complexes and assisted the client in applying for an apartment unit.

Enrolled two clients into City Net’s social services.

Click here to view the latest homeless dashboard, which includes key monthly and yearly data on the city’s homeless response.

Click here for information on the city’s Good Giving program.

On the Agenda: October 24 City Council Meeting

The next City Council meeting is (tonight), Tuesday, Oct. 24. Items of interest are highlighted below. The entire agenda and reports can be viewed here.

A study session will begin at 4 p.m.:

–Potential changes to the Newport Beach Municipal Code and City Council policies. The Council Ad Hoc Municipal Code and Council Policy Review Committee, in consultation with city staff and certain boards and commissions, has proposed recommended changes that can be found on the City Council Agenda.

The regular meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Agenda items include:

–A $1.08-million contract award to Green Giant Landscape, Inc. of La Habra, to construct eight pickleball courts at Newport Ridge Park, a private park in the Newport Coast community. Under a lease agreement between the city and the homeowners association, six courts will be available for general public use, with two reserved for members of the local homeowners association.

–A $3.4-million contract award to Irvine-based T.E. Roberts, Inc. to replace Balboa Island water main pipes and improve the Shorecliff community water system. This project will replace older, deteriorated water mains on Balboa Island, replace a short section of water main on Evening Canyon Road, and build two new water pressure regulating stations in the Shorecliff and Cameo Shores area.

–Year-end budget results and surplus allocation. The City Council will receive a report on revenues, expenditures and estimated fund balance for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2022-23. The city projects a General Fund operating budget surplus of $11.6 million for FY 2022-23, $3.8 million higher than anticipated. Per council policy, the city’s Finance Committee has recommended that the surplus be allocated to long-term liabilities (50%) and infrastructure or neighborhood capital improvements (50%).

–Annual review of zoning agreement for Sierra by the Sea. City staff conducts an annual review of the organization’s operations and requirements under the zoning agreement.

–City Arts Commission sculpture exhibition funding. Staff is seeking City Council direction on a request from the Arts Commission for an additional $24,000 in funding for the next phase of the Sculpture Exhibition in Civic Center Park.

This Week’s Events

Tuesday, Oct. 24

City Council Meeting

City Council Chambers

100 Civic Center Drive – 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 25

Scoping Meeting: Newport Village EIR

Newport Beach Central Library, Friends Meeting Room

1000 Avocado Ave. – 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 26

Zoning Administrator Meeting

Via Zoom – 10 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 28

6th Annual Halloween Spooktacular

Mariners Park & VJ Community Center

1300 Irvine Ave. – 3 p.m.

See Full Schedule

Editor’s Note: City Manager’s Updates was received Friday, Oct. 20 and is subject to editing so the information is current.

Take Five: Robert D. “Bob” Olson – business developer, entrepreneur, philanthropist

By DIANNE RUSSELL

Robert “Bob” Olson is the founder, president and CEO of R.D. Olson Development, a Newport Beach, Calif.-based firm engaged in the development of commercial properties nationwide with a specific focus on hotels and resorts. He established the company in 1997, following nearly 20 years as founder and CEO of R.D. Olson Construction. His many projects include the Lido House in Newport Beach, AC by Marriott in Wailea and Irvine Spectrum Marriott in Irvine.

This Friday, Oct. 27, Olson will be recognized as the 2023 Business Person of the Year by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce during the Honors Celebration at the Balboa Bay Resort. Stu News caught up with him to gather some information on what’s happening with R.D. Olson Development, his charitable involvement and his other interests.

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Courtesy of RD Olson Development

All of Bob Olson’s projects are “favorites”

Q: Twenty years after founding your construction company, R.D. Olson Construction, you founded R.D. Olson Development, which focuses on commercial development, in particular hotels and resorts? What was the impetus to branch out into development?

A: Given my experience in the hospitality industry and having worked with some of the best designers, owners and creators of hospitality, I felt the urge to make hospitality properties for myself. Being on the ownership side, I was able to make the decisions that I felt were right and to create properties that I felt resonated with the end user – whether it is a hotel guest, a meeting group, or a rooftop lounge guest.

Q: Do you have a favorite project – one you are most proud of? What projects are in the works that you are especially excited about?

A: Given Lido House is in my hometown, it is the obvious first choice. But all the hotels that we have developed and created are all our favorites. In Orange County, Pasea is certainly a favorite because it is so different from everything else that we have done. Renaissance Club Sport in Aliso Viejo is also very special because of the mixed-use component of it.

And the Marriott at Irvine Spectrum with the Hive and Honey Rooftop Lounge with all the city views is definitely a favorite. Our Hawaii hotels were also fun in the sense that we brought a Hawaii vibe to Wailea, Maui, and it was a big success. Again, they’re all our favorite. Coming up, Dana Point Harbor is definitely at the top of the list as is Sedona, Ariz., where we have 11 acres on the riverfront in town. It is a magical place to develop a very unique experience for the lodging industry.

Q: You participate in multiple organizations. How do you choose which ones you donate your time and resources to?

A: We are most interested in spending both our money and time on our charities that impact people that are not afforded opportunities or the means. I come from very humble beginnings, and one thing I know for sure is that kids do not get to pick their economic situation, their parents, or the country they are born into. Also, charities that help people who find themselves in a very difficult time in their life, and they just need help to lift themselves back up. This is why we really like what Laura’s House is doing. Also, Olivecrest, Orangewood and what OCMA provides for kids and adults to be able to learn about and participate in art.

Q: What are your interests outside of your professional life?

A: I really enjoy almost anything outdoor related. This includes biking, surfing, skiing, running, free diving and scuba diving, boating, traveling.

Q: Is there anything readers would be surprised to learn about you?

A: I started my career as a carpenter, as I learned when I was a kid working with my stepdad. I started my construction company at 20 years old, skipping college. Later in life, when I was 32 years old, USC allowed me into their MBA program. It was very helpful for me in running my construction company and then transitioning into real estate development.

I just want to add that I feel very fortunate to have such great team members in our development company, our construction company and each of the hotels that we developed and own. It takes many people to put these projects together and then to continue and run this real estate and the hotels to be successful in every way possible.

Rose Bakery Café: Celebrating 25 years of delicious food, exceptional service and community commitment

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, Rose Bakery Café in Corona del Mar celebrated their 25th anniversary with an outdoor fete shared with community leaders, business colleagues, staff and residents. The quarter-century milestone celebration lauded exceptional food, service and an unwavering commitment to community. This local landmark is revered for its mouthwatering fluffy glazed donuts, aromatic coffees, breakfast burritos, cold and grilled sandwiches, and warm hospitality.

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Photo by Lana Johnson

Balloons added to the festive celebration

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Courtesy of CdM Chamber of Commerce

(L-R) Ernie Caponera, CdM Chamber board member and John De Carrier, Rose Bakery Café co-owner and CdM Chamber member

Among the event attendees were Newport Beach Councilmember Lauren Kleiman (District 6), representing Corona del Mar; Newport Beach Councilmember Robyn Grant (District 4), representing Newport Beach; Corona del Mar Chamber President and CEO Linda Leonard; and representatives from the legislative offices of U.S Representative Katie Porter, State Senator Janet Nguyen and Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley.

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Courtesy of CdM Chamber of Commerce

Jeremy Evans, CdM Chamber of Commerce board member and Newport Beach Councilmember Lauren Kleiman

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Photo by Lana Johnson

(L-R) Rose Bakery Café Co-owner Carmen Solano-De Carrier, Alfredo Delgado (a Rose employee for nearly 20 years) and Co-owner John De Carrier

Following the mix and mingle reception, legislative office proclamations were bestowed and staff recognition awards were presented, followed by a delicious buffet dinner.

The story of Rose begins in 1998, when two young college graduates Shawn and Dai Lim, shared a common desire – to create something that would be theirs to own.

Shawn, influenced by his parents who were in the donut business, decided to lease a space to start the very first Rose Bakery in San Diego. It was here that Shawn and Dai learned the art of making donuts day in and day out.

A few years later, they stumbled upon a beautiful location, at the corner of Orchid Avenue and Coast Highway in CdM. This was the first glimpse of what would become the beloved establishment the community has come to love over the years.

Throughout their journey, Shawn and Dai were fortunate to be surrounded by remarkable individuals. Some of them attended the evening’s celebratory event, and it’s the relationships they built over the years that have made Rose more than just a place to eat.

After several years of collaborating, the husband-and-wife team of John De Carrier and Carmen Solano-De Carrier was able to take the baton from Shawn and Dai last year.

Since then, the café has undergone changes, always with the aim of making it an even better place for everyone.

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Photo by Lana Johnson

Corona del Mar Chamber President and CEO Linda Leonard (fifth from left) with legislative representatives and CdM Chamber board members

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Photo by Lana Johnson

Mix and mingling during the reception

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Photo by Lana Johnson

Attendees on the terrace enjoy the presentations

The De Carriers have brought their passion for hospitality along with their vision for the growth of Rose, driven by their qualities to listen, lead and be involved in their community.

“Our team stands here today, excited to be part of this new chapter for Rose. It’s a journey filled with stories, flavors and a shared love for this place,” said Maranatha Weathersby, director of operations.

Perhaps it is best summed up with an excerpt from the Mayor’s Proclamation: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rose Bakery Café for its unwavering commitment to our community and for bringing joy, delicious food, and a sense of belonging to our residents and visitors alike. As Rose Bakery Café continues to flourish, may it serve as an enduring symbol of the enduring spirit of Corona del Mar.”

For more information about Rose Bakery Café, visit their website at www.rosebakerycafe.com.

Regattas and Races…

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Photo by Bronny Daniels | Joysailing.com

2023 Around the Islands

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club

Saturday, Oct. 21 (Race 3 in series)

PHRF Class A (24.4 Miles)

1 Amante, Richley, LIYC

   Elapsed Time 4:24:27, Corrected Time 4:09:49

2 Problem Child, Rossen, BCYC

   Elapsed Time 4:40:57, Corrected Time 4:14:55

3 Saga, Cowper, DPYC

   Elapsed Time 4:32:28, Corrected Time 4:15:23

4 Radical Departure, Rosene, BYC

   Elapsed Time 4:37:41, Corrected Time 4:20:36

5 Cirrus, Harmon, CRA

   Elapsed Time #########

5 Daart, Hans, ALYC

   Elapsed Time #########

5 Table 9, Newman, BYC

   Elapsed Time ##########

PHRF Class B (24.4 Miles)

1 Legacy, Dougherty, NHYC

   Elapsed Time 4:39:22, Corrected Time 4:10:05

2 Rode Rage, Cochran, SIBYC

   Elapsed Time 4:46:16, Corrected Time 4:14:08

3 XLR8, Nistor, BCYC

   Elapsed Time 4:48:12, Corrected Time 4:15:16

4 Buenos Aires, Williams, DWYC

   Elapsed Time 5:01:15, Corrected Time 4:28:19

5 Mariah, Cobelo, SIBYC

   Elapsed Time 5:05:54, Corrected Time 4:37:50

6 Benny, Kettenhoffen, ALYC

   Elapsed Time #########

6 Violetta, Hartley/Tomidan, BCYC

   Elapsed Time #########

6 Boat Snack, Newcomb, ALYC

   Elapsed Time ##########

PHRF Class C (24.4 Miles)

1 Tomol, Griesbach, DPYC

   Elapsed Time 5:24:37, Corrected Time 4:28:30

2 Holokai, McElfresh, ALYC

   Elapsed Time 6:09:03, Corrected Time 5:06:25

3 Stella Maris, Barry, NHYC

   Elapsed Time ##########

3 Flyn Bryn, Bryan, DPYC

   Elapsed Time #########

3 Oasis VI, Gordon, OSC

   Elapsed Time ##########

3 Oasis V, Parsons, OSC

   Elapsed Time ##########

News relating to racing in or around Newport Harbor should be forwarded to Tom Johnson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Newport Beach – A Look Back

Photo series courtesy of Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach

“Captain Blood” was released in 1935 and was filmed in neighboring Laguna Beach, but here you can see the ship from the film, “The Cinco Llagas,” docked alongside the Balboa Pavilion

Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach and the Museum Store are located at 210 B Marine Ave., Balboa Island. They are open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free general admission on all days. Two-hour parking is available on Marine Avenue. For more information, call 949.675.3952, visit www.balboaislandmuseum.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Newport Beach Film Festival concludes with Sunset Series

On Thursday, Oct. 19, the 24th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) concluded with its Sunset Series: Closing Night event where Glenn Howerton (Blackberry) was honored with the Festival’s Artist of Distinction Award at the Balboa Bay Resort.

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Courtesy of PencilBox Studios

Glenn Howerton received the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Artist of Distinction Award at the Sunset Series: Closing Night event on October 19

Afterwards, Howerton took part in a moderated Q&A and the Festival’s events came to a close. 

For more information on the Newport Beach Film Festival, visit https://newportbeachfilmfest.com.

Pendry Newport Beach hosts Grand Opening party with Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Lautner and Rachel Zoe in attendance

On Thursday, Oct. 19, Pendry Hotels & Resorts hosted the official Grand Opening celebration of Pendry Newport Beach, the brand’s eighth property in the collection and third opening in Southern California, and The Elwood Club, the debut and inaugural modern members club from the brand.

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Photos courtesy of Pendry Hotels & Resorts

Guests upon arrival were welcomed with Moet Champagne splits

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…and greeted by Cabaret Showgirls

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(L-R) Michael Fuerstman (Pendry Hotels & Resorts co-founder) and Alan Fuerstman (Montage International, founder, chairman and CEO)

The black-tie private affair included 900 high-profile guests and featured music by DJ Zen Freeman; bites at each of the property’s signature restaurants including SET Steak & Sushi by dining and nightlife powerhouse Clique Hospitality; live music at The Cabaret in The Elwood Club and more. Sponsors included Cadillac and Visit Newport Beach, among others.

VIP/Celebrity Guests included:

–Montage International, Founder, Chairman and CEO Alan Fuerstman

–Pendry Hotels & Resorts Co-Founder Michael Fuerstman

–Eagle Four Partners including: Todd Pickup, Kevin Martin, Kory Kramer, Joe Moody and Rick Weiner

–Actor Mark Wahlberg

–Actor Taylor Lautner and his wife, Tay Lautner

–American fashion designer, businesswoman, Rachel Zoe and husband Rodger Berman

–Actress, model and artist Beau Dunn

–Surfer Rob Machado

–Josh Altman, Altman Brothers

–TV personality Alex Hall

–Influencer Amanda McCants

–Influencer Joey Zauzig

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Leadership in the Pendry Newport Beach venture (L-R): Joe Moody, Todd Pickup, Michael Fuerstman, Alan Fuerstman, Kevin Martin, Kory Kramer, David Hoffman and Jason Herthel

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Actor Mark Wahlberg concocting A Baby Maker with his Flecha Azul tequila at SET Steak & Sushi Bar

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(L-R) Actress, model, artist Beau Dunn; Cosima Swayze (Forty Under 40 honoree and founder of Cosima Interiors); Tay and husband/actor Taylor Lautner; and Fashion designer Rachel Zoe with husband Rodger Berman

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Influencer Amanda McCants

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Actor/influencer Joey Zauzig

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DJ Zen Freeman (left) spun the tunes at the Pendry pool

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An all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ luxury SUV was on display

Pendry Newport Beach is located at 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. For more information, visit www.pendry.com/newport-beach or follow @pendrynewportbeach.

NBPD alerts community to scam involving requests for money for lost pets – DON’T BUY IT!

Newport Beach Police were notified by community members that they had received calls from an individual claiming to be a Newport Beach Animal Shelter employee. The caller claimed their lost pet had been found then asked them for payment over the phone.

Residents who contacted NBPD directly were able to confirm that these calls did not come from the NBPD department. The Newport Beach Police Department will not contact you to request money and does not accept any kind of payment for legitimate services over the phone.

When you get a call from an unknown number, ask yourself...is the caller who you think it is? Scammers are good at pretending to be someone they’re not. They can be convincing: sometimes manipulating Caller ID, using information from social media, or hacking into email accounts, to make it seem more real. They’ll pressure you or play on your emotions to get personal information or money from you.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Stop. Check it out. For calls from alleged government agencies or utility. Do not give out any personal or financial information until you have verified the identity of the caller. Ask the caller for their name, department, business phone number and what they are requesting. Confirm that information by calling the organization directly at a phone number found on the internet or through official correspondence/billing statements. If the caller refuses to provide this information, terminate the call immediately.

2. Keep your information safe. Never give out personal identifying information, such as your social security number, bank account or credit card account numbers, to anyone you do not know.

3. Pass this information on to a friend. You may not have received one of these calls, but chances are that you know someone who will – if they haven’t already.

I can see for miles and miles…

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Photo by Joel Goldstein

Looking south from Crystal Cove buff

Hoag Orthopedic Institute announces new fellows for 2023-2024

Hoag Orthopedic Institute, one of the largest providers of orthopedic care in the nation, has announced five new fellows for the 2023-2024 academic year. The fellows will be completing the fellowship program in arthroplasty, sports medicine, or surgical spine.

“Hoag Orthopedic Institute is pleased to introduce this year’s class of fellows,” said Steven L. Barnett, M.D., chief medical officer of Hoag Orthopedic Institute. “With Hoag Orthopedic Institute’s guidance, we have the utmost confidence that our fellows will grow and develop into the next generation of orthopedic surgeons.”

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Courtesy of Hoag Hospital

(L-R) Jesse Caballero, M.D.; Kyle Scholle, M.D.; Rocio Crabb, M.D.; Justin Moo Young, M.D. and Parke Hudson, M.D.

The 2023-2024 Hoag Orthopedic Institute fellows are:

–Arthroplasty: Justin Moo Young, M.D. – Dr. Moo Young grew up in Miami, Fla. and completed his undergraduate studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. After teaching abroad in Zanzibar, he attended medical school at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. He then completed his Orthopedic Surgery residency at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. He loves playing soccer and played competitively at Georgetown University, as well as abroad in Italy. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Moo Young enjoys traveling, free diving and snowboarding.

–Parke Hudson, M.D. – Dr. Hudson was born and raised in Northern California. He moved to Southern California in 2008 where he completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of California, Riverside, followed by his Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Outside of work, Dr. Hudson enjoys actively supporting the Oakland Athletics and the Raiders, staying active, and spending time with his wife, Cindy, son, JT and dog, Dolly.

–Sports Medicine: Rocio Crabb, M.D. – Dr. Crabb grew up in Glendale, Calif., before moving to San Diego for high school and undergraduate education. She attended the University of California San Diego where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. She worked at Sequenom, a genetics lab in La Jolla, for two years prior to moving to New York to attend the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University/Northwell Health. There, she met her now husband, and fellow surgeon, Ryan. Together they traveled to New Orleans, La., where Dr. Crabb spent five years learning about crawfish, Mardi Gras and orthopedic surgery. Outside of the hospital, you may find Dr. Crabb at a Dodgers’ game, at home perfecting a recipe, or exploring a National Park with her husband Ryan.

–Kyle Scholle, M.D. – Dr. Scholle was born and raised in San Diego. He completed his undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley. After college, he spent a year as a ski instructor in Lake Tahoe pursuing his interest in the outdoors. He then returned home to Southern California where he attended medical school and completed orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Southern California. In his free time, he enjoys surfing at San Onofre State Beach, mountain biking in the hills of Orange County and spending time with his wife Jacqueline and daughter Eleanor.

–Surgical Spine: Jesse Caballero, M.D. – Dr. Caballero was born and raised in Tucson, Ariz. He attended medical school at the Indiana School of Medicine, which is where he also completed his residency. He initially pursued a business major in college, but ultimately ended up in medicine. He has found himself having the most fun in orthopedics and even more, he found an affinity for spinal care. He believes his calling in medicine is to treat patients afflicted with spinal disease so that they may get back to living their fullest lives.

To learn more about Hoag Orthopedic Institute’s fellowship programs, visit www.hoagorthopedics.org/education/fellowship-programs.

Bicycle safety – hey parents, NBPD needs your help with reinforcing safety to kids at home

By NBPD Resource on Bicycle Safety for Kids

Photos courtesy of NBPD

NBPD is committed to making our community safe for our youth on bicycles, but it’s a collaborative effort on all fronts

For the last four years, the Newport Beach Police Department Traffic Unit has been presenting to students, teachers and parents about bike safety – reaching thousands of community members with this important information. While the police department is putting a good deal of time and energy in educating our students, it is crucial for these bike safety concepts to be reinforced at home.

NBPD has developed a guide for parents to reference for these discussions so they can ensure that their child has the knowledge to be a safer bicyclist (Bicycle Safety: A Parent’s Guide is available here). This resource covers the following topics:

–Being a “Roll Model.”

–Deciding who rides with your child.

–Deciding where your child can ride.

–Distractions can be deadly.

–Sharing the road: same roads, same rules, same rights.

–High-risk bicycling situations for children.

–Quick tips for bike safety.

Thank you for partnering with the Newport Beach Police Department to help make our kids safer bicyclists!

The NBPD has additional information on bicycle safety and security here.

Fair Game

By TOM JOHNSON

Following a hard fall, feeling helpless, little did I realize that helpful technology was all around me

Boy, did I feel old the other day. And despite that feeling, I always sort of feel like I could somehow unzip this outer shell of mine and a younger version of me could somehow pop out.

But certainly, not so a week ago.

And it got me thinking about what happens at this age when something happens seemingly out of our control?

After getting ready for a day out on the golf course, I ventured out my front door, golf bag slung across my back, right arm back holding it securely, left hand occupied grasping an aluminum to-go cup of iced tea.

I was looking forward to seeing my golf buddies shortly, knowing it was going to be a great day.

Moments later, I stepped off the first of five concrete steps to exit my front porch. It was easy, I’ve done it thousands of times without even a second thought.

Still, as my left foot touched the first step, I’m not sure, either my left ankle or left knee buckled sideways and my face-first fall down those steps, now in somewhat slow motion, was underway.

It’s right then you realize just how hard concrete steps are.

Fortunately and unfortunately, my face stopped me when I reached the bottom, only then realizing that my right arm was trapped behind me in the golf bag strap and my left arm completely pinned awkwardly underneath me. I could not move. As I tried to hold my head up, I realized blood was dripping fairly quickly from my cheekbone and right eye area.

I also felt immediate pain in both legs, my left wrist and right elbow.

It was not good!

My first thought was, okay, golf is out of the question, now what about some help? But, I saw no one. Even a couple of shouts for some assistance went unanswered.

Next, I thought, get my phone out…it was only then that I realized I walked out without it.

Oh, what to do?

Although it took me a while, I did eventually manage to free my left arm, roll over and get the darn golf bag off my back. Then, I dragged my bloody legs down the steps, found my way to a sitting position and eventually stood up.

In time, I limped my way back up the steps and into the house, grabbed some cold wet towels to take an initial stab at some first aid and sat down.

In a weird way I felt I had made my way to safety. A call or two summoned help and over time recovery began, but, to be honest, it certainly hasn’t been without pain.

All this got me thinking about the people we know, that too, are fighting this old age plight. If you’re like me, I don’t always understand technology and what’s readily available around me.

So, what happens if someone we know falls and CAN’T get up? Is there a plan? Do they have knowledge of their options? How can they summon help? Etc., etc. It’s something we probably all need to think about and, perhaps, review with those we love.

I do know that in the morning shortly after my fall that my Apple watch set a fall detection alert and subsequently, after no response was entered, set off an alarm. I didn’t know what that meant.

Right or wrong, I managed to turn it off, not even knowing what it would result in. Heck, it was probably the first time I even knew it was there.

By now, days later, I’ve looked into it as all seniors should, just in case. Please be assured that I’m not endorsing Apple watches, just pointing out what they can do and reminding you that there are certainly other options out there.

Here’s how the Apple watch fall detection works according to Lively.com: “the systems use accelerometers, a type of low power radio wave technology sensor, to monitor the movements of the user.

“The fall alert detectors can measure when the user has suddenly fallen by detecting the abrupt changes of body movements. The technology can evaluate an individual’s body position, physical activity and the smoothness of acceleration of movements, says the International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications. If the device determines that these variables are within the danger zone and a fall has occurred, it will automatically activate an emergency fall alert and call emergency response agents for assistance.”

As a result, help would be on the way!

I didn’t know any of this. One other thing that didn’t occur to me was even though I’d forgotten my phone, I could’ve used my Apple watch to call for help.

Like many of us my age, technology is not at the forefront of my thinking.

So, I remind all of you to figure out the options you have before something like this happens…and sometimes, those younger can help us older ones to review them.

Hopefully, you’ll never have the need…but just in case.

• • •

There’s still time to RSVP for Friday’s 2023 Newport Chamber Honors where Citizen of the Year Laird Hayes and Business Person of the Year Robert Olson will be honored.

Both are extremely deserving in this community.

The event takes place at the Balboa Bay Resort (October 27) at 6 p.m. For ticket information, go to www.newportbeach.com.

• • •

Last week, Assemblywoman Diane Dixon released the remainder of her four-part docuseries called Save the Ferry. The Balboa Ferry is not only a tourist attraction and local favorite, but it protects our environment by saving drivers from a six-mile detour across the Balboa Peninsula to the nearest bridge.

The California Air Resource Board (CARB) has mandated that all short run ferries become electric by 2025. According to Dixon, “CARB is an unelected government body that holds disproportionate power in crafting California policy.”

To view all four parts of the docuseries, go here.

• • •

The 100th Anniversary Community Celebration continues at John Wayne Airport. Last week, JWA welcomed guests in several unique ways to highlight the celebration.

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Courtesy of JWA

JWA pops up a centennial-themed gift table for guests to celebrate “100 Years of Flight” in Orange County

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Courtesy of JWA

The Andrew Sisters were on hand to serenade event attendees with renditions of popular swing classics

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Courtesy of JWA

Nothing says relax to travelers more than AirPAWS, the JWA dog therapy program

• • •

Sadly, Paul Folino, former Chairman & CEO of Emulex, philanthropist and Chairman of Hoag Charity Sports, passed away on October 14 after a reported battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 75.

Los Angeles Chargers and Hoag host special event honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Los Angeles Chargers and Hoag teamed up on Wednesday, Oct. 11 to host a special event in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the Hoag Performance Center (Chargers practice field), promoting mindfulness and meditation for breast cancer patients, survivors and supporters.

The event featured a breathwork session led by former NFL player and Los Angeles native, Joseph Fauria, known as “Big Joe.” Participants included Hoag breast cancer patients, Chargers players Derwin James and Nick Niemann, and medical experts from Hoag’s Family Cancer Institute.

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Photos courtesy of Hoag Health System

(L-R) Dr. Chaitali Nangia, medical director of Breast Cancer Clinical Research and co-director of Cellular Therapy at the Hoag Family Cancer Institute; Joseph Fauria (“Big Joe”), breathwork facilitator; Sharmeen Mahmood, D.O., medical oncologist and hematologist at the Hoag Family Cancer Institute, and Dr. Elizabeth Kraft, breast surgeon at the Hoag Breast Center, teamed up at the Los Angeles Chargers and Hoag event

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Former NFL player and Los Angeles native Joseph Fauria (“Big Joe”) led Hoag breast cancer patients through a breathwork session at the Hoag Performance Center

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Susie Spanos (left), breast cancer survivor and wife of Los Angeles Chargers Owner Dean Spanos, and Ana Spanos (right) flank Joseph Fauria (“Big Joe”)

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Dr. Chaitali Nangia (far right) spoke to breast cancer patients, survivors and supporters with Sharmeen Mahmood (center) and Dr. Elizabeth Kraft (far left)

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Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. participated in breathwork session for breast cancer patients, survivors and supporters

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Susie Spanos led breast cancer patients, survivors and supporters through referee aerobics

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The Los Angeles Chargers and Hoag hosted a special event in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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Hoag breast cancer patients, Chargers players Derwin James Jr. and Nick Niemann, along with medical experts from Hoag’s Family Cancer Institute, joined by adorable puppies

Fair Game

By TOM JOHNSON

Hundreds “Dressed to the absolute T” came to celebrate the opening of Newport Beach’s lavish new resort

Last night (Thursday, Oct. 19), an estimated 800-900 people joined in the festivities to officially open Newport Beach’s newest resort, Pendry Newport Beach.

The evening was spectacular at every turn…from the beautifully statuesque Las Vegas showgirls exquisitely dressed in costume, complete with fabulous headpieces welcoming guests and later dancing around the pool deck, to the ‘40s-‘50s vintage jazz band performing in The Elwood Club Cabaret; there were others hitting balls golf balls in the hi-tech golf simulator room, also in The Elwood Club; food stations and food service throughout the resort, including welcoming individual bottles of Champagne to each and every guest upon arrival, to bars everywhere, including around the beautifully lit pool, gardens and surrounds.

The crowd included locals to Hollywood and everything in between, dressed in blue jeans and sports coats to long gowns and black ties.

It was an absolutely unparalleled grand opening I haven’t seen the likes of in my 30+ years in and around Newport Beach.

The Pendry Newport Beach, situated in the former location of the Four Seasons and Fashion Island hotels, is a collaboration of the property’s owners, Eagle Four Partners and the Montage International.

The Pendry brand stands for “Polished Comfort, Modern Edge”…with “elevated design and service for the new luxury traveler. With captivating destinations, artful environments and attentive service, Pendry ushers in a new era of luxury hospitality.”

Newport Beach joins such locations as Pendry San Diego, Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, Pendry West Hollywood, Pendry Chicago, Pendry Manhattan West, Pendry Park City, and Pendry Washington DC – The Wharf.

The Newport Beach location features 295 guest rooms with 114 suites; dining and entertainment includes SET Steak & Sushi, Bar Pendry, Tree Shack, Viamara at The Elwood Club, The Pub at The Elwood Club, The Cabaret at The Elwood Club and The Pavilion; wellness with a world-class Spa Pendry, a 24/7 fitness center, a sparkling outdoor pool with expansive lounging deck and curated outdoor experiences; and even the Paintbox, where “keeping kids happy, one smile at a time” is their signature kids’ club to entertain those from ages 5-12.

All of that with lavish furnishings, artwork and more. It’s simply spectacular. And coupled with Newport Beach’s other resorts, including Pelican Hill, Lido House, VEA Newport Beach and the Balboa Bay Resort, make Newport Beach a luxury destination second-to-none.

• • •

The Newport Beach Film Festival wrapped up their 2023 week-plus run in scintillating fashion by drawing some of Hollywood’s most-recognizable names to town, including William Shatner who received the NBFF’s Legend Award.

Additionally, a Q&A with Shatner, hosted by actor Jason Alexander, took place at The New Port Theater before the screening of William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill.

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Courtesy of PencilBox Studios

William Shatner receives the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Legend Award at Sherman Library & Gardens

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Courtesy of PencilBox Studios

Jason Alexander attends a screening of “William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill” at The New Port Theater

• • •

Assemblywoman Diane Dixon has released a four-part docuseries on efforts to Save the Balboa Ferry (https://youtu.be/Ig68fuybQ6g).

Other efforts include a very active petition attempt to gather 35,000 signatures on change.org. Yesterday’s numbers had the petition approaching 29,000 sigs.

To add your name, go here.

• • •

Perhaps you’re looking for a new holiday tradition to start…or, if you’re lucky enough to have found this before, continue on with one.

Either way, you might begin thinking of the Nights of 1000 Lights that runs 13 evenings in December at Sherman Library & Gardens. Guests will stroll through their gardens experiencing the dazzling display of lights and entertainment.

And this year it is going to be wonderful! Think of the old favorite childhood game of Candyland. And that’s just what you’ll find at Sherman Library & Gardens.

Their holiday décor will be reminiscent of the vintage board game we all loved as children.

“Stroll along the Rainbow Trail, past the Lollypop Woods and the Gumdrop Mountains, through the Peppermint Stick Forest, and the glistening light tunnel, on your way to the Candy Heart Carnival, featuring carnival games for kids of all ages.

“Visit the Molasses Swamp, the Old Peanut Brittle House, and the Candy Land Express Train on your way to visit Santa in his workshop. Then head to the fire pit and whip up your own batch of s’mores. The Garden Shop will be open and is a must-see for unique holiday gift ideas. Make a wish at The Wishing Tree and create lasting memories with friends and family by celebrating the holidays at Sherman Library & Gardens.”

Sounds fun, right? I’m thinking my three young grandchildren will love it!

Don’t delay as this event sells out every year! And, of the 13 nights, two are reserved for SL&G members…that means there will be just 11 to choose from. Don’t be last in line.

For online tickets and available dates, go to https://thesherman.org/nights-of-1000-lights/.

• • •

A rewarding part of Stu News Newport is working with the Newport Beach Animal Shelter to bring attention to their center and to display the variety of animals that come through their doors and then become available for adoption.

On occasion, we hear their success stories. Case in point…Dave Girling, a long-time noted figure in the local residential real estate market, called to tell us that he and his wife had seen Blonde, a dog we posted in the October 10 issue of Stu News.

Well, Blonde not only caught the Girlings’ attention, but he and his wife then drove in from the desert to have a look and, wouldn’t you know it, adopt her.

Blonde in the SNN Pet of the Week article, was described as “a charming 8-month-old German Shepherd mix.”

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Courtesy of the Newport Beach Animal Shelter

Meet Luna…the Shepherd mix formerly known as Blonde

Well, Blonde is now in her new home…or should we say, “Luna is in her new home”…as the Girlings will call her from here on out.

Dave also took the time to say how wonderful the staff at the Animal Shelter are.

If you have an interest in doing something similar, go to the webpage at www.fonbas.org and check them out.

• • •

The 2024 Annual Speak Up Newport Membership Drive is underway. Join or renew your membership to support SUN’s efforts to provide forums to educate the Newport Beach community on important current issues and people.

SUN is a non-partisan citywide residents’ group organized to promote the common good and general welfare of the Newport Beach community. This is accomplished through:

–Drawing attention to the desirable and unique quality of life in Newport Beach.

–Taking action to inform residents of the issues impacting Newport Beach.

–Celebrating the good things that happen in Newport Beach.

–Recognizing the people who have a positive impact on Newport Beach.

For more information or to join/renew, visit www.speakupnewport.com/membership.

• • •

Finally, two things to get on your calendar: tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 21), next to the Newport Pier, is the return of professional beach volleyball with the Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational. It’ll be 4x4 team play with three men’s teams and three women’s teams in two separate tourneys, beginning at 10 a.m.

Some great names will join in: Taylor Crabb, Todd Rogers, Taylor Sanders, Kelly Cheng, Betsi Flint and more, competing for $72,000 in prize money.

This event is free and open to the public with seating on the sand. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own beach chairs.

Then, a week from today, on Friday, Oct. 27 will be the 2023 Chamber Honors Night at the Balboa Bay Resort. Honorees include Laird Hayes as Newport Beach’s 2023 Citizen of the Year and Bob Olson as Newport Beach’s 2023 Business Person of the Year.

The festivities begin at 6 p.m. To purchase a seat or two or a table, go to www.newportbeach.com.

Culinary spotlight shone on Chef Susan Feniger at the 24th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival

The 24th Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) continued on Tuesday, Oct. 17 with the exciting new Culinary Spotlight celebrating the life and career of chef and restaurateur, Susan Feniger, at The Resort at Pelican Hill.

Afterwards, a screening of the film Susan Feniger. Forked. took place, with a post-screening Q&A including Susan Feniger, director Liz Lachman and producer Lisa Donmall-Reeve.

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Photos courtesy of PencilBox Studios

Susan Feniger attends the Culinary Spotlight at the Newport Beach Film Festival on October 17

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(L-R) Liz Lachman, Lisa Donmall-Reeve and Susan Feniger held a post-screening Q&A at Pelican Hill Resort to discuss “Susan Feniger. Forked.”

Council agenda includes review of sober living, funds for sculpture exhibition, proposed code changes, pickleball courts in Newport Coast

By SARA HALL

There are several interesting items on the Newport Beach City agenda next week.

At the Tuesday (Oct. 24) meeting, council will consider or hear: Annual review of the zoning agreement for Sierra by the Sea; a request for an additional $24,000 to fund Civic Center Park Sculpture Exhibition Phase IX; a study session on proposed city code and council policy changes and a $1.09 million contract for pickleball courts at Newport Ridge Park in Newport Coast.

During public hearings, council will conduct the annual review of the zoning agreement for Sierra by the Sea.

This is the 14th annual review of the zoning implementation and public benefit agreement between the city and Sober Living by the Sea (doing business as Sierra by the Sea for all programs in Newport Beach).

The agreement includes a provision that a periodic review be conducted at least once every 12 months. Other terms of the agreement are related to the SBTS office operation, reporting on facility location and bed counts, status of police calls for service and other complaints, parking violations and more.

According to the staff report, despite minor parking citations, no significant violations have been observed or reported.

City staff reported that they conducted a thorough review SBTS’ operations and requirements of the agreement and found that the company is in compliance. Staff is recommending that council find that Sierra by the Sea has demonstrated good faith compliance with the terms of the zoning implementation and public benefit agreement.

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Photo by Sara Hall

Council will consider a request for additional funds for the next phase of the rotating Sculpture Garden at the Newport Beach Civic Center (pictured is “Prey” by Lisa and Robert Ferguson from a previous phase)

During regular business, council will consider the Sculpture Exhibition Phase IX funding.

Council will provide direction to staff regarding the Arts Commission’s request for $24,000 in additional funding in fiscal year 2023-24. If approved, the council will also authorize staff to execute a budget amendment, maintain the current budgeted funding level, and install eight sculptures, or reallocate funding within the total budget for arts.

The Arts Commission reviewed the funding and discussed the upcoming phase of the Civic Center Park’s rotating exhibition at their October 12 meeting. The FY 2023-24 budget includes $135,000 for the next phase of the Sculpture Garden and the Newport Beach Arts Foundation has committed $10,000 to support the project.

At the October meeting, the commission reviewed two proposals submitted by Arts Orange County for project management of Phase IX of the Sculpture Exhibition. The first called for the installation of the usual 10 sculptures at a total cost of $169,000. The second proposal called for the installation of eight sculptures at a total project cost of $145,000. The exhibition Commissioners ultimately approved the proposal for 10 sculptures.

Next week, city staff is seeking council direction on how to address the Arts Commission’s desire for an additional $24,000 in funding for the exhibition.

The program, which first started in 2013, rotates sculptures at the Civic Center Park for a two-year period. Sculptors are provided with a small honorarium, not to exceed $5,000, to loan their work to Newport Beach. The city is responsible for installing the art, while sculptors are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their work. Phases overlap for a one-year period so that 20 pieces are typically on display.

ArtsOC has managed all previous phases of the exhibition and has strong working relationships with the Arts Commission and city staff.

Earlier in the meeting, during the study session, council will hear proposed city code and council policy changes.

The council’s Ad Hoc Municipal Code and Council Policy Review Committee reviewed the Newport Beach municipal code and council policies to provide recommendations concerning deleting or reducing language, and the advisability of applying sunset provisions for new and existing code provisions. The proposed NBMC and city council policy changes will be presented for council review and discussion during the study session.

The committee, comprised of Mayor Noah Blom, Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neill and Councilmember Lauren Kleiman, also requested recommendations regarding council policy changes from several city boards and commissions.

Per the agreement, the full salary and benefits for three school resource officers will be funded equally through the police department’s budget (50%) and the NMUSD (50%). Funding for the three police officers is included in NBPD’s FY 2023-24 budget, as are revenues from the NMUSD in the amount of $283,598.

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Courtesy of Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire

Players at the “Pickleball for Wishes” 2022 tournament at the Tennis and Pickleball Club at Newport Beach. Next week council will consider an agreement to build public pickleball courts in Newport Coast

On the consent calendar (items considered routine and usually voted in one motion without discussion unless a councilmember pulls the item), council will consider a $1.09 million contract for Newport Coast pickleball courts with La Habra-based Green Giant Landscape, Inc.

If approved, the action will also approve a budget amendment to appropriate $231,236 in new revenue and expenditures from the California Department of Parks and Recreation to a city account and appropriate $58,364 in increased expenditures in that same account from the Building Excise Tax unappropriated fund balance.

This project constructs eight new pickleball courts on Newport Ridge Park, in accordance with the lease agreement the city has with Newport Ridge Community Association.

In the agenda report, staff notes that the sport of pickleball has grown in popularity in Newport Beach and around the country in recent years.

The city currently has four public pickleball courts and due to the increase in demand from residents, an opportunity to add a pickleball complex was identified at 11.32-acre, private Newport Ridge Park at 6331 Newport Ridge Drive in the Newport Coast community.

A Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission ad hoc committee worked collaboratively with NRCA board members, city recreation and senior services department staff, and the public works department staff to develop plans for the project.

According to the staff report, in May 2022, the city entered into a lease agreement with NRCA to develop, operate and maintain eight, unlit courts to be located along the eastern edge of the park adjacent to the city-owned Newport Coast Community Center parking lot.

The eight pickleball courts will be constructed to industry specifications and the site will be provided with a shaded viewing area, benches, trash cans, a bike rack and a water fountain/bottle filling station. The existing Newport Coast Community Center will provide public parking with its 120 available parking spots. Two of the courts will be equipped with a key fob system for NRCA resident access only.

The city received 11 bids for the project. The lowest bidder was non-responsive and didn’t submit the required documents. Green Giant Landscape was the second lowest bidder. The company possess a California state contractor’s license classification “A” (as required by the project specifications), and has satisfactorily completed similar contracts for other municipalities, including Newport Beach’s existing Bonita Sports Park pickleball courts.

The contractor will have 80 consecutive working days to complete the work, which is scheduled to start in December.

Also on the consent calendar, council will consider a school resource officer program agreement with Newport-Mesa Unified School District. If approved, the action will renew the existing terms and deploy three SROs.

Council first approved an agreement to provide two, full-time police officers to work as SROs at the local high schools in 1999. The agreement has been revised (including adding a third SRO in 2018) and renewed several times (annually reviewed since 2018).

According to the staff report, the proposed agreement allows the Newport Beach Police Department to assign one SRO each to Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar high schools, and one SRO to cover the schools when the designated officer is not on duty. The “cover SRO” is based at Ensign Middle School and also serves NMUSD elementary schools within the city as needed. These SRO assignments are subject to change at the discretion of the chief of police.

“The goal of the SRO program is to work collaboratively within the school community to provide safe learning environments, foster positive relationships with students, educators, parents and community members, and to develop strategies to resolve problems that affect our youth, so that they can reach their full potential. The role of the SRO includes promoting a positive image of law enforcement to school children and school communities,” the staff report reads.

The council agenda is available online here. The study session starts at 4 p.m., followed by the closed session, and the regular meeting at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting can be watched live on the local NBTV channel (Spectrum 3 or Cox 852) or on the city’s website here.

Members of the public may speak in person in council chambers (there is not a remote or online option to participate).

Questions and comments can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to the city clerk at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the council adequate time to review comments, submit any written comments by 5 p.m. on October 23 (the day before the City Council meeting). Correspondence received by this deadline will be uploaded to the agenda packet by October 23 at 5:30 p.m. and can be viewed here.

Material received after the deadline and prior to 2 p.m. on October 24 (the day of the meeting) will be provided to the council in hard copy and will be available to the public at the meeting.

~~~~~~~~

Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.

OC Supervisors choose new concession concepts for JWA

By SARA HALL

Coming soon: New concessions at John Wayne Airport.

In separate votes on Tuesday (Oct. 17), the OC Board of Supervisors approved concepts from three different proposers for two retail packages and one food and beverage package. Another food and beverage package did not receive any bids and the board directed airport staff to negotiate with qualified operators and return to the board.

“First impressions matter. For the millions of visitors traveling through John Wayne Airport, our concessions program leaves travelers with a taste of Orange County,” said Supervisor Katrina Foley after the meeting in a prepared statement. “Each of these operators showcase our local businesses and provide unique locally sourced products that reflect Orange County’s retail and restaurant brands.”

At the meeting, Foley, who represents Newport Beach in District Five, commented that it was a tough decision. All of the operators who bid on the packages listened to what the board wanted and submitted strong concepts.

“We wanted a taste of Orange County. We wanted local flavor, local products, locally sourced,” Foley said. “I feel like people really listened and that made it great, but also hard to pick.”

This was a tough decision, added Board Chair Don Wagner. All of the operators and their proposals are great and would work well at JWA.

“We have some quality operators and quality opportunities across all of the packages,” he commented.

It’s a struggle to choose, agreed Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento.

“This is a good problem to have,” he said.

Ultimately, the board selected Host International, Inc., for food and beverage package two, Hudson Group (HG) Retail, LLC, for retail package one, and Paradies Lagardere at SNA, LLC, for retail package two.

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Courtesy of John Wayne Airport

Orange County Board of Supervisors this week approved new concessions concepts for John Wayne Airport

Regarding food and beverage package one, which received no bids, Wagner said there are some tweaks that could be made to try and get some proposals.

In Tuesday’s action, the board also authorized the airport director to negotiate the package with qualified operators and return to the board for award of a lease agreement.

Foley suggested working with the bidder that didn’t win the other food and beverage package (SSP America, SNA, LLC). She’d like to see Newport Beach-based Cappy’s Café and San Juan Capistrano-based Five Vines wine bar (both were part of SSP’s proposal that didn’t win) as possible inclusions in the new concept.

Food and beverage package one is a big space, Foley noted as a possible reason why it didn’t get any bids. It includes 12 spaces for a total of 14,786 square feet.

The size and previous investment in the infrastructure of the area could be part of the reason, Sarmiento added. Javi’s was previously in the space and considering the demographics of the county, a Mexican restaurant would be good to include in the concept, he commented. He also suggested a Vietnamese restaurant as another possibility. Both would celebrate the diversity in Orange County.

“As we look to brand the airport – as we look to change the experience of people that come in and identify Orange County as a multicultural, diverse community – those are things we want to celebrate (and) highlight,” Sarmiento said. “I would simply say dream big, dream diverse. Make sure that we reflect what Orange County is, which is a multicultural space and a place that people are going to feel welcome.”

Dream big, but dream “flexibly,” Wagner added. There are a lot of possible reasons why the package didn’t receive any bids. Going forward, they need to cast a wide net and figure out what the holdup was, he said.

At Tuesday’s meeting and previous hearings covering the concessions program, Airport Director Charlene Reynolds emphasized the importance for the concept to highlight all that Orange County has to offer, including local businesses.

“The airport’s goal was to capture a ‘sense of place’ with a mix of local, regional and national brands that reflect Orange County and are desired by the traveling public,” she said.

Reynolds noted that concepts can’t be swapped from one proposal to another, but once the airport starts negotiations with the firms, some modifications may be made relative to design, menu and offerings.

During the Orange County Airport Commission meeting on October 4, John Wayne Airport staff presented concession concepts received in response to their request for proposals for food and beverage packages and retail packages for the Concession Development Program at JWA. Most of the ideas and comments focused on highlighting local businesses and a “sense of place” for the region. Although commissioners didn’t comment specifically on which concepts they liked or disliked, several did emphasize the importance of local businesses being featured.

In 2019, JWA proposed a comprehensive four-phase Concession Development Program (CDP) that encourages local concepts and brands to participate in its quick-serve, retail and casual dining opportunities.

On Feb. 11, 2020, the board authorized the release of Phase II request for qualifications and request for proposals to qualified respondents; however, the RFP process was withdrawn due to the COVID-19 pandemic. JWA retained the services of airport planning and consulting firm Unison Consulting, LLC, to assist with evaluating the existing concession program.

In assessing the concession program to the current economic climate, Unison found that larger packages would yield stronger sales in order to maximize interest from proposers. Unison and JWA staff recommended a total of four packages for the solicitation (two food and beverage packages and two retail packages, with automated locations throughout).

Screenshot of JWA staff presentation

Supervisors selected Host International’s proposal for the airport’s food and beverage package one, which includes an Anaheim Ducks-themed bar with snacks

Food and beverage package two (12 spaces, total 12,457 square feet) had two submissions: Host International, Inc., (parent organization: HMSHost); and SSP America, SNA, LLC. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors chose Host’s proposal.

Host’s concept includes: Mama’s Comfort Food & Cocktails, The Duck’s Breakaway Bar, Cellar Society, Left Coast Brewing, The Habit Burger Grill, Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Perfect, Bonchon Korean Chicken, OC To-Go, Dunkin and Panera Bread.

Screenshot of JWA staff presentation

The board chose the Hudson Group proposal for the airport’s retail package one, which includes a space for Boutique del Mar

Retail package one (five locations, total 4,675 square feet) had two proposers: Hudson Group (HG) Retail, LLC; and Paradies Lagardere at SNA, LLC. Airport officials asked for travel essentials and some specialty retail spaces.

Supervisors ultimately selected Hudson’s concept, which includes: PCH Provisions, MAC, Jo Malone & Sunglass Hut, Boutique Del Mar, Brookstone and Orange Coast Magazine by Hudson.

Screenshot of JWA staff presentation

The board went with Paradies Lagardere’s concept for the airport’s retail package two, which proposed Harbor Exchange for the travel essentials space

Retail package two (four locations, total 4,684 square feet) had submissions from three companies: Hudson Group (HG) Retail, LLC; Marshall Retail Group; and Paradies Lagardere at SNA, LLC. This package included travel essentials and a gourmet market in one location.

The board decided on Paradies Lagardere’s concept, which includes: Harbor Exchange, Market 949 + The Goods Express, The Goods at SNA and SoCAL Essentials.

The proposals included conceptual renderings, but they are not the final designs, Reynolds emphasized at the October 4 Airport Commission meeting. Some of the concepts can be massaged during the negotiation process, she added.

Proposers agreed to the county-proposed master lease structure:

–Term of 15 years with concept review and refurbishment in year seven.

–Pricing is street pricing plus 15%.

–Base Rent is $75 per square foot annually.

–Storage Rent is $74.09 PSF annually (terminal rental rate).

–Marketing Fund is 0.5% of gross receipts.

–Annual rent is the greater of: Tiered percentage rent or space rent of $75 PSF annually.

In another vote, the board authorized the airport director to enter lease negotiations with concessioners and return to the board for a final vote on the lease agreements. This item prompted some discussion about labor agreements.

Foley asked about certain requirements in the labor peace agreements: The concessioner will take a neutral approach and not take any action to directly or indirectly oppose collective bargaining efforts; and include a no-strike clause to prohibit picketing, work stoppages, boycotts, or other economic and operational interference with the business of the airport for the duration of the agreement.

Hudson, Paradies and Host all stated, either via email or text message or during public comment at the meeting on Tuesday, that they have labor peace agreements, Foley pointed out.

Although other supervisors worried that adding her requested requirements would change the terms of the RFP and place the board in a legally precarious position. It might get a bit “tricky,” Sarmiento said.

“If the board now changes terms, we can’t really hold the proposers to their submitted proposals. It might change the math,” said County Counsel Leon Page.

Foley clarified that she wasn’t proposing to change anything.

“I’m just incorporating what they already told us that they have into the lease negotiations,” she said.

If a board majority doesn’t want to do that, she encouraged the bidders to “keep their word.”

Ultimately, most of the other board members agreed with the “spirit” of what Foley was intending, but thought the safer legal option would be to leave it out. She removed the wording from the motion for approval.

Although several board members also relayed to the airport director the importance of the labor peace agreement that were cited by many of the proposers, which Reynolds should keep in mind going forward.

~~~~~~~~

Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.

Simon Scholars celebrates 20 years of service in education, offers scholarships in our community

Since its inception in 2003, Simon Scholars has established itself as more than just a unique scholarship program in the education field.

This prestigious organization has launched dozens of initiatives and scholarships to support students during their high school years and higher education experiences, helping thousands pursue meaningful and successful careers.

Founded more than 20 years ago by Ronald Simon, the Simon Scholars Program has evolved to provide financial aid and other resources to a wide range of students – including more than 2,000 first-generation graduates. The majority of Scholars are first-gen students, and the general high school Scholar group boasts a 4.1 average GPA.

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Courtesy of www.simonscholars.org

Simon Scholars

“We focus on students who come from difficult life and economic circumstances and yet are determined to overcome the many adversities and obstacles facing them,” said Andy Robles, executive director.

In the last two decades, the Simon Scholars Program has served more than 2,000 students. The program is currently supporting nearly 600 Scholars at 99 different higher education institutions across the United States. Roughly 90% of these Simon Scholars graduate college in six years.

The Simon Scholars Program is also a recipient of the Community Heroes Award, presented by Garden Grove Unified School District. This acknowledgment is designed to honor district partners who are going above and beyond to make a life-changing impact on district students, families, or staff.

“It’s been deeply gratifying to see our scholars overcome adversity, becoming community leaders and living the American dream of independence and self-sufficiency,” said founder Ronald Simon.

Simon Scholars is a unique scholarship program that begins at the end of a student’s sophomore year in high school and continues through the completion of college and into their career. It is designed to help students facing difficult life and economic circumstances to excel academically and socially so they can successfully complete a four-year college degree and enter the workforce as professionals. To date, the program has provided nearly $100 million in combined financial aid and program support.

To celebrate the 20-year milestone and acknowledge the Senior Class of 2024, the Simon Scholars Program will be hosting its annual banquet. More information will be released on the event in the near future.

Learn more about the Simon Scholars Program and its initiatives by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also visit their website at www.simonscholars.org, or call at 949.373.3500.

Phone scammers use tricks, talk fast to catch you off guard, and many times even make you uncomfortable with threats

By NBPD Crime Prevention Specialist Sara Verschueren

In a safe city like Newport Beach, it can be easy to get a little lax about implementing crime prevention measures. The truth is that crime does still occur – yes, even in beautiful Newport Beach. It is important for community members to be diligent about getting the right tools and habits in place to protect ourselves, our homes and our valuables.

October is National Crime Prevention Month. Each Friday this month, we will be looking at a particular crime trend and sharing tips you can implement to avoid being the victim of one of these crimes. We hope that you’ll tune in each week and implement some of the suggestions to help make our homes and our community less attractive for crooks. Remember, crime prevention is a team sport – police and community members have to work together to keep our community safe. We hope you’ll partner with us!

This week, we’re going to talk about phone scams – specifically, the tactics that scammers use and what to do if you think you might be talking to one.

Can you spot a scammer?

Photos courtesy of NBPD

The NBPD explains how scammers work to make you vulnerable

Just last week, the Newport Beach Police Department took a report involving a phone scam targeted at one of our residents. The victim received a call from two individuals claiming to be with the Sheriff’s Department who told her that she needed to send them $15,000 or go to jail for missing jury duty. The Caller ID on the phone looked like it was from the Sheriff’s Department, and it even sounded like there was police radio traffic in the background of the call. Although the victim had some suspicions that this was a scam, she felt pressured to act quickly to avoid going to jail and sent the suspects more than $3,000. Shortly after sending the money, she realized it was a scam and called NBPD to report the incident.

Do not give out any personal information until you have verified the identity of the caller

Phone scams like this are not uncommon and can take on many different forms. Learning to identify the signs of a scam is one of the best ways to protect yourself from falling for one of these cons. Keep reading for some insights into how scammers work and how to avoid their tricks.

Scammers pretend to be someone they’re not. They may say they are with a government agency, a business you know or a charity. Some scammers take a more personal route by setting up fake online dating profiles to find victims or by claiming a family member is in trouble. They can be convincing – sometimes manipulating Caller ID, using information from social media, or hacking into email accounts, to make it seem more real.

Scammers play on your emotions. They use fear or excitement to create a sense of urgency and cloud your judgement. Some common things scammers say to try to manipulate your emotions:

–You owe money.

–They found a problem with your account and need to verify your information.

–You’re in trouble with the government.

–Your computer has a virus.

–Your family member had an emergency.

–You won the lottery…you just have to pay a fee to get the money.

Scammers pressure you to act right away. They want to get you to send money or divulge personal information before you have time to really question what’s going on. They may use threats of having you arrested, sued, or deported. They may claim they can revoke your business or driver’s licenses.

Scammers often ask for specific types of payments. If you’re asked to pay via wire transfer or gift card, that’s a red flag that this may not be a legitimate transaction. Be wary if you’re asked to deposit a check and send money back to someone – scammers use fake checks to pull off this scheme.

What to do if you think you might be dealing with a scammer:

1. Stop. Check it out. Before you do anything else, take a few extra moments to verify whom you are dealing with.

–For calls from alleged businesses or government agencies: Do not give out any personal information until you have verified the identity of the caller. Ask the caller for their name, department and business phone number. Confirm that information by calling the organization at a phone number found on the internet or through official correspondence/billing statements. If the caller refuses to provide this information, terminate the call immediately.

~If you get a text message or email from an organization you do business with, don’t click on any links before doing your research.

–Talk to someone you trust. Speaking with a family member, friend, or neighbor before you act may help you realize if it’s a scam. Their outside perspective can be helpful since they are removed from the pressure and emotion of the situation.

2. Keep your information (and money) safe. Never give out personal identifying information, such as bank account or credit card account numbers, to anyone you do not know. Never send money to an unknown person.

3. Share this information with a friend. You might know how these swindlers operate and how to deal with them, but chances are you know someone who doesn’t.

If you believe you’ve been the victim of a scam, please file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/.

Thank you for joining NBPD this month in learning more about phone scams. For more details on how you can work with us to reduce opportunities for crime, check out our website at www.nbpd.org/what-we-do/information/crime-prevention-and-safety.

Check back next week for information on reporting suspicious activity.

No tricks, only treats this October with Segerstrom Center for the Art’s Black Friday and Halloween sales

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is offering patrons the chance to experience world-class entertainment at scary low (or scary good) prices. The Center is launching Black Friday early by offering 25% off select seats and performances of Clue, Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, The Johnny Cash Experience and Turn It Out with Tiler Peck. This promo will be available today, Friday, Oct. 20 using promo code BF23.

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Photos courtesy of scfta.org

The Center is launching Black Friday early by offering 25% off select seats and performances

Audiences are in for a treat this Halloween with a buy-one-get-one-free deal on select tickets and shows including Fred Hersch and ETHEL, The Pan American Nutcracker Suite, In Conversation with The Sopranos, In Conversation with Michael Pollan, Theotime Langois de Swarte and Le Consort and A Merry Little Christmas with Megan Hilty. This flash sale will be available for one day only on Tuesday, Oct. 31 using the promo code BOOGO.

For more information, visit www.scfta.org/boo, or visit the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

On the Harbor: Meeting up with Harbor Commissioner Chairman Steve Scully

By LEN BOSE

I was able to contact Harbor Commissioner Chairman Steve Scully this week for an interview. After the interview, I leaned back in my chair realizing just how much I missed this summer by not attending the meetings. The good news to report is that the Harbor Commission has been busy, and taking their tasks to hand by completing their objectives.

Scully is easy to talk to and I had a good laugh when he explained, “You have no idea what you are getting into when you get on the harbor commission, there is so much jargon, and so much knowledge in particularly with the commissioners who have been on the commission for quite some time. Getting to understand that and getting caught up is a lot of work; it can be overwhelming at times, but you just have to do it. It was drinking from the fire hose when I first got there, had to ask the questions and understand what they were talking about.”

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Courtesy of the Scully Family

Steve and Laura Scully

Scully has lived in Newport Beach for 31 years, loves the ocean, and was a deckhand on a comical fishing boat as a young kid in San Diego. He is now retired from his Trucking & Logistics company, which he sold in 2011. “I went from 30,000 miles an hour to zero. After retirement, I felt I should get involved with the city and try to give back. I felt the harbor would be the best place to do that. I was turned down twice for the commission and selected on the third try,” Sully said.

Each harbor commissioner is assigned different objectives and goals. So, my questions were on just that, by asking him for an update while working with the Water Quality and Coastal Tideland committees.

“The Water Quality Commission asked us to collaborate and they were pretty focused on water quality in the harbor, so we agreed to attend each other’s meetings. The concept of floating bathrooms was put to the Harbor Commission, who felt it was a better idea to chart out the public restrooms around the harbor by improving a phone app that would identify where the closest head was located to the operator’s location. Harbormaster Paul Blank took the lead on this task, updating the city’s phone app, completing the task. By attending the Water Quality meeting it’s been really fascinating to learn about the difference of the copper level in the harbor along with the upland runoff. Learning how to work with the county has also proven very insightful,” Scully shared.

While working in his trucking business, safety was always a priority, so Scully instinctively created an objective to improve the safety within the harbor. He started contacting the different commercial operations within our harbor to create a safety meeting. Working with Blank along with Harbor Code Enforcement Officer Matt Cosylion, helped him promote the meeting to the different marine operators. This turned out to be a very successful gathering with 35 companies attending a harbor safety meeting. Key people from the OC Sheriff’s Department and Lifeguard/Fire Department attended, hitting the ball out of the park. They created five different subcommittees from that original meeting, with the different commercial groups discussing their own concerns with other similar businesses on how all the different groups can share the harbor together. Everyone involved in organizing these meetings deserves a Bravo/Zulu for a job well done. My mind wonders and sees Cosylion knocking on everyone’s door and saying, “There is a harbor safety meeting coming up and I recommend you attend…capeesh?” I don’t think Cosylion is Italian, yet that image made me chuckle.

Regarding the goal of harbor enhancements, Scully noted improvements with the harbor phone app, new public docks, the disabled people lift at Marina Park, code enforcement, emergency response team drills and continued maintenance of the pump-out stations. I would personally like to say that Paul Blank is doing an outstanding job. He has brought attention to detail into the harbor, and he is multi-tasking on multiple different fronts to manage the harbor better, marking the harbor more enjoyable and safer while taking care of the extremely important assets of our city, while treating it with respect. I can’t give enough accolades to him for what he has done, and it’s allowed the harbor commission to advance, while allowing our harbor to significantly improve.

My last question was how Scully enjoys the harbor. “I enjoy having family down on the boat, just sitting in the cockpit and watching all the boats go by. We head down to Emerald Bay, and drop an anchor for day trips.”

Until this interview, I had not recognized how strong the Harbor Commission team had become. By synchronizing this team with the Harbor Department, our harbor has never been in better hands with the ability to achieve so much more.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.

Serving People In Need (SPIN) rescues Orange County families with children

Serving People In Need (SPIN) exceeded expectations fundraising at its 2023 gala dinner on September 27 at Balboa Bay Resort. The event, billed as “A Night At Club 1221,” brought in some 200 guests raising more than $300,000 for SPIN programs funding permanent housing for unhoused families with children in Orange County.

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Photos by Tony Lattimore

(L-R) Maria Mazzanga, SPIN interim executive director and Chef Jamie Gwen, emcee

Chaired by SPIN board member MaryLou Shattuck working with SPIN director of volunteer services and donor events Ledashia Goubert, the party featured the presentation of an inaugural SPIN award named in honor of the late Jean Wegener, SPIN executive director for 25 years. The Jean Wegener Humanitarian Award went to OC Supervisor Katrina Foley, 5th District Board of Supervisors. Foley, a major advocate involved in housing Orange County’s population in need, generously gave SPIN a $25,000 grant supporting its crucial programs.

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(L-R) Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, Curtis Scheetz (board chair) and Mary Lou Shattuck (gala chair)

The Foley grant propelled emcee and auctioneer Chef Jamie Gwen to rise to major success with both the SPIN fund-a-need and live auction.

Success in great part was due to SPIN’s sponsor and board chair Curtis R. Scheetz and his wife, Jill. Others in the donor’s circle of givers included home builder Dick Crawford and wife Kim, Maureen Flannagan of First Republic Bank, Channing Lindsay of Flagship Bank, Charlie and Regina Granville, Gazal Pour-Moezzi of Sheppard Mullin, Rachel Owen from Tri-Circle Financial, Frank and Peggy Listi, and chair MaryLou Shattuck and husband Wayne Shattuck.

Additional major donors in the crowd were Michael Gilmore, who served on the event committee with Shattuck responsible for major auction gifts, Veronica Lopez and SPIN board members including vice chair Kate Domagala, and Al and Susan Degrassi, front and center for SPIN.

To learn more about the work of SPIN, visit www.spinoc.org.

48th Annual ENC Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch raises $55,000

The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) hosted their 48th Annual Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch on Sunday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Attracting hundreds of community members, the afternoon featured crafts, games, pony rides, a petting zoo, entertainment on the Fire Circle Stage, a pumpkin patch, and food from local OC restaurants in their Savor OC Showcase.

The Zero Waste Event raised $55,000 to benefit ENC and its education programs. To date, nearly $3,000 was raised from the online auction. If you would still like to purchase an item, go to www.32auctions.com/ENCFallFaire2023.

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Photos courtesy of ENC

Searching for the perfect pumpkin

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Petting zoo, always popular with the kiddos

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Giddy-up…it’s the pony rides

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Buy your Craft Crawl tickets here

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Youngsters kept busy making crafts in the ENC woods

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A toddler enjoyed the Sweetwater Creek band playing

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Lunchtime!

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Bluewater Grill clam chowder was among the food offerings

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Penelope’s Perfections served yummy mini-cupcakes and ice cream sandwiches

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Discovering a reptile

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Two young shoppers visiting the Country Store

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DJ De’mond kept the tunes coming

Newport Beach Police seek public’s help

The Newport Beach Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a vehicle that is thought to have witnessed a fatal traffic collision near the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Jamboree Road on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 4:33 p.m.

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Photos courtesy of NBPD

Police seek information of driver of vehicle above

Police describe the vehicle as a 2016-2018 BMW, X6M, gray, with tinted windows.

If you recognize this vehicle or were in the area at the time of the collision, please contact Detective Laverty at 949.644.3747, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hoag welcomes Dr. Ronald Wolf as Medical Director of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery

Hoag has announced the recruitment of Ronald Wolf, M.D., F.A.C.S., as medical director of hepatobiliary and pancreas surgery at Hoag Family Cancer Institute. The fellowship-trained, board-certified surgical oncologist specializes in treating liver, bile duct and pancreatic cancers.

“We welcome Dr. Wolf, whose extensive clinical and research background, as well as his dedication to his patients, will no doubt make him an invaluable member of our team,” said Burton Eisenberg, M.D., Grace E. Hoag Executive Medical Director Endowed Chair, Hoag Family Cancer Institute.

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Courtesy of Hoag Hospital

Dr. Ronald Wolf

With a focus on rare and difficult-to-treat cancers, such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma and colon and rectal cancers that have metastasized to the liver, Dr. Wolf said he was drawn to Hoag for its culture of innovation and its patient-centric, team-based approach to care.

“Hoag’s fearlessness in pioneering new approaches to care, coupled with the institution’s nimbleness, has earned it a reputation for allowing doctors to really put patients first,” Dr. Wolf said. “I am excited to join a comprehensive team that is at the forefront of patient-centric care.”

Dr. Wolf comes to Hoag from concurrent posts at UC Irvine School of Medicine, where he served as professor of clinical surgery in the hepatobiliary and pancreas surgery/islet cell transplantation division.

Prior to that, he served as medical director of Hepatic and Pancreatic Surgery at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland, Ore., and as the medical director of Liver and Pancreas Surgery at Providence Cancer Center, also in Portland.

Dr. Wolf received his medical degree from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, followed by an internship and two residencies in general surgery at UC Davis. He then completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where he also served as a clinical research fellow. Later, he helped direct surgical resident and fellowship-level postgraduate training programs in Portland.

Dr. Wolf has co-authored more than 80 clinical presentations throughout his career and is a committee member of several national organizations including the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Surgical Oncology and the AHPBA Americas Hepatopancreatobiliary Association.

Guest Column

Nancy Gardner, on behalf of

Good Neighbor Newport

Election Code of Conduct

There was a time when the worst thing anyone said about a political opponent in Newport Beach was that he or she wasn’t a good Republican (it being a foregone conclusion that anyone running was a member of that party) and the money spent on a campaign was in the low five figures.

During the last few election cycles, spending has soared as has the vitriol and, unfortunately, the ugly speech hasn’t been limited to those running but has been directed at family members as well.

Newport Beach deserves better.

To that end, Good Neighbor Newport is proposing a Code of Conduct for future elections. If candidates agree to these sensible guidelines, it will focus campaigns on the positive: what each candidate offers the city in terms of leadership and vision. Information disseminated will be accurate.

Misinformation, character slurs and the like will be disavowed, even when they are from supporters, resulting in better informed voters.

An additional benefit: If campaigns are conducted on a higher plane, it will make it much easier for victor and vanquished to come together afterwards and work for the betterment of the city instead of nursing resentments.

Code of Conduct

As a candidate, I will:

–Focus on the issues that I believe matter most to Newport Beach.

–Present my record and policy ideas with sincerity and frankness and ensure that any criticisms of the record or policy ideas of my opponents are fair, fact-based and accurate.

–Not engage in or allow others to engage on my behalf in character defamation, whispering campaigns or personal attacks based on misrepresentations against my opponents or their family members.

–Immediately and publicly repudiate support from any person or group that resorts to the preceding negative methods and tactics, including independent expenditure or political action committees.

–Not make any promises or commitments to any person, political party, organization or others in exchange for a campaign contribution.

–Comply with all City ordinances regarding the placement of signs, banners and other campaign materials and take responsibility for the removal of my signs, banners and other campaign materials from public view immediately after the campaign.

–To the extent possible, participate in all debates and candidate forums sponsored by recognized community groups.

–Comply with all municipal ordinances and state laws regarding limitations on and reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures.

This is sort of like Prohibition. We hope all candidates will “take the pledge,”but they don’t have to give up that glass of wine with dinner. Rather, they will give up a certain kind of negative campaign, safe in the knowledge that their opponents have agreed as well.

If you wish to make suggestions or comment on the Code, please go to GoodNeighborNewport.org. You will find the draft of the code under Announcements and Projects.

Good Neighbor Newport is a volunteer group of residents who are involved and passionate about the City of Newport Beach. Members include former mayors; former and current members of city boards; commissions and committees; leaders of local environmental and other non-profit groups and three citizens of the year. It is a diverse group in terms of age, expertise and politics. This diversity is fundamental to its mission: to preserve and protect the quality of life of Newport Beach.

27th NBPLF Witte Lecture Series announced

The Newport Beach Public Library Foundation (NBPLF) has an exciting line-up of speakers planned for its 27th Witte Lecture Series in 2024. These presentations, which take place at Central Library’s Friends Room have limited seating and fill up quickly.

Friday night tickets for each program are $65 and include the lecture, a book sale and signing with a light supper and wine. Saturday afternoon tickets are $45 with refreshments being served.

Here’s the outstanding line-up:

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Photos courtesy of NBPLF

Author Fiona Hill

–Fiona Hill

Kicking off the series is Fiona Hill, who will be discussing her book, Currents of Modern History: A Personal and Global Perspective on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 from 2-4 p.m.

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Fiona Hill will be discussing her book, “Currents of Modern History: A Personal and Global Perspective”

Hill is a senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe in the Foreign Policy program at Brookings Institute. She served as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the U.S. National Security Council from 2017 to 2019. For tickets to Fiona Hill, go here.

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Science journalist Ed Yong

–Ed Yong

Next up is science journalist Ed Yong, who will be discussing his book, The Amazing Nature of Animal Senses on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 from 2-4 p.m.

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Ed Yong will be discussing his book, “The Amazing Nature of Animal Senses”

In Yong’s engaging lecture based on his book, An Immense World, he takes audiences through the hidden realms of animal senses. With wit and humor, learn the amazing ways in which animals perceive aspects of the world to which we are oblivious. For tickets to Ed Yong, go here.

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Author Richard Reeves

–Richard Reeves

In March is Richard Reeves, who will be discussing his book, Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It on Friday, March 8, 2024 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, March 9, 2024 from 2-4 p.m.

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Richard Reeves will be discussing his book, “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It”

Reeves’ lecture will focus on the groundbreaking analysis of how the social and economic world of men has been turned upside down, leaving them adrift and underpowered. How the basic social structures defining masculine maturity and success have been shattered, and how they can – and must – be reinvented. For tickets to Richard Reeves, go here.

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Dahlia Lithwick

–Dahlia Lithwick in Conversation with Michele Bratcher Goodwin – The 2022-23 Term at The Supreme Court: What Has Happened and What Is to Come

On Friday, April 12, 2024 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, March 9, 2024 from 2-4 p.m., join MSNBC analyst and a senior legal correspondent at Slate, Dahlia Lithwick, one of the nation’s foremost legal commentators. Her book Lady Justice was an instant New York Times bestseller. Lithwick is the recipient of a 2013 National Magazine Award and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

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Michele Bratcher Goodwin

Michele Bratcher Goodwin is a Chancellor’s Professor at the University of California, Irvine – Irvine School of Law and founding director of the Center for Biotechnology and Global Health Policy. For tickets to the Dahlia Lithwick Conversation, go here.

For more information on the Witte Lecture series, go here. To purchase a Member Season Pass, go here.

Newport Beach Central Library is located at 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. For more information on the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation, visit https://nbplf.foundation.

Ninth Annual Napa in Newport to benefit CureDuchenne

The 9th Annual Napa in Newport, benefitting Newport Beach-based CureDuchenne, is planned for Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort, beginning at 6 p.m. The event brings acclaimed Napa Valley vintners together to serve their finest vintages and offer their best wine experiences to Orange County’s top business leaders, influencers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and wine connoisseurs.

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Wine pouring at a previous Napa in Newport event

The evening features a Grand Tasting, vintner-hosted dining tables, an exquisite dinner with curated wine pairings by a celebrity chef and spectacular auction lots – all to benefit CureDuchenne, a leading nonprofit organization whose mission is to cure Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Tickets and sponsorships are available at www.thenapawineseries.com/napa-in-newport.

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort is located at 1 Monarch Beach Resort N, Dana Point.

For more information on CureDuchenne, visit https://cureduchenne.org.

Local Boys & Girls Club raises record-breaking $600k to benefit OC Youth at “Be Great” Gala

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast (BGC of Central OC) hosted their annual “Be Great” Gala on October 7 to celebrate the club’s 2023 accomplishments with more than 350 attendees, including distinguished Orange County community leaders and philanthropists. The event raised more than $600,000 – a record – allowing BGC of Central OC to expand its reach and continue to serve 10,000 Orange County youth annually through its enriching programs and valuable mentorship.

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Photos courtesy of BGC of Central OC

The Pyle Family with David A. Pyle (third from left)

During the gala, the club presented the DreamMaker and Corporate Champion Awards to those who have helped significantly impact youth in the community. The David A. Pyle Family and One Root Foundation received the DreamMaker Award for their continued commitment to empowering youth. The Pyle Family’s involvement with the club has been for more than 25 years, and traces back to when their boys first attended the Costa Mesa Club and actively participated in the club’s sports programs. Since then, the Pyle Family has continued to support BGC of Central OC and the Costa Mesa Club. They have played a vital role in piloting and operating High School Equivalency (HSE) – a nonprofit that empowers parents to get a degree and improve their family’s financial situation through stronger employment opportunities. BGC of Central OC partners with HSE to deliver this program to its Santa Ana location, which has a significant impact on the families of club youth.

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(L-R) Tennyson Oyler, president of Pacific Life Foundation with Kristle Duran, chief operating officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast

Pacific Life Foundation received the club’s Corporate Champion Award for embodying the spirit of the True-Blue Ambassador. Their commitment to the club is evident through their donations that help support the club’s College Bound program and contribute to club innovations, such as a new playground at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana. The foundation also recognizes the importance of collective impact and corporate social responsibility by actively donating volunteer hours for the club’s Thanksgiving dinners, Winter Wonderland and College Bound interview process.

“We would like to thank The David A. Pyle Family, One Root Foundation and Pacific Life Foundation for their constant support to the club and for their unwavering commitment to empowering underprivileged youth, allowing them to unlock their greatest potential,” said Robert Santana, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast. “As we look to the year ahead, we know these two supporters stand beside us and our mission as we invest in the next generation and help them achieve greatness.”

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Selina Mendez, club alumni and the club’s previous Youth of the Year winner, was a speaker at the gala

As BGC of Central OC steps into 2024, it aims to heavily address the workforce development gap, expand mentorship and influence the lives of young people by leveraging its recent merger with Youth Employment Service (YES). Announced in September, the merger allows the club to enhance young individuals’ professional soft skills and career opportunities beyond graduation with YES Workforce Development programming, and support Orange County employers with highly qualified entry-level candidates through YES Workforce Solutions. These two new offerings by the club marks a significant milestone in addressing the workforce gap in Orange County, where there is a misalignment in the skills and qualifications of the workforce and the specific job requirements.

Held at the VEA Newport Beach, the “Be Great” Gala featured a cocktail hour, live and silent auctions, musical performances and a delicious three-course dinner. In attendance were Boys & Girls Club board members including Jonathan Batista, Marcelo Brutti, Nicole Carrillo Hall, Meline Carranza, Kaleigh Causey, Tom Callister, Veronica Coffie, Dr. Mark Colon, Mark Dreschler, Jordin Eakin, Mike Groff, Christy and John Frank, Yvonne Herrell, Raul Jara, Wayne Pinnell, Alison Salsbury, David B. Smith, David Stauffer, Jaril Tudio, Shannon and Frank Tucker, Joseph Yurosek and Zeshaan Younus. Also in attendance were some of Orange County’s top business and community leaders, including Tennyson Oyler, president of Pacific Life Foundation and Bob Olson CEO of R.D. Olson Development.

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, visit www.boysandgirlsclub.com.

Get out and explore Buck Gully with three stunning hikes, assist with habitat restoration

Taking a trek in the Buck Gully Reserve, which connects Corona del Mar and Newport Coast, is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the cooler autumn weather. Explore this 300-acre natural habitat on foot, with three hikes led by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and an opportunity to assist in habitat restoration.

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Several bridges provide vantage points for taking in reserve vistas

–Buck Gully Loop Hike: Come and explore the entire Buck Gully Reserve trail system on Tuesdays, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12 from 8-11:30 a.m. Beginning from the OASIS Senior Center, you’ll hike up through the almost three-mile length of the canyon, then along San Joaquin Hills Road for about a mile, stopping at Canyon Watch Park, where you will take in the panoramic view of the reserve and the Pacific coastline before descending back into the canyon along the Bobcat Trail. This hike is 6 miles; duration, 3.5 hours with high-moderate difficulty and conducted at a walking pace, approximately three miles per hour. It is geared to those 12+ years of age. This hike is free, but registration is required. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

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Photos by Emily Spain

The stream is running, making for a memorable late afternoon/early evening hike

–Buck Gully Upper Loop Evening Hikes: Explore the richness of Buck Gully Reserve as you hike during the beautiful early evening hours on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 3-5:30 p.m. The stream is running, and the rich plant and animal life are enjoying the cool, shady canyon making for an evening hike in a natural oasis amid the suburban surroundings. Walk along San Joaquin Hills Road, which overlooks Buck Gully for the first mile, then drop down into the canyon on the Bobcat Trail, looping back through the upper end of the gully along the Buck Gully Trail. This activity is conducted at a walking pace, approximately 3 miles per hour. The distance is 4 miles; duration, 2.5 hours with moderate difficulty. This hike is open to those 8 years and older. This hike is free, but registration is required. Staging area is the Newport Coast Community Center at 6401 San Joaquin Hills Road. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

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Enjoy panoramic views as you take in the canyon’s natural beauty

–Bridges of Buck Gully Hike: Buck Gully is a natural, coastal canyon which opened up to the public in 2012 with the installation of four bridges to allow for safe public access. Discover the bridges on Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 8-11:30 a.m., which facilitate exploration of the Buck Gully Reserve, and also provide viewing platforms from which to pause and observe the abundant life in and around the stream. The guided program starts with a short walk from the OASIS Senior Center to the beginning of the Buck Gully trail, offering a visually dramatic entrance into this special canyon. Open to those 12 years and older. Conducted at a walking pace at approximately 3 miles per hour. Distance is 5 miles; duration is 3.5 hours with moderate difficulty. This hike is free, but registration is required. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

–Fourth Friday Habitat Restoration in Buck Gully on Fridays, Oct. 27, Nov. 17 and Dec.15 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.. Birds and other wildlife need healthy habitat to thrive. Simple things like planting native plants or removing non-native plants can greatly improve habitat for wildlife. You can be part of that positive impact while enjoying the beauty of Buck Gully. Come help with a variety of activities ranging from seed collection to weeding invasive plants. This activity takes place on sloped terrain and sturdy hiking boots are highly recommended. All training, tools and gloves will be provided to ensure your safety and comfort. Rattlesnakes are occasionally seen here and generally avoid people, but protective gear will be provided. Walking pace is approximately 3 mph with a distance of one to five miles and a duration of three hours. The difficulty is moderate. This is geared to 8 years+. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

Get out and explore Buck Gully with three stunning hikes, assist with habitat restoration

Taking a trek in the Buck Gully Reserve, which connects Corona del Mar and Newport Coast, is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the cooler autumn weather. Explore this 300-acre natural habitat on foot, with three hikes led by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and an opportunity to assist in habitat restoration.

Click on photo for a larger image

Several bridges provide vantage points for taking in reserve vistas

–Buck Gully Loop Hike: Come and explore the entire Buck Gully Reserve trail system on Tuesdays, Nov. 7 and Dec. 12 from 8-11:30 a.m. Beginning from the OASIS Senior Center, you’ll hike up through the almost three-mile length of the canyon, then along San Joaquin Hills Road for about a mile, stopping at Canyon Watch Park, where you will take in the panoramic view of the reserve and the Pacific coastline before descending back into the canyon along the Bobcat Trail. This hike is 6 miles; duration, 3.5 hours with high-moderate difficulty and conducted at a walking pace, approximately three miles per hour. It is geared to those 12+ years of age. This hike is free, but registration is required. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos by Emily Spain

The stream is running, making for a memorable late afternoon/early evening hike

–Buck Gully Upper Loop Evening Hikes: Explore the richness of Buck Gully Reserve as you hike during the beautiful early evening hours on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 3-5:30 p.m. The stream is running, and the rich plant and animal life are enjoying the cool, shady canyon making for an evening hike in a natural oasis amid the suburban surroundings. Walk along San Joaquin Hills Road, which overlooks Buck Gully for the first mile, then drop down into the canyon on the Bobcat Trail, looping back through the upper end of the gully along the Buck Gully Trail. This activity is conducted at a walking pace, approximately 3 miles per hour. The distance is 4 miles; duration, 2.5 hours with moderate difficulty. This hike is open to those 8 years and older. This hike is free, but registration is required. Staging area is the Newport Coast Community Center at 6401 San Joaquin Hills Road. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

Click on photo for a larger image

Enjoy panoramic views as you take in the canyon’s natural beauty

–Bridges of Buck Gully Hike: Buck Gully is a natural, coastal canyon which opened up to the public in 2012 with the installation of four bridges to allow for safe public access. Discover the bridges on Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 8-11:30 a.m., which facilitate exploration of the Buck Gully Reserve, and also provide viewing platforms from which to pause and observe the abundant life in and around the stream. The guided program starts with a short walk from the OASIS Senior Center to the beginning of the Buck Gully trail, offering a visually dramatic entrance into this special canyon. Open to those 12 years and older. Conducted at a walking pace at approximately 3 miles per hour. Distance is 5 miles; duration is 3.5 hours with moderate difficulty. This hike is free, but registration is required. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

–Fourth Friday Habitat Restoration in Buck Gully on Fridays, Nov. 17 and Dec.15 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.. Birds and other wildlife need healthy habitat to thrive. Simple things like planting native plants or removing non-native plants can greatly improve habitat for wildlife. You can be part of that positive impact while enjoying the beauty of Buck Gully. Come help with a variety of activities ranging from seed collection to weeding invasive plants. This activity takes place on sloped terrain and sturdy hiking boots are highly recommended. All training, tools and gloves will be provided to ensure your safety and comfort. Rattlesnakes are occasionally seen here and generally avoid people, but protective gear will be provided. Walking pace is approximately 3 mph with a distance of one to five miles and a duration of three hours. The difficulty is moderate. This is geared to 8 years+. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

Get out and explore Buck Gully with three stunning hikes, assist with habitat restoration

Taking a trek in the Buck Gully Reserve, which connects Corona del Mar and Newport Coast, is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the cooler autumn weather. Explore this 300-acre natural habitat on foot, with three hikes led by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff and an opportunity to assist in habitat restoration.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos by Emily Spain

The stream is running, making for a memorable late afternoon/early evening hike

–Buck Gully Upper Loop Evening Hikes: Explore the richness of Buck Gully Reserve as you hike during the beautiful early evening hours on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 3-5:30 p.m. The stream is running, and the rich plant and animal life are enjoying the cool, shady canyon making for an evening hike in a natural oasis amid the suburban surroundings. Walk along San Joaquin Hills Road, which overlooks Buck Gully for the first mile, then drop down into the canyon on the Bobcat Trail, looping back through the upper end of the gully along the Buck Gully Trail. This activity is conducted at a walking pace, approximately 3 miles per hour. The distance is 4 miles; duration, 2.5 hours with moderate difficulty. This hike is open to those 8 years and older. This hike is free, but registration is required. Staging area is the Newport Coast Community Center at 6401 San Joaquin Hills Road. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

Click on photo for a larger image

Enjoy panoramic views as you take in the canyon’s natural beauty

–Bridges of Buck Gully Hike: Buck Gully is a natural, coastal canyon which opened up to the public in 2012 with the installation of four bridges to allow for safe public access. Discover the bridges on Tuesday, Dec. 5 from 8-11:30 a.m., which facilitate exploration of the Buck Gully Reserve, and also provide viewing platforms from which to pause and observe the abundant life in and around the stream. The guided program starts with a short walk from the OASIS Senior Center to the beginning of the Buck Gully trail, offering a visually dramatic entrance into this special canyon. Open to those 12 years and older. Conducted at a walking pace at approximately 3 miles per hour. Distance is 5 miles; duration is 3.5 hours with moderate difficulty. This hike is free, but registration is required. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

Click on photo for a larger image

Several bridges provide vantage points for taking in reserve vistas

–Buck Gully Loop Hike: Come and explore the entire Buck Gully Reserve trail system on Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 8-11:30 a.m. Beginning from the OASIS Senior Center, you’ll hike up through the almost three-mile length of the canyon, then along San Joaquin Hills Road for about a mile, stopping at Canyon Watch Park, where you will take in the panoramic view of the reserve and the Pacific coastline before descending back into the canyon along the Bobcat Trail. This hike is 6 miles; duration, 3.5 hours with high-moderate difficulty and conducted at a walking pace, approximately three miles per hour. It is geared to those 12+ years of age. This hike is free, but registration is required. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

–Fourth Friday Habitat Restoration in Buck Gully on Fridays, Nov. 17 and Dec.15 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.. Birds and other wildlife need healthy habitat to thrive. Simple things like planting native plants or removing non-native plants can greatly improve habitat for wildlife. You can be part of that positive impact while enjoying the beauty of Buck Gully. Come help with a variety of activities ranging from seed collection to weeding invasive plants. This activity takes place on sloped terrain and sturdy hiking boots are highly recommended. All training, tools and gloves will be provided to ensure your safety and comfort. Rattlesnakes are occasionally seen here and generally avoid people, but protective gear will be provided. Walking pace is approximately 3 mph with a distance of one to five miles and a duration of three hours. The difficulty is moderate. This is geared to 8 years+. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

Michael Scott Moore and Tess Gunty to round out Newport Beach Public Library Foundation’s Library Live series in 2024

Newport Beach Public Library Foundation’s (NBPLF) 2023-2024 Library Live series will continue in 2024 with journalist/novelist Michael Scott Moore, who will be featured on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, and rounding out the series will be Tess Gunty in Conversation with Patricia Pierson, Ph.D. on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Both programs will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) at Central Library’s Friends Room.

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of NBPLF

Author Michael Scott Moore

Michael Scott Moore will be sharing his memoir, The Desert and the Sea: 977 Days Captive on the Somali Pirate Coast. He is also the author of a comic novel about L.A., Too Much of Nothing, as well as a travel book about surfing, Sweetness and Blood, which was named a best book of 2010 by The Economist. He’s won Fulbright, Logan and Pulitzer Center grants for his nonfiction, and MacDowell and Wallace Foundation fellowships for his fiction.

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of NBPLF

Michael Scott Moore will share his memoir, “The Desert and the Sea: 977 Days Captive on the Somali Pirate Coast”

Moore grew up in California, but worked for several years as an editor and writer at Spiegel Online International in Berlin. He was kidnapped in early 2012 on a reporting trip to Somalia and held hostage by pirates for 32 months. At times he was held on land, other times at sea. Once, when he was on a 160-foot tuna boat, he tried to escape by jumping over the side at night. The Desert and the Sea is a memoir about that ordeal and became an international bestseller.

To purchase tickets for Moore, go here.

Tess Gunty in conversation with Patricia Pierson, Ph.D. will be discussing her book, The Rabbit Hutch/“Literature in the Age of AI.”

Synopsis of The Rabbit Hutch: An online obituary writer. A young mother with a dark secret. A woman waging a solo campaign against rodents – neighbors, separated only by the thin walls of a low-cost housing complex in the once bustling industrial center of Vacca Vale, Ind. Welcome to the Rabbit Hutch. Set over one sweltering week in July and culminating in a bizarre act of violence that finally changes everything, The Rabbit Hutch is a savagely beautiful and bitingly funny snapshot of contemporary America, a gorgeous and provocative tale of loneliness and longing, entrapment and, ultimately, freedom.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by ©Lauren Alexandra

Author Jess Gunty

Gunty holds an MFA in Creative Writing from NYU. Her work has appeared in many publications, such as The Iowa Review and the Los Angeles Review of Books. The Rabbit Hutch won the 2022 National Book Award for Fiction. It has been optioned for film rights by Fremantle.

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of NBPLF

Jess Gunty will be discussing her book, “The Rabbit Hutch”

Patricia Pierson, Ph.D. is an associate director of the UC Irvine Center for Storytelling and the Literary Journalism Program. Her research, community projects and teaching explore the intersections of life writing, narrative and critical theory.

To purchase tickets for Gunty, go here.

Tickets for each program are $35 for General; $30 for NBPLF members, which includes refreshments. Seating is limited. Free parking is available on the ground level and in the parking structure. There is an opportunity to buy a signed copy of the speakers’ books at each event.

The Friends Room at Central Library is located at 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach.

Balboa Island Classical Concert Series features saxophone quartet

The next Balboa Island Classical Concert is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 17 and is fast approaching. Featured is the Encore Saxophone Quartet, an award-winning musical group. The ensemble possesses a unique blending of innovative programs along with their informal narrative.

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of encoresaxophonequartet.com

The quartet will perform from 7-8 p.m. at St. John Vianney’s chapel at 214 Marine, Balboa Island. A favorite “meet and greet” reception will follow.

Tickets are $15 per person, and may be purchased online at www.balboaislandnb.org, or at Balboa Museum Newport Beach on Marine Avenue. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited.

Balboa Island Museum to shine with an evening of “Denim & Diamonds”

Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach is presenting its third annual major fundraiser at the iconic Balboa Peninsula Fun Zone on Friday, Nov. 17. This year the party of the season, delivered with emphasis on big fun and style, will take on a Western theme, “Denim & Diamonds.” Boots, hats, jeans and bandanas are de rigueur for an evening under the balmy fall skies of Newport Beach, with games, prizes, an auction, a fabulous wester BBQ from Naples Rib and Company, designer margaritas, decadent desserts including a s’mores bar, and line dancing to a country band until the last dancer calls it quits.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos by Ann Chatillon

(L-R) Catherine Lowe, Renee Pepys Lowe and Shirley Pepys at last year’s “Denim & Diamonds”

Click on photo for a larger image

Having fun at the Fun Zone at last year’s fundraiser

Tickets are $200 per person, 21 and over. Make your reservation online at www.bimdenimanddiamonds.com.

As you make your reservation for Denim & Diamonds, consider becoming a donor. Your contribution to the museum ensures its survival and growth. This year, the museum board of directors is launching a campaign to raise $25 million for the eventual purchase of a permanent building. An ambitious goal, yet achievable with community involvement and support. Every donation matters, regardless of amount.

For more information on supporting the museum fundraising campaign, visit www.balboaislandmuseum.org, or call Tiffany Pepys Hoey, executive director, at 949.675.3952.

It’s a kids’ world in October and into November at Newport Beach Public Library

Hey kids!! Check out everything going on in October…just for you! From family game day to middle school book club, meet a video game developer, Halloween Hoopla and Party, a magic show and how to make a teen college prep app – come discover the Newport Beach Public Library and all it has to offer.

Check out these activities…

–Family Game Day

Join an afternoon of fun with board games and puzzles on Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library. Relax after school every third Tuesday of the month, as you meet new friends and try out games. No registration is required, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

–Middle School Book Club

Calling all 4th through 6th grade book lovers! This book club is especially for you. On the third Thursday of every month (Oct. 19), you’ll meet to discuss the book of the month followed by a fun activity to go along with that month’s pick in Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. October’s book pick is Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia. Participants can join in person or virtually via Zoom. Registration is required, so sign up here.

–Coding for Kids

Come learn basic coding principles using Scratch in their four-part workshop every Monday in October (23, 30). No coding experience is necessary. Geared for ages 6-11. Attend one session or all four. Space is limited and registration is required for each session. Join the workshops in the Media Lab.

–Meet a Video Game Developer

Do you like to play video games? Ever wonder what it’s like to make them? Learn about the design process, storytelling through games and more from their guest speaker – Ellery Wilder of Blizzard Entertainment on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 4-5 p.m. in the Friends Room at Central Library. Geared for ages 3 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of NBPL

Get crafty for Halloween

–Halloween Craft-O-Rama

Celebrate Halloween at the Balboa Branch on Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 3-4 p.m. Costumes are encouraged. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative with not-too-spooky Halloween crafts

–Halloween Hoopla!

Join the fun at the Mariners Branch on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 4-5 p.m. to make not-too-spooky Halloween crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Click on photo for a larger image

Magician Allen Oshiro will astonish with amazing sleight of hand and live animal tricks

–Magic Show at the Corona del Mar Library Branch

Magician Allen Oshiro will astonish you with his amazing sleight of hand and live animal tricks on Friday, Oct. 27 from 4-5 p.m. at the Corona del Mar Library Branch. This interactive and fun magic show is great for youngsters ages 6-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity.

Click on photo for a larger image

It’s a Halloween Party with Kids Image Nation!

–Halloween Party at the Library

You’re invited to a Halloween Party featuring music group Kids Imagine Nation on October 31 from 4-5 p.m. Get ready for singing, dancing and a lot of fun. Come in costume and join in the activities after the performance – coloring and trick-or-treating! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

–How To Make Your Common App A Lot Less Common

The Common App is an opportunity to tell your story in a way that admissions directors will find compelling. This seminar will show you how on Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 7-8 p.m. at Central Library. For students and parents. Registration is recommended.

Coming up in November…

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative the first Thursday of every month at Makerspace

–Makerspace Thursdays!

Looking for a space to express yourself? Let your creativity soar the first Thursday of every month from 4-5 p.m., for an hour of open-ended fun using various art materials and techniques at Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. Recommended for ages 8-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Materials available while supplies last. Next session is Thursday, Nov. 2.

Click on photo for a larger image

BARK is a great way to come practice your reading skills

–Practice reading with a BARK dog!

Kids! Come practice your reading skills with a BARK reading dog. Join the Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library for a BARK reading event. This program is a great way for children to increase their reading skills with a non-judgmental reading companion in a calm environment. Geared for ages 5 and up, and no registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Library branches:

–Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach

–Balboa Branch, 100 E. Balboa Blvd., Balboa

–Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold Ave., Corona del Mar

–Crean Mariners Branch, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

For more information, visit the NBPL calendar here.

It’s a kids’ world in October and into November at Newport Beach Public Library

Hey kids!! Check out everything going on in October…just for you! From meet a video game developer, to Halloween Hoopla and Party, a magic show and how to make a teen college prep app – come discover the Newport Beach Public Library and all it has to offer.

Check out these activities…

–Coding for Kids

Come learn basic coding principles using Scratch in their four-part workshop every Monday in October (23, 30). No coding experience is necessary. Geared for ages 6-11. Attend one session or all four. Space is limited and registration is required for each session. Join the workshops in the Media Lab.

–Meet a Video Game Developer

Do you like to play video games? Ever wonder what it’s like to make them? Learn about the design process, storytelling through games and more from their guest speaker – Ellery Wilder of Blizzard Entertainment on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 4-5 p.m. in the Friends Room at Central Library. Geared for ages 3 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of NBPL

Get crafty for Halloween

–Halloween Craft-O-Rama

Celebrate Halloween at the Balboa Branch on Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 3-4 p.m. Costumes are encouraged. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative with not-too-spooky Halloween crafts

–Halloween Hoopla!

Join the fun at the Mariners Branch on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 4-5 p.m. to make not-too-spooky Halloween crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Click on photo for a larger image

Magician Allen Oshiro will astonish with amazing sleight of hand and live animal tricks

–Magic Show at the Corona del Mar Library Branch

Magician Allen Oshiro will astonish you with his amazing sleight of hand and live animal tricks on Friday, Oct. 27 from 4-5 p.m. at the Corona del Mar Library Branch. This interactive and fun magic show is great for youngsters ages 6-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity.

Click on photo for a larger image

It’s a Halloween Party with Kids Image Nation!

–Halloween Party at the Library

You’re invited to a Halloween Party featuring music group Kids Imagine Nation on October 31 from 4-5 p.m. Get ready for singing, dancing and a lot of fun. Come in costume and join in the activities after the performance – coloring and trick-or-treating! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

–How To Make Your Common App A Lot Less Common

The Common App is an opportunity to tell your story in a way that admissions directors will find compelling. This seminar will show you how on Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 7-8 p.m. at Central Library. For students and parents. Registration is recommended.

Coming up in November…

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative the first Thursday of every month at Makerspace

–Makerspace Thursdays!

Looking for a space to express yourself? Let your creativity soar the first Thursday of every month from 4-5 p.m., for an hour of open-ended fun using various art materials and techniques at Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. Recommended for ages 8-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Materials available while supplies last. Next session is Thursday, Nov. 2.

Click on photo for a larger image

BARK is a great way to come practice your reading skills

–Practice reading with a BARK dog!

Kids! Come practice your reading skills with a BARK reading dog. Join the Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library for a BARK reading event. This program is a great way for children to increase their reading skills with a non-judgmental reading companion in a calm environment. Geared for ages 5 and up, and no registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Library branches:

–Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach

–Balboa Branch, 100 E. Balboa Blvd., Balboa

–Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold Ave., Corona del Mar

–Crean Mariners Branch, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

For more information, visit the NBPL calendar here.

It’s a kids’ world in October and into November at Newport Beach Public Library

Hey kids!! Check out everything going on in October…just for you! From meet a video game developer, to Halloween Hoopla and Party, a magic show and coding for kids, come discover the Newport Beach Public Library and all it has to offer.

Check out these activities…

–Meet a Video Game Developer

Do you like to play video games? Ever wonder what it’s like to make them? Learn about the design process, storytelling through games and more from their guest speaker – Ellery Wilder of Blizzard Entertainment on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 4-5 p.m. in the Friends Room at Central Library. Geared for ages 3 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of NBPL

Get crafty for Halloween

–Halloween Craft-O-Rama

Celebrate Halloween at the Balboa Branch on Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 3-4 p.m. Costumes are encouraged. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative with not-too-spooky Halloween crafts

–Halloween Hoopla!

Join the fun at the Mariners Branch on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 4-5 p.m. to make not-too-spooky Halloween crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Click on photo for a larger image

Magician Allen Oshiro will astonish with amazing sleight of hand and live animal tricks

–Magic Show at the Corona del Mar Library Branch

Magician Allen Oshiro will astonish you with his amazing sleight of hand and live animal tricks on Friday, Oct. 27 from 4-5 p.m. at the Corona del Mar Library Branch. This interactive and fun magic show is great for youngsters ages 6-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity.

–Coding for Kids

Come learn basic coding principles using Scratch in the last of a four-part workshop on Monday, Oct. 30. No coding experience is necessary. Geared for ages 6-11. Space is limited and registration is required. Join this workshop in the Media Lab.

Click on photo for a larger image

It’s a Halloween Party with Kids Image Nation!

–Halloween Party at the Library

You’re invited to a Halloween Party featuring music group Kids Imagine Nation on October 31 from 4-5 p.m. Get ready for singing, dancing and a lot of fun. Come in costume and join in the activities after the performance – coloring and trick-or-treating! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Coming up in November…

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative the first Thursday of every month at Makerspace

–Makerspace Thursdays!

Looking for a space to express yourself? Let your creativity soar the first Thursday of every month from 4-5 p.m., for an hour of open-ended fun using various art materials and techniques at Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. Recommended for ages 8-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Materials available while supplies last. Next session is Thursday, Nov. 2.

Click on photo for a larger image

BARK is a great way to come practice your reading skills

–Practice reading with a BARK dog!

Kids! Come practice your reading skills with a BARK reading dog. Join the Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library for a BARK reading event. This program is a great way for children to increase their reading skills with a non-judgmental reading companion in a calm environment. Geared for ages 5 and up, and no registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Library branches:

–Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach

–Balboa Branch, 100 E. Balboa Blvd., Balboa

–Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold Ave., Corona del Mar

–Crean Mariners Branch, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

For more information, visit the NBPL calendar here.

It’s a kids’ world in October and into November at Newport Beach Public Library

Hey kids! Check out what’s happening at the end of October and what’s kicking off November…just for you! Halloween Hoopla and Party, a magic show and coding for kids, to Makerspace Thursdays and practice reading with a BARK dog, come discover the Newport Beach Public Library and all it has to offer.

Check out these activities…

Click on photo for a larger image

Magician Allen Oshiro will astonish with amazing sleight of hand and live animal tricks

–Magic Show at the Corona del Mar Library Branch

Magician Allen Oshiro will astonish you with his amazing sleight of hand and live animal tricks on Friday, Oct. 27 from 4-5 p.m. at the Corona del Mar Library Branch. This interactive and fun magic show is great for youngsters ages 6-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity.

–Coding for Kids

Come learn basic coding principles using Scratch in the last of a four-part workshop on Monday, Oct. 30. No coding experience is necessary. Geared for ages 6-11. Space is limited and registration is required. Join this workshop in the Media Lab.

Click on photo for a larger image

It’s a Halloween Party with Kids Image Nation!

–Halloween Party at the Library

You’re invited to a Halloween Party featuring music group Kids Imagine Nation on October 31 from 4-5 p.m. Get ready for singing, dancing and a lot of fun. Come in costume and join in the activities after the performance – coloring and trick-or-treating! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Coming up in November…

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative the first Thursday of every month at Makerspace

–Makerspace Thursdays!

Looking for a space to express yourself? Let your creativity soar the first Thursday of every month from 4-5 p.m., for an hour of open-ended fun using various art materials and techniques at Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. Recommended for ages 8-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Materials available while supplies last. Next session is Thursday, Nov. 2.

Click on photo for a larger image

BARK is a great way to come practice your reading skills

–Practice reading with a BARK dog!

Kids! Come practice your reading skills with a BARK reading dog. Join the Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library for a BARK reading event. This program is a great way for children to increase their reading skills with a non-judgmental reading companion in a calm environment. Geared for ages 5 and up, and no registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Library branches:

–Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach

–Balboa Branch, 100 E. Balboa Blvd., Balboa

–Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold Ave., Corona del Mar

–Crean Mariners Branch, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

For more information, visit the NBPL calendar here.

It’s a kids’ world for Halloween and into November at Newport Beach Public Library

Hey kids! Check out what’s happening at the end of October and what’s kicking off November…just for you! From Halloween Hoopla and Party and a magic show to Makerspace Thursdays and practice reading with a BARK dog, come discover the Newport Beach Public Library and all it has to offer.

Check out these activities…

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It’s a Halloween Party with Kids Image Nation!

–Halloween Party at the Library

You’re invited to a Halloween Party featuring music group Kids Imagine Nation on October 31 from 4-5 p.m. Get ready for singing, dancing and a lot of fun. Come in costume and join in the activities after the performance – coloring and trick-or-treating! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Coming up in November…

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Get creative the first Thursday of every month at Makerspace

–Makerspace Thursdays!

Looking for a space to express yourself? Let your creativity soar the first Thursday of every month from 4-5 p.m., for an hour of open-ended fun using various art materials and techniques at Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. Recommended for ages 8-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Materials available while supplies last. Next session is Thursday, Nov. 2.

Click on photo for a larger image

BARK is a great way to come practice your reading skills

–Practice reading with a BARK dog!

Kids! Come practice your reading skills with a BARK reading dog. Join the Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library for a BARK reading event. This program is a great way for children to increase their reading skills with a non-judgmental reading companion in a calm environment. Geared for ages 5 and up, and no registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Library branches:

–Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach

–Balboa Branch, 100 E. Balboa Blvd., Balboa

–Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold Ave., Corona del Mar

–Crean Mariners Branch, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

For more information, visit the NBPL calendar here.

It’s a kids’ world in November at Newport Beach Public Library

Hey kids! Check out what’s happening.

Check out these activities…and more to come!

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Photos courtesy of NBPL

Get creative the first Thursday of every month at Makerspace

–Makerspace Thursdays!

Looking for a space to express yourself? Let your creativity soar the first Thursday of every month from 4-5 p.m., for an hour of open-ended fun using various art materials and techniques at Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. Recommended for ages 8-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Materials available while supplies last. Next session is Thursday, Nov. 2.

Click on photo for a larger image

BARK is a great way to come practice your reading skills

–Practice reading with a BARK dog!

Kids! Come practice your reading skills with a BARK reading dog. Join the Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library for a BARK reading event. This program is a great way for children to increase their reading skills with a non-judgmental reading companion in a calm environment. Geared for ages 5 and up, and no registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Library branches:

–Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach

–Balboa Branch, 100 E. Balboa Blvd., Balboa

–Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold Ave., Corona del Mar

–Crean Mariners Branch, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

For more information, visit the NBPL calendar here.

It’s a kids’ world in November at Newport Beach Public Library

Hey kids! Check out what’s happening in November (and beyond) at the Library…just for you! For LEGOS twice a week, BARK Reading to a dog and Makerspace Thursdays, fall and Thanksgiving crafts, middle school book club, family game afternoon and DINOVEMBER…your days will be filled!

Check out these activities

Click on photo for a larger image

BARK is a great way to come practice your reading skills

–Practice reading with a BARK dog!

Kids! Come practice your reading skills with a BARK reading dog. Join the Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library for a BARK reading event. This program is a great way for children to increase their reading skills with a non-judgmental reading companion in a calm environment. Geared for ages 5 and up, and no registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session is Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Click on photo for a larger image

It’s LEGOS every Wednesday and on the first and third Saturdays

–LEGO Wednesdays and LEGO Saturdays

Every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m., drop at the Mariners Branch to create with LEGO! And at Central Library Children’s Room between 2 and 4 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month (Next date: Nov. 18). Get inspiration for your creations by spinning their LEGO challenge wheel and let your imagination run wild! No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

–A Feast of Fall Crafts

Get artistic at the Balboa Branch when they serve up crafts inspired by seasonal fare. You’ll be making crafts based on the flavors of fall. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Date: Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 3-4 p.m. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last. Funding is generously provided by the Friends of the Library.

–Middle School Book Club

Calling all 4th through 6th grade book lovers – this book club is especially for you. On the third Thursday of every month, you’ll meet to discuss the book of the month followed by a fun activity to go along with that month’s pick. November’s pick is Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Date: Thursday, Nov. 16 at Central Library from 4-5 pm. Join in person or virtually via Zoom. Registration is required, so sign up here.

Click on photo for a larger image

Get crafty this fall!

–Thanksgiving Crafts

Celebrate turkey day by making Thanksgiving crafts at the Mariners Branch on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 4-5 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

–Family Game Day

Join an afternoon of family fun with board games and puzzles the third Tuesday of every month (Date: Nov. 21) from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library. Relax after school, meet new friends and try out games. No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 6+.

–They’re celebrating DINOVEMBER!

On Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 4-5 p.m., join for an afternoon of dinosaur-themed fun including crafts and games in the Children’s Room at Central Library. No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative the first Thursday of every month at Makerspace

–Makerspace Thursdays!

Looking for a space to express yourself? Let your creativity soar the first Thursday of every month from 4-5 p.m., for an hour of open-ended fun using various art materials and techniques at Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. Recommended for ages 8-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Materials available while supplies last. Next session is Thursday, Dec. 7.

Library branches:

–Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach

–Balboa Branch, 100 E. Balboa Blvd., Balboa

–Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold Ave., Corona del Mar

–Crean Mariners Branch, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

For more information, visit the NBPL calendar here.

It’s a kids’ world in November at Newport Beach Public Library

Hey kids! Check out what’s happening in November (and beyond) at the Library…just for you! For LEGOS twice a week, BARK Reading to a dog and Makerspace Thursdays, fall and Thanksgiving crafts, middle school book club, family game afternoon and DINOVEMBER…your days will be filled!

Check out these activities

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of NBPL

It’s LEGOS every Wednesday and on the first and third Saturdays

–LEGO Wednesdays and LEGO Saturdays

Every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m., drop at the Mariners Branch to create with LEGO! And at Central Library Children’s Room between 2 and 4 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month (Next date: Nov. 18). Get inspiration for your creations by spinning their LEGO challenge wheel and let your imagination run wild! No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

–A Feast of Fall Crafts

Get artistic at the Balboa Branch when they serve up crafts inspired by seasonal fare. You’ll be making crafts based on the flavors of fall. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Date: Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 3-4 p.m. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last. Funding is generously provided by the Friends of the Library.

–Middle School Book Club

Calling all 4th through 6th grade book lovers – this book club is especially for you. On the third Thursday of every month, you’ll meet to discuss the book of the month followed by a fun activity to go along with that month’s pick. November’s pick is Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Date: Thursday, Nov. 16 at Central Library from 4-5 pm. Join in person or virtually via Zoom. Registration is required, so sign up here.

Click on photo for a larger image

Get crafty this fall!

–Thanksgiving Crafts

Celebrate turkey day by making Thanksgiving crafts at the Mariners Branch on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 4-5 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

–Family Game Day

Join an afternoon of family fun with board games and puzzles the third Tuesday of every month (Date: Nov. 21) from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library. Relax after school, meet new friends and try out games. No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 6+.

–They’re celebrating DINOVEMBER!

On Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 4-5 p.m., join for an afternoon of dinosaur-themed fun including crafts and games in the Children’s Room at Central Library. No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of NBPL

BARK is a great way to come practice your reading skills

–Practice reading with a BARK dog!

Kids! Come practice your reading skills with a BARK reading dog. Join the Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library for a BARK reading event. This program is a great way for children to increase their reading skills with a non-judgmental reading companion in a calm environment. Geared for ages 5 and up, and no registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session is Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative the first Thursday of every month at Makerspace

–Makerspace Thursdays!

Looking for a space to express yourself? Let your creativity soar the first Thursday of every month from 4-5 p.m., for an hour of open-ended fun using various art materials and techniques at Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. Recommended for ages 8-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Materials available while supplies last. Next session is Thursday, Dec. 7.

Library branches:

–Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach

–Balboa Branch, 100 E. Balboa Blvd., Balboa

–Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold Ave., Corona del Mar

–Crean Mariners Branch, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

For more information, visit the NBPL calendar here.

It’s a kids’ world in November at Newport Beach Public Library

Hey kids! Check out what’s happening in November (and beyond) at the Library…just for you! For LEGOS twice a week, BARK Reading to a dog and Makerspace Thursdays, fall and Thanksgiving crafts, middle school book club, family game afternoon and DINOVEMBER…your days will be filled!

Check out these activities!

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of NBPL

It’s LEGOS every Wednesday and on the first and third Saturdays

–LEGO Wednesdays and LEGO Saturdays

Every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m., drop at the Mariners Branch to create with LEGO! And at Central Library Children’s Room between 2 and 4 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month (Next date: Nov. 18). Get inspiration for your creations by spinning their LEGO challenge wheel and let your imagination run wild! No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

–A Feast of Fall Crafts

Get artistic at the Balboa Branch when they serve up crafts inspired by seasonal fare. You’ll be making crafts based on the flavors of fall. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Date: Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 3-4 p.m. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last. Funding is generously provided by the Friends of the Library.

–Middle School Book Club

Calling all 4th through 6th grade book lovers – this book club is especially for you. On the third Thursday of every month, you’ll meet to discuss the book of the month followed by a fun activity to go along with that month’s pick. November’s pick is Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Date: Thursday, Nov. 16 at Central Library from 4-5 pm. Join in person or virtually via Zoom. Registration is required, so sign up here.

Click on photo for a larger image

Get crafty this fall!

–Thanksgiving Crafts

Celebrate turkey day by making Thanksgiving crafts at the Mariners Branch on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 4-5 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

–Family Game Day

Join an afternoon of family fun with board games and puzzles the third Tuesday of every month (Date: Nov. 21) from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library. Relax after school, meet new friends and try out games. No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 6+.

–They’re celebrating DINOVEMBER!

On Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 4-5 p.m., join for an afternoon of dinosaur-themed fun including crafts and games in the Children’s Room at Central Library. No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Click on photo for a larger image

BARK is a great way to come practice your reading skills

–Practice reading with a BARK dog!

Kids! Come practice your reading skills with a BARK reading dog. Join the Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library for a BARK reading event. This program is a great way for children to increase their reading skills with a non-judgmental reading companion in a calm environment. Geared for ages 5 and up, and no registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session is Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative the first Thursday of every month at Makerspace

–Makerspace Thursdays!

Looking for a space to express yourself? Let your creativity soar the first Thursday of every month from 4-5 p.m., for an hour of open-ended fun using various art materials and techniques at Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. Recommended for ages 8-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Materials available while supplies last. Next session is Thursday, Dec. 7.

Library branches:

–Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach

–Balboa Branch, 100 E. Balboa Blvd., Balboa

–Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold Ave., Corona del Mar

–Crean Mariners Branch, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

For more information, visit the NBPL calendar here.

It’s a kids’ world continues in November and into December at Newport Beach Public Library

Hey kids! Check out what’s happening in November (and beyond) at the Library…just for you! For LEGOS twice a week, BARK Reading to a dog and Makerspace Thursdays, fall and Thanksgiving crafts, family game afternoon and DINOVEMBER…your days will be filled!

Check out these activities!

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of NBPL

It’s LEGOS every Wednesday and on the first and third Saturdays

–LEGO Wednesdays and LEGO Saturdays

Every Wednesday from 3-4 p.m., drop at the Mariners Branch to create with LEGO! And at Central Library Children’s Room between 2 and 4 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month (Next date: Nov. 18). Get inspiration for your creations by spinning their LEGO challenge wheel and let your imagination run wild! No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

–Family Game Day

Join an afternoon of family fun with board games and puzzles the third Tuesday of every month (Date: Nov. 21) from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library. Relax after school, meet new friends and try out games. No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 6+.

–They’re celebrating DINOVEMBER!

On Tuesday, Nov. 28 from 4-5 p.m., join for an afternoon of dinosaur-themed fun including crafts and games in the Children’s Room at Central Library. No registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Space is first come, first seated and limited by room capacity. Materials are available while supplies last.

Click on photo for a larger image

BARK is a great way to come practice your reading skills

–Practice reading with a BARK dog!

Kids! Come practice your reading skills with a BARK reading dog. Join the Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) on the first Tuesday of every month from 4-5 p.m. at Central Library for a BARK reading event. This program is a great way for children to increase their reading skills with a non-judgmental reading companion in a calm environment. Geared for ages 5 and up, and no registration is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Next session is Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Click on photo for a larger image

Get creative the first Thursday of every month at Makerspace

–Makerspace Thursdays!

Looking for a space to express yourself? Let your creativity soar the first Thursday of every month from 4-5 p.m., for an hour of open-ended fun using various art materials and techniques at Central Library’s Stahr Storytime Room. Recommended for ages 8-11. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Materials available while supplies last. Next session is Thursday, Dec. 7.

Library branches:

–Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach

–Balboa Branch, 100 E. Balboa Blvd., Balboa

–Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold Ave., Corona del Mar

–Crean Mariners Branch, 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach

For more information, visit the NBPL calendar here.

Boo at the Bay: A family Halloween party

Boo at the Bay – a fun family Halloween party – will take place at Upper Newport Bay’s Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Presented by OC Parks, join in an afternoon of spooky stories, creepy crafts, weird science experiments, bizarre animals and hair-raising games.

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Courtesy of OC Parks

It’s Boo at the Bay for Halloween family fun

All children who attend in costume will receive ghoulish door prizes. The event will also feature booths and exhibits from the Orange County Bird of Prey Center, Environmental Nature Center (ENC) and the OC Parks Archaeology and Paleontology departments.

The event and parking are free.

For more information, call 949.923.2290, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and visit www.ocparks.com/events/boo-bay-family-halloween-party.

Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center is located at 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach.

Halloween Spooktacular coming to Mariners Park

The 6th Annual Halloween Spooktacular, presented by the City of Newport Beach’s Recreation & Senior Services Department, is making a haunting appearance on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 3-6 p.m.

Eerie but not-too-spooky fun awaits the whole family with trunk-or-treat, a haunted house, live music, games, bounce houses, food trucks and the ever-popular costume contest!

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Photos courtesy of City of Newport Beach

Enter the costume contest

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Family fun awaits

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This eye-catching construction “gang” surely stopped traffic

This ghoulish event is free. Parking is limited, so walking and biking are encouraged.

Mariners Park is located at 1300 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach.

Roger’s Gardens Holiday Boutique now open

Roger’s Gardens Holiday Boutique – Christmas Confections – is now open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Discover a festive shopping wonderland as you immerse yourself in a world of holiday charm, and discover a curated collection of Christmas décor and unique, one-of-a-kind artisan pieces that will capture the essence of the season. Explore the magic of European Christmas traditions, brought to life through their dedicated buyers’ annual journeys across the continent.

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Photos by Marisa Pinette/Courtesy of Roger’s Gardens

Santas and festive decor galore

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Choose your favorite ornaments from the themed trees

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Come discover the sweet world of holiday confections

Come experience the sweet world of holiday delights as you escape to a whimsical candy shoppe dreamland. Frosted gingerbread and peppermint swirls dance beside shimmering ornaments, crafted to mimic the most delectable confections. Discover unique, handmade ornaments from around the world, the finest Artisan European décor, and the timeless sparkle of red and green that evoke and create everlasting holiday memories.

Roger’s Gardens is located at 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar. For more information, visit www.rogersgardens.com.

Grammy-winning Pacific Chorale rings in the season with two festive holiday programs

 Nothing evokes the holidays quite like a choir filling the rafters with the joyous strains of Christmas carols! The Grammy Award-winning Pacific Chorale, led by Artistic Director Robert Istad, adds its magical refrains to the season with its signature mix of reverent and jolly yuletide programming in December. “Carols by Candlelight” features timeless traditional and contemporary seasonal repertoire, and “Tis the Season!,” is a family-friendly program replete with festive carols, holiday favorites and a visit from The Man in Red – Santa Claus.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos by Doug Gifford

Pacific Chorale rings in the holidays

–Saturday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m.

–Wednesday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m.

Pacific Chorale Presents: Carols by Candlelight

Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 2100 Mar Vista Drive, Newport Beach.

Robert Istad, conductor, Pacific Chorale, Jung-A Lee, organ and David Clemensen, piano.

Pacific Chorale unwraps its signature holiday programming with two performances of “Carols by Candlelight,” an intimate seasonal concert offering timeless traditional and contemporary holiday music.

Click on photo for a larger image

Pacific Chorale: “Carols by Candlelight” on December 2 and 6

Special musical guests organist Jung-A Lee and pianist David Clemensen join members of Pacific Chorale, bathed in flickering candlelight, for this distinctive and memorable program in the hushed sanctuary of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Newport Beach.

Ticket Prices: $20-$80

–Sunday, Dec. 17, 5 p.m.

–Monday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.

Pacific Chorale Presents: “Tis the Season!”

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts

600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

Robert Istad, conductor, Pacific Chorale, Southern California Children’s Chorus, Lori Loftus, founding director and Members of Pacific Symphony - The Man in Red – Santa!

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The Man in Red – Santa on December 17 and 18

A delightful family favorite and one of Orange County’s beloved Yuletide traditions, Pacific Chorale’s “Tis the Season!” adds jolly musical cheer to the holidays with back-to-back concerts on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 5 p.m., and Monday, Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m., at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Cherished holiday carols and seasonal gems will be sung to glorious perfection by the Grammy-winning chorus, under the baton of Artistic Director Robert Istad. Amping up the joy are some very special guests, including Southern California Children’s Chorus, members of Pacific Symphony, and, of course, The Man in Red – Santa Claus.

Ticket Prices: $32-$163

For tickets and information, visit www.pacificchorale.org, or call 714.662.2345.

Orange County Museum of Art’s Third Annual Art Sense Gala raises $2 million

On Saturday, Oct. 7, the Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) and CEO and Director Heidi Zuckerman hosted its third Art Sense Gala and honored artist Jennifer Guidi. The event, which was co-chaired by Alexandra Airth and Reesa Emadi, kicked off a weeklong celebration of the museum’s first year in their new Morphosis Architects-designed building located in the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos by Reza Allah-Bakshi/Capture Imaging

(L-R) Artist honoree Jennifer Guidi with Artist Brooklin Soumahoro

The evening honored artist Jennifer Guidi, whose first solo U.S. museum exhibition And so it is... is currently on view at the museum. The survey of painting and sculpture explores 10 years of the artist’s practice which investigates and generates meditative states of being.

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(L-R) CEO and Director of OCMA Heidi Zuckerman with Art Sense Co-Chairs Alexandra Airth and Reesa Emadi

With a Mystical Black-Tie theme, the Art Sense Gala welcomed nearly 300 guests, and raised $2 million for the museum and its operations in its upcoming season. Heidi Zuckerman, CEO and Director of OCMA, thanked the guests: “In the first year, we have welcomed over 263,000 visitors to the museum – we could not have done that without the support of everyone here. I believe that access to art is a basic human right and not a privilege. I have learned everything I know about how to be human, from art. I’ve learned how to see, how to think, how to speak and how to love. I’ve even learned how to live, through art. Events like this make that access possible.” Co-Chairs Alexandra Airth and Reesa Emadi also thanked attendees.

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Guests celebrating at Art Sense

Artist Jennifer Guidi was honored with the Art Sense Gala Award. In accepting the honor, Guidi shared, “This has been one moment of significant reflection as I witnessed the coming together of this exhibition. I was surprised how emotional it made me feel to see a decade of work in one place.” Guidi was there with her husband Brooklin Soumahoro.

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(L-R) Warren Felson and OCMA Board President Lucy Sun

OCMA Art Sense attendees included artists Rebecca Morris, Peter Shelton and Mary Weatherford as well OCMA Board Chair Lucy Sun and her husband Warren Felson, along with board members and event Co-Chair Alexandra Airth and her husband Alan Airth, Barbara Bowie and her husband Alex Bowie, Lauren Chalmers and her husband Trace Chalmers, Carol Choi, Semira Darisushnia and her husband Mark Moshayedi, Jennifer Duran and her husband Joe-John Duran, Susan Etchandy, John Gunnin, Alison Hoeven, David Horowitz, Mark Kerslake and his wife Holly Kerslake, Carolyn Klein and her husband William Klein, Cheryl Kiddoo and her husband Bruce Kiddoo, David Lake and his wife Deborah Lake, Lisa Merage and her husband Richard Merage, Lilly Merage and her husband Paul Merage, Jim Pick and his wife Rosalind L. Pick, Connie Spenuzza and her husband Peter Spenuzza, and Keiko Sakamoto and her husband Bill Witte.

OCMA CEO and Director Heidi Zuckerman was there with her fiancé JP McNeill. Other guests included event Co-Chair Reesa Emadi and her husband Hirad Emadi, Tracy Smith and John D’Amelio from CBS Sunday Morning, designer Giampiero Tagliaferri and Josh Childress, as well Steven Badger, Nicole and Alex Bathal, Marta and Raj Bhathal, Henry Davis and Christina Fazzone, Shelley and Phil Belling, Diane and Jim Connelly, Shanaz and Jack Langson, Jacqueline Mars, Kim and Farzad Massoudi, Britt Meyer, Pam and Jim Muzzy, Laura and Tim Vanderhook, and Ling and Charles Zhang.

Click on photo for a larger image

(L-R) Erica Fink, Jennifer Duran and Susan Etchandy

Guests interpreted the Mystical Black-Tie theme with both vibrant and ethereal looks. Guests were treated to a sensory experience that engaged all five senses with wines selected by Master Sommelier Jay Fletcher, in his third year at the event, as well dinner by resident caterer Mix Mix. In between courses and well into the night, guests danced under the stars to remixed house music sets by DJ Dylan.

The Art Sense Opening Gala was presented by Comerica Bank with media partner Cultured Magazine.

Orange County Museum of Art is located at 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa.

For more information about OCMA, go to www.ocma.art.

Sgt. Pepperoni’s for Julian’s LEGO^® Corner at CHOC achieves remarkable milestones in September fundraiser

Thanks to its loyal fans and customers and the wonderful communities served from their three locations in Newport Beach, Irvine and Aliso Viejo, Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store had its most successful fundraiser ever for Julian’s LEGO^® Corner, a fund at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). Working together, they raised $57,000 and collected nearly 400 LEGO^® kits for the cause.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photos courtesy of Julian’s LEGO^® Corner

Check donation

Throughout September – Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – Sgt. Pepperoni’s donated a portion of its sales to the fund, created in memory of pediatric cancer patient Julian Dunn, and collected LEGO^® kits at all three of their stores. Since 2013, the fund has raised nearly $150,000 through partnerships with Sgt. Pepperoni’s and other generous donors, bringing a creative outlet to children and teens at CHOC Hospital coping with serious and complex medical journeys.

CHOC child with a LEGO^® set

This year, there was a surprise donation by the LEGO^® Angels, who generously donated a whopping 208 LEGO^® sets, and Julian’s LEGO^® Corner was absolutely blown away by their kindness and dedication. These amazing ladies started their collection journey last September and did something truly heartwarming for each of their birthdays – instead of exchanging gifts among themselves, they chose to give LEGO^® sets.

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LEGO^® Angels group

The ladies realized they had everything they needed and decided to pay it forward to the children at CHOC Hospital and Julian’s LEGO^® Corner. They said that this experience has brought their scrapbooking group even closer, and they’re planning to keep collecting this year with hopes of surpassing this year’s donation.

For more information on Julian’s LEGO^® Corner, go to www.choc.org/programs-services/child-life/julians-lego-corner/.

State of the Schools Breakfast showcases student talents and district successes

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) in partnership with the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation (NMSF) hosted its annual State of the Schools Breakfast on Tuesday, Oct.10, which united supporters – including elected officials, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach representatives, parents, community leaders, district and school employees, and event sponsors. The sold-out event at the Costa Mesa High School (CMHS) Gymnasium raised more than $51,000 toward the foundation’s Grants to Teachers Program, which supports the classroom learning environment.

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Photos courtesy of NMUSD

CMHS students welcomed attendees to the State of the Schools Breakfast on October 10

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Margaret Dean, NMSF board member and director of fundraising with ASB students, who helped out at the delicious breakfast buffet

The early-morning event opened with Instrumental Music Director Zaid Bararseh, a CMHS graduate, leading an enthusiastic school jazz band through a selection of songs as 250 attendees entered the gym. Later, under the direction of Jon Lindfors, the CMHS Madrigal Choir sang the National Anthem.

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CMHS Jazz Band led by Instrumental Music Director Zaid Bararseh

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CMHS Madrigal Choir, under the direction of Jon Lindfors, sang our National Anthem

A highlight of the morning was the Career and Technical Education demonstration by Engineering Design Pathway students Aubrey Spallone and Kayla Stanley, ASB President Ian Encarnación and Boys Varsity Football player Chris Rivera. With the help of Engineering Design Teacher Racine Cross and high school Principals Dipali Potnis (CMHS), Dr. Sean Boulton (Newport Harbor), Dr. Jacob Haley (Corona del Mar) and Michael Halt (Estancia), the students showed off the football-throwing strengths of Herbie the Love Bolt, the award-winning robot designed by Spallone, Stanley and two other female students last year for the LA Chargers STEM on the Sidelines competition.

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(L-R) Engineering Design Pathway students Kayla Stanley and Aubrey Spallone with ASB President Ian Encarnación and Boys Varsity Football player Chris Rivera demonstrated the football-throwing strengths of Herbie the Love Bolt, the award-winning robot designed by Stanley, Spallone and two other female students for the LA Chargers STEM on the Sidelines competition last year

NMUSD Board of Education President Ashley Anderson spoke about the importance of being unified as a community in support of students. That sentiment was further exemplified by Superintendent Dr. Wesley Smith, as he spoke about the progress and achievements students have made in the past year, much of which could not have been accomplished without the support of families, community partners, and of course their amazing employees.

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(L-R) NMUSD Board President Ashley Anderson and Sally Davenport NMSF Board Member, Director - Teacher Grant Banquet

“Our kids deserve no less than the best. We’re all here, unified to inspire, educate and elevate our students to achieve great success,” said Dr. Smith.

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(L-R) Dave Martinez (Early College High School Principal), Socorro Shiels (Assistant Superintendent of Achievement, Innovation and Continuous Improvement), Dr. Dipali Pontis (CMHS Principal) and Dr. Wesley Smith (NMUSD Superintendent)

Across elementary school grades, students have increased literacy scores. Kindergarten reading scores jumped 10 percent, while reading growth in first grade increased 9 percent. Second grade reading scores moved up 5 percent, and there was a 4.8 percent increase in third graders reading at or above target levels.

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NMUSD Principals (L-R): Dr. Sean Boulton (Harbor High), Dr. Jacob Haley (CdM), Dr. Dipoli Pontis (CMHS) and Michael Halt (EHS)

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(L-R) Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley with NMSF President Vicki Snell

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(L-R) President of OCC Dr. Angelica Suarez, Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens, Costa Mesa Police Chief Ron Lawrence, SOY Executive Director Mary Cappellini and Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano

While graduation rates increased nearly 2 percent to 97 percent overall, Smith says the district goal is for a 100 percent rate across campuses. That goal has already been achieved at Early College High School, which was recently named a National Blue Ribbon School as well as a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School. Among students with disabilities, the graduation rate rose 10 percent to reach 87 percent, thanks in part to the efforts of dedicated teachers, aides, therapists and specialists.

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ASB students who assisted throughout the morning

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(L-R) NMUSD Student Services Coordinator Jennifer Piña with CMHS Principal Dr. Dipoli Pontis

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(L-R) Assistant Superintendent of Special Services Dr. Sara Jocham and Administrative Director of Special Education Elsie Simonovski

To attain such goals, the district has focused on fostering supportive workplace environments with professional development and training opportunities, mentorship and wellness programs, and competitive salaries. District leadership has also invested in safety upgrades, including an updated Standard Response Protocol and increased school campus security measures, along with ongoing maintenance and renovations districtwide.

The district has also invested in meaningful community partnerships. One example was the Back-to-School Resource Fair this summer; in partnership with IKEA, the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living and more than 80 additional community organizations. NMUSD welcomed more than 5,000 attendees with backpacks filled with school supplies, professional haircuts, health screenings, food boxes and much more. This opportunity to connect with vital services and resources was invaluable to the NMUSD community.

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ASB President Ian Encarnación and ASB members from across the district gathered on stage at the end of the breakfast. They wore overalls representing NMUSD as Encarnación shared, “Overall, we are the best district.”

It is a sense of community that unifies NMUSD. “Every single time I walk on any campus, I am greeted by friends…It’s my fellow students who give me life and break my morning mood,” remarked Encarnación. ASB students from across the district gathered behind Encarnación wearing overalls to show that “Overall NMUSD is the best.”

Stars came out to walk the red carpet at the 24th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival

The 24th Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) is in full swing…continuing through Thursday, Oct. 19. From the Opening Night gala and Q&As on the Main Stage at Fashion Island to the Mayor’s Reception at VEA Newport Beach, the NBFF is screening more than 91 films from 19 countries and is hosting nightly special events, world premieres, red carpet galas, awards contenders, and compelling conversations with filmmakers and more.

Here is a glimpse of some special events where the stars came out.

On Thursday, Oct. 12, the NBFF kicked off with its Opening Night Screening of The Absence of Eden at Fashion Island. Guests in attendance included director of The Absence of Eden, Marco Perego Saldaña, along with Patricia Clarkson (Artist of Distinction Award), actor Jared Harris (Brave the Dark), director Kevin McNamara (Topper) and more.

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Photos courtesy of PencilBox Studios

Marco Perego Saldaña attended the Opening Night screening of his film “The Absence of Eden”

The Absence of Eden centers around an ICE agent (Garrett Hedlund) struggling with the moral dilemmas of border security and an undocumented woman (Zoe Saldaña) fighting to escape a ruthless cartel who cross paths and work together to save the life of an innocent girl.

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Jared Harris at the Opening Night screening of “The Absence of Eden”

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(L-R) Mark O’Brien (“Topper”) and Kevin McNamara (“Topper) at the Opening Night screening of “The Absence of Eden”

The film is produced by Academy Award-nominated producer Julie Yorn and Marco Perego, along with Robert Kravis and Karl Herrmann under their banner of Pioneer Pictures, and Academy Award-nominated producer Alexandra Milchan. Academy Award-winning director and producer Martin Scorsese, and Rick Yorn serve as executive producers, alongside Zoe Saldaña’s Cinestar Pictures, Ingenious Media, Ashland Hill, Sycuan Tribal as well as Ruben Islas, Jolene Rodriguez and Stanley Preschutti.

On Friday, Oct. 13, the NBFF held the Mayor’s Reception on the veranda at VEA Newport Beach. Newport Mayor Noah Blom welcomed attendees with NBFF Co-founder/CEO Gregg Schwenk presenting special award recognitions.

Honored were Patricia Clarkson (Artist of Distinction Award), Jack Huston (Breakout Directing Award), and Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Maverick Award).

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Patricia Clarkson was honored with the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Artist of Distinction Award at the Mayor’s Reception at the VEA Newport Beach

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During the Mayor’s Reception, Jack Huston accepted the Newport Beach Film Festival’s Breakout Director Award

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(L-R) Chris Miller and Phil Lord were the honored recipients of the Maverick Award at the Mayor’s Reception

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(L-R) NBFF Co-founder/CEO Gregg Schwenk with honored awardees Justin Huston, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Miller and Phil Lord at the Mayor’s Reception

Additionally, the day included a Q&A with the cast of Topper following their film’s World Premiere.

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Cast members attended the World Premiere screening of “Topper” at Big Newport 5

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(L-R) Amanda Clayton (cast) with Mark O’Brien (cast) and Kevin McNamara (director) at the premiere of their film “Topper”

On Saturday, Oct. 14, the Festival continued with events including Mark Ronson (Oscar- and Grammy-winning songwriter/producer, Barbie soundtrack) receiving the NBFF’s Outstanding Achievement in Music award after a live Q&A. Afterwards, a live “Author Talk” discussion took place with Rainn Wilson (The Office,) regarding his new book Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution (Hachette Go).” Both events were held at the Main Stage at Fashion Island.

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Mark Ronson received the Newport Beach Film Festival “Outstanding Achievement in Music” award at Fashion Island

In his book, Wilson speaks to the possibility and hope for a spiritual revolution, a “Soul Boom,” to find a healing transformation on both a personal and global level. Though a serious and essential pursuit, he brings great humor and his own unique perspective to the conversation.

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Rainn Wilson discussed his new book “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution” at the Newport Beach Film Festival Main Stage at Fashion Island

On Sunday, Oct. 15…what a special treat for moviegoers! There was a live discussion of the film, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret at the Main Stage at Fashion Island. The talk featured author Judy Blume along with director and writer Kelly Fremon Craig and producer Julie Ansell. Additionally, following a screening of the film, Blume participated in a Q&A about the movie.

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(L-R) Author Judy Blume participated in a discussion on the film (based on her book), “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret,” along with the director and writer Kelly Fremon Craig at Fashion Island