Fair Game
By TOM JOHNSON
New feature spotlights on the good-doers in our community
I want to draw your attention to a new feature of Stu News Newport this week called Spotlight on Philanthropy. We’ll focus on the institutions within our community that make a positive difference in so many people’s lives and remind you that, without your help, this wouldn’t be possible.
This week we’ll kick off with a look at Orangewood Foundation, which is one of the “leading providers of services to foster and community youth in Orange County.”
Their extraordinary outreach is consistently making a dramatic difference in so many lives of young people.
This effort on our behalf wouldn’t be possible without the underwriting from the OneRoot Foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the David Pyle Family.
In this space we’ll regularly be looking to make a difference and educate the community on underwriting opportunities and other ways to get involved.
Feel free to reach out to me. In fact, I’m already in search for our next focus.
• • •
If you spend time around the boardwalk, tonight’s City Council meeting will probably be of interest.
City staff will be seeking direction from Council “regarding the implementation of a prohibition of motorized or other transportation devices, including electric bicycles, on the Oceanfront Boardwalk.”
In addition to the prohibition of electric bikes, other considerations being discussed include improved signage and speed controls, stricter enforcement and fines, as well as a second vehicle lane in parallel to the current boardwalk.
• • •
I received a simple one-line note from a very concerned Newport-Mesa Unified School District teacher last week reading: “I hope the public knows we will re-open WITHOUT temperature checks for students, despite this being the State recommendation.”
With many of our teachers returning home at night to loved ones who may have compromised immune systems, this seems to be a justifiable concern.
• • •
Newport Beach Restaurant Month is winding down as the end of September nears. Still time to dine out at some of your favorite establishments and win prizes.
For all details, including participating restaurants, go to www.visitewportbeach.com/restaurant-month/.
• • •
Campaign season is in full swing. Two upcoming virtual forums are planned for City Council races. The first is the CdM Residents Association on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m., followed by the Friends of OASIS Zoom on Friday, Oct. 2 at 10 a.m.
The Friends information is at 806 395 3593, with the password of OASIS.
• • •
The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce will present State Senator John Moorlach, who is in a race against Dave Min, at their upcoming Good Morning Corona del Mar meeting on Monday, Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. Moorlach will lead a discussion reviewing the election ballot propositions.
There is no charge to attend, however, you must register at www.cdmchamber.com/.
• • •
Did you hear the Newport Beach Central Library in now back open, effective yesterday? “Open” has such a nice ring to it.
The library hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Additionally, the Balboa Library, Crean Mariners Library and Corona del Mar Library are all open for curbside pick-up only.
Hours vary, but you can check it out at www.newportbeachlibrary.org.
Police Files
One dies, one arrested following pursuit that ends on W. Coast Highway
A vehicle crashed on Sunday morning, Sept. 20, in Newport Beach following a police pursuit that began in Huntington Beach. The vehicle rolled over onto its roof in the 3000 block of W. Coast Highway around 5:45 a.m. injuring the driver and killing the passenger.
Photo by Kathy Shaw
Vehicle rolls over on PCH causing passenger fatality
The driver was arrested by Huntington Beach Police, who were active in the pursuit.
Neither occupants have been identified.
Police are investigating. The vehicle was initially reportedly stolen from Modesto.
NBPD seeing uptick in fraud and identity theft
The Newport Beach Police Department’s (NBPD) core mission is to protect our community and provide a sense of security at all times. NBPD has learned there is a Fraud and Identity Theft trend occurring within California’s Employment Development Department (EDD).
This is a statewide trend confirmed with law enforcement partners at the EDD, California Department of Justice and the United States Secret Service. NBPD is working closely with all agencies regarding the arrests made thus far in the City of Newport Beach.
Victims typically include juveniles, homeless individuals, prison inmates and nursing home patients. NBPD is requesting the business community’s assistance effective immediately. They are strongly encouraging the following:
–If you are going to accept an EDD card, please ask to see the physical card and matching identification. The suspects committing the fraud will generally have multiple EDD cards in their possession with different names on each card.
–Please call NBPD at 949.644.3681 (non-emergency) or “911” if you need immediate assistance with a subject who is refusing to cooperate.
There are millions of tax dollars being spent fraudulently as a result of this trend. NBPD desires to work closely with local business partners to mitigate these crimes within the City.
Fire Files
NBFD personnel still playing vital role in California fires
Nearly 30 Newport Beach firefighters have been deployed during the past several weeks to help battle some of the record-breaking wildfires that have consumed more than 3.4 million acres throughout California so far this year.
As of Friday, September 18, 11 NBFD firefighters are deployed at four fires throughout the state: the Bobcat Fire in Los Angeles County, the El Dorado Fire in San Bernardino, the Oak Fire in Mendocino and the Creek Fire in Fresno. Those firefighters nearing the end of a two-week deployment, returned Saturday, September 19, and were replaced by a fresh crew of eight.
“I want to acknowledge the incredibly difficult work being done by members of our Newport Beach team and firefighters throughout the state of California,” said Newport Beach Fire Chief Jeff Boyles. “These are the most challenging fires we have ever faced in California. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and stamina to battle these fires over 12-hour shifts.”
The El Dorado Fire has claimed the life of one firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service, the agency announced Friday. That blaze, which has now burned 21,000 acres, was started by pyrotechnics used at a gender reveal party over Labor Day weekend.
“It’s a tragic reminder to everyone that bad decisions can have deadly consequences,” Boyles said. “Under these dry, hot conditions, there is no place for fireworks of any kind.”
In addition to the wildfire deployment, members of the NBFD have also worked as part of an Orange County team to protect high risk areas within the County, Boyles said.
What’s on the Docket
Timothy DeCinces – Wednesday, September 23 at 8:30 a.m. (Harbor Court)
Pre Trial
DeCinces, a Newport Beach real estate agent, is charged with felony counts each of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, battery with serious bodily injury, criminal threats and misdemeanor counts of soliciting, engaging or agreeing to engage in prostitution, child abuse and endangerment.
Hossein Nayeri, Kyle Handley, Ryan Kevorkian and Naomi Josette Rhodus – Friday, September 25 at 5 8:30 a.m. (Central Court)
Pre Trial
On Oct. 2, 2012, Handley, Nayeri, and Kevorkian are accused of entering John Doe’s home with the intent to kidnap and rob him. Once inside, they are accused of zip-tying the victim’s wrists and torturing him, including severely beating him. They are accused of kidnapping the victim and putting him in a van. They are also accused of zip-tying and kidnapping Jane Doe, who was John Doe’s roommate’s girlfriend who happened to be in the home at the time. Before fleeing the scene, they are accused of stealing a large amount of cash from the home. The defendants are accused of driving the victims to the desert near the area where they believed John Doe was hiding money. They are accused of continuing to torture John Doe throughout the drive by burning him with a blow torch. Once in the desert, the defendants are accused of sexually mutilating the victim by cutting off his penis. They are accused of pouring bleach on the victim in an effort to destroy any DNA evidence and dumping both victims on the side of the road. Jane Doe was not physically harmed.
Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Are you doing your fair share?
Philanthropy is the lifeblood of nonprofits throughout our community and across the country. Kindness funds help to the homeless and downtrodden; children who, in many cases, would have to do without; medical and health support for so many who are out of other options; and so much more.
Our Spotlight on Philanthropy is designed to show you the inner workings of programs touching our community and, hopefully, encourage you to take a closer look.
Featured Charitable Organization:
What does Orangewood do?
Orangewood Foundation was founded in 1981 and today is one of the leading providers of services to foster and community youth in Orange County. Foundation programs focus on four critical areas: health & wellness, housing, life skills & employment, and education. Recognizing that 46 percent of foster youth do not graduate from high school, in August 2013, the Foundation opened Samueli Academy, a free public charter school for community, including underserved and foster, teens and located in Santa Ana. Today, Samueli Academy is a Gold Ribbon School and ranked by US News & World Report among the top 6 percent of high schools in the nation in 2020. Annually, Orangewood Foundation serves 2,200 foster and community youth. Beyond its programs for thousands of youth in our community, Orangewood means “family,” “opportunity” and “hope.” Learn more at www.OrangewoodFoundation.org and www.SamueliAcademy.org.
Why give to Orangewood?
By giving to Orangewood Foundation, YOU are helping prepare teens and young adults in our community to reach their greatest potential. These vulnerable youth come from the foster care system, are experiencing homelessness, or are the victims of sex trafficking. Oftentimes, Orangewood staff are their only source of encouragement, guidance and resources.
Every contribution, regardless of the gift level, is critically important to the work of the organization. By making a gift, you enable the Foundation to serve even more youth and show them that there are generous individuals in the community who care about their success. Here are some examples:
–$10 buys a bus pass for one of our youth.
–$100 pays for a high school graduation expense.
–$500 pays for a college student’s textbooks for a semester.
–$1,000 pays for a youth’s 1-on-1 weekly therapy session for three months.
How to give to Orangewood?
You can make a general donation to Orangewood Foundation at https://orangewoodfoundation.org/donate-general/, or donate to our COVID Relief Fund at https://orangewoodfoundation.org/covid19. To see our list of in-kind items needed on Amazon, please visit https://orangewoodfoundation.org/help/.
How can I volunteer?
Orangewood offers many volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups. Currently, the Foundation is seeking mentors. More information can be found at the https://orangewoodfoundation.org/mentor flier. The Foundation’s Youth Connected Program is also seeking foster parents for students at Samueli Academy charter school. Details are at https://orangewoodfoundation.org/ycp/.
Other volunteer opportunities, such as volunteering in our onsite kitchen, at events, and in our offices, are currently on hold due to COVID-19.
What are Orangewood PALS and the 44 Women for Orangewood?
Orangewood Foundation is fortunate to have the support of two volunteer auxiliary groups. Orangewood PALS is a group of fun, energetic professionals who support the work of the Foundation by hosting events and activities for the youth of Orangewood.
44 Women for Orangewood, founded in 1999 by Susan Samueli, contributes to the Foundation by nurturing, supporting and inspiring adolescents exiting the foster care system, generally from ages 18-21. The group focuses its efforts on three key areas: providing mentoring and education, increasing community awareness about child abuse and neglect, and hosting annual fundraising events.
What is Samueli Academy?
Samueli Academy, a program of Orangewood Foundation, is a charter 7th-12th school in Orange County that serves foster and community youth – especially those who can benefit from the school’s hands-on, project-based teaching approach. Later this year, Samueli Academy will open its new on-campus dorm, fulfilling Orangewood’s original vision of offering foster students stability in both their educational experience and living situation.
Operations of the dorm will fall under Orangewood’s Youth Connected Program (YCP) and follow an innovative 5/2 model – offering foster students the ability to live in the on-campus dorms Sunday night through Friday afternoon, and with a foster family on weekends. This will provide students with educational and emotional support during the week and consistent family connections on weekends.
What are the major fundraisers and when do they take place?
Due to COVID-19, Orangewood is evaluating each of its events to determine whether to host in-person or virtually. Below is a list of Orangewood’s annual key fundraising events:
–October 29, 2020 – 23rd Annual (virtual) Ambassador Luncheon (open to Ambassador-level donors only)
–March 13-14, 2021 – Athletes First Classic Gala & Golf Tournament
–April 24, 2021 – Orangewood Adventure Challenge
–June 2021 – 17th Annual 44 Women for Orangewood Scholarship Luncheon
–June 24-27, 2021 – Stars & Stripes Tournament (benefits Orangewood and other local children’s charities)
–Date TBA – Anaheim Ducks Center Ice Theme Party
Details can be found at https://orangewoodfoundation.org/events.
Names of the leadership group?
Chief Executive Officer – Chris Simonsen
Chief Development Officer – Kendra Puryear
Chief Program Officer – Shay Sorrells
Chief Financial Officer – John Luker
Orangewood Foundation
1575 E. 17th St.
Santa Ana, CA 92705
714.619.0200
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Spotlight on Philanthropy is underwritten by
Newport Beach – A Look Back
Photo series courtesy of Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach
Click on photo for a larger image
Helen and her sister Marge enjoying a day at the beach along North Bay Front in 1937
Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach and the Museum Store are located at 210 B Marine Ave., Balboa Island. They are currently closed to the public. Purchases can be made online. 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..
Guest Letter
Jeff Herdman
Diane Dixon
Newport Beach’s voice helped shape county General Aviation Project
The multi-year planning and approval process for John Wayne Airport’s General Aviation Improvement Program (GAIP) came to a close last week when the Orange County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved long-term leases with the private companies, known as fixed base operators (FBOs), that will build out and operate the airport’s new general aviation facilities.
At last Tuesday’s Board meeting, one of the Supervisors noted how the City of Newport Beach (City) and the County of Orange have worked through issues related to the airport’s commercial operations for years. The GAIP, however, marks the first time that our community has had a voice in and affected what happens on the general aviation side of the airport.
The project the County will build is far better for Newport Beach than what was initially planned. We were able to convince the Board to adopt a plan with just two full-service fixed base operators (FBOs) instead of three, as John Wayne Airport (JWA) staff recommended. This will result in about 40 percent fewer aircraft parking spaces on the airfield. And especially important, the Board approved a land use plan for the GAIP that preserves the majority of the space available under the project for the smaller and quieter general aviation aircraft. As a result, there will be fewer general aviation jets parked at JWA when the project is completed than are parked there today.
Once the project was adopted, we advocated for community protections in the long-term leases between the County and the FBOs. The County responded by including two key provisions in the leases.
–The Board included terms that will help protect its earlier land use decision preserving the majority of space available under the GAIP for the smaller and quieter general aviation aircraft.
–The Board included provisions that prohibit the operation of a commercial airline from the area reserved for general aviation. This will prevent commercial air carriers from encroaching into the section of JWA historically set aside for general aviation.
The City also asked the Board to include lease terms that limit the operating hours of the FBOs. The Board chose not to do so, however, Clay Lacy Aviation and ACI Jet voluntarily committed to set hours of operation that will encourage their customers to arrive and depart the airport at times that align with the airport’s commercial curfew. The Board had the FBOs publicly state their commitments for the record at Tuesday’s Board meeting. This was in direct response to our community’s concerns.
The Board also chose not to eliminate the General Aviation Facility or to include a requirement that the Board must approve any material changes to the leases that may be proposed in the future. The City will remain diligent and will keep a close eye on what takes place as the GAIP is developed and into the future.
Jeff Herdman
City Council Member
Chair, Newport Beach Aviation Committee
Diane Dixon
City Council Member
Vice Chair, Newport Beach Aviation Committee
Sister City: witches, riches and wealth
By DUNCAN FORGEY
Hollywood, Arcadia, Pasadena and Riverside have always played an important role in the growth of Newport Beach, but like a distant sibling, Palm Springs has always been our true sister city. The 100-mile drive between the two cities became much closer when California’s complex freeway system was fast tracked after the 1960s. Whether it was the attraction of tennis courts, golf courses, bays, beaches or fancy homes, status and restaurants, the souls of these two cities have become deeply intertwined.
Grandma’s 1972 Lincoln Town Car was the perfect cruiser. Inside, four sorority gals brandishing smiles as big as bandanas did a slow crawl down Palm Canyon Drive. Windows wide open and with the smooth sound of “Brandy” blasting from the radio, every young male’s eyes watched them in the Easter Week Ritual that Palm Springs inherited from Newport Beach after city leaders shut down Bal Week.
Over stimulated and under supervised adolescents from all over Southern California turned to the heat and dry weather of Coachella Valley for their new Mecca for pleasure seeking. For 10 long days and nights, Palm Spring’s everyday workers, wealthy, movie stars and artisans surrendered their hometown to this wild bunch. The scene looked like a combination of the Animal House plus Gidget Goes Gucci.
For centuries, Agua Caliente (Palm Springs) was known only to Native Americans. The Cahuilla Indians, the desert version of the coastal Gabrielinos, lived a harsh and challenging existence in the heat of the desert. Even padres and land grantees from Spain found the hot and sandy land forlorn and undesirable. An early Indian legend, the “Witch of Tahquitz Canyon,” can still be seen in the southwest mountains in early morning hours.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photos by Duncan Forgey
Bikers in the Palm Springs Parade
By 1853, scouting parties for the railroad talked of hospitable natives in the region, but the actual site of Agua Caliente was bypassed. A more northern path through the Banning Pass carried pioneers, stagecoaches with gold from Arizona and train tracks to Los Angeles. Occasionally, prospectors visited Agua Caliente, only to be disappointed by the lack of valuable ore and empty sands.
In the early stages of Palm Springs’ history, a main factor for its success was its healthy climate. Early Indian leaders Chief Cabezon and Pedro Chino lived to be close to 120 years old. The environment was credited for their long lives. The first Caucasians to settle in the area were John McCallum and his family. In 1884, they moved to the desert because their son suffered from tuberculosis. Bay Area doctors told them to find a dryer climate, which would help the youngster. Befriending local Indians, McCallum created a lifetime residence and put into motion a growth in Coachella Valley that remains today. He moved into an abandoned adobe cabin, purchased an additional 6,000 acres for fruit trees and built an irrigation system.
Agua Caliente’s beauty, economic potential and healing powers attracted visitors, settlers and businesses. The first hotel was built in the late 1800s paralleling a similar growth spurt in Balboa on the coast. The two settlements seemed to mirror each other from the beginning. They both were unknowingly born into the future extravagance of Southern California. By 1924, construction of the Oasis Hotel designed by Lloyd Wright, estranged son of Frank Lloyd Wright was started. This ushered in a strong Hollywood connection.
Water has always been an issue for Coachella Valley. Arid and hot, water was sometimes a scarce commodity with water wars breaking out over rain and snow runoff from the San Jacinto Mountains. Droughts were common, but ironically, it was a flood that devastated the McCallum Ranch.
In these early years, Agua Caliente supported agriculture, a sanitarium, several hotels and a rudimentary town. Increased drilling found wells throughout the Coachella Valley, but these hardy pioneers knew nothing of the 20-mile long aquifer and water basin that lay beneath the valley. As more and more developers flocked to the valley over the next 50+ years, it was represented that Coachella Valley had enough water to serve two million people for two million years. This claim was later dismissed as an exaggeration, but not before 124 golf courses were constructed.
Click on photo for a larger image
Pearl Harbor survivors in the Palm Springs Parade
Palm Springs, like Newport Beach, gained much of its fame upon acceptance of Hollywood stars and the financially elite. Early actors advocating a healthier lifestyle resulted in the building of the El Mirador Hotel for $1,000,000. Here, the well-to-do could play tennis, ride horses, lie in the sun and enjoy a high-end spa environment. Louella Parsons, Charlie Chaplin, Paulette Goddard, Clara Bow, Adolph Spreckles, Fatty Arbuckle and many more were essential in the promotion of Palm Springs. Tennis, not golf, was the elite’s game of choice in those early years.
Tinsel Town’s connection to Palm Springs has flourished over the years. Today, anyone walking the streets of Palm Springs is reminded of this by sidewalk stars, street names, movie premieres and the occasional star sighting. The marketing slogan “P.S. I Love You” is as true today as it was in the 1930s.
Sunburned families from the east, Canadian snowbirds, biker gangs, art aficionados, LGBTQs, local military, golfers, tattooed and nose-ringed teenagers, elderly residents and weekenders jam the streets of Palm Springs until the late summer when temperatures in excess of 110 degrees virtually shut the town down.
Click on photo for a larger image
Palm Springs is a golfing mecca
Palm Springs is a one-of-a-kind melting pot, world renowned for its golf, tennis and health resorts. Its hotels, dining and shopping are famous and Coachella musical concerts and festivals are notorious.
In the current environment, Palm Springs awaits patiently for the COVID-19 pandemic to lift so it can return to its heightened state of entertainment and controlled chaos. “P.S. I Love You” still represents the spirit of the land, as do the Cahuilla Indians who are deeply invested in its future. With an ever-changing string of developers seeing the empty lands surrounding Agua Caliente, the chances for the next San Fernando Valley are high. Palm Springs is no longer a desert mirage but a legendary jewel sitting upon silent and windswept sands of the beautiful Coachella Valley.
~~~~~~~~
Duncan Forgey, a lifelong resident of Newport Beach, now makes his home in Hawaii. He is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.
In Memoriam
Tom Naughton
August 19, 1925 – September 10, 2020
Tom Naughton, longtime president of the Airport Working Group (AWG) of Orange County, passed away September 10. He was 95 years old.
Naughton enjoyed an extensive and storied career in the field of aviation.
Born August 19, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio, he married wife Jean on October 31, 1945, the same day he graduated from the Navy Cadet Corp. He served as a Navy Carrier Pilot, and flew off of four different carriers, including the USS Roosevelt, USS Midway, USS Cabot and the USS Ranger. He was also in the Ferry Command for his last tour of duty and had hours in every airplane that the Navy had.
He graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1951.
Naughton worked for McDonnell Douglas for 38 years before retiring in 1989.
His projects and positions included being program manager for American Airlines MD-80 aircraft; senior project engineer to American Airlines DC-10s; Chief DC-10 program engineer in charge of FAA certification; program manager of DC-10 Civilian Reserve Air Fleet; project engineer for all DC-10 Flight Simulation worldwide; at the request of the FAA, Tom was in charge of a team to train personnel, including the Republic of China; manager of Systems Engineering for Delta Launch Vehicle; flight test engineer for Navy and Air Force aircraft; and Airport land Use Commissioner for Orange County.
Following his McDonnell Douglas career, he became president of the Airport Working Group of Orange County. AWG is a community advocacy, nonprofit organization, unique among its peers nationwide. Since its founding in 1982 to represent community associations and citizens of Newport Beach significantly impacted by aircraft operations at John Wayne Airport, AWG has been transformed into a countywide organization with its 17 member board representing communities from Newport Beach to the cities of Tustin, Orange and beyond.
Tom is survived by his wife Jean. They were due to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on October 31, 2020.
Additionally, he leaves behind two sons, Chaz and Larey (Joan), and a daughter, Dana Ann Valley (Jack).
Weekend bliss
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Stacia Stabler
Boards, boats and beauty in Newport Beach
COVID-19: 6 new deaths reported in OC, including Newport Beach resident
Sadly, OC Health Care Agency reports that 1,182 people have died due to COVID-19 in Orange County, including six new deaths reported today (September 24), one of whom was a Newport Beach resident. There have been 23 deaths of Newport Beach residents to date.
The county reports that there have been 52,622 cumulative cases countywide to date, an increase of 84 cases today.
The county reports that there have been 1,111 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Newport Beach to date, an increase of one case today. This represents a per capita rate of 12.744 cases per thousand residents.
The county reports that 32 percent of ICU beds and 66 percent of ventilators are currently available countywide.
The county reports that 168 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 (includes ICU); 42 are in ICU.
The county estimates 47,513 “recovered cases” according to its data criteria.
For questions about the data presented by the county, call (714) 834-2000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To view the data dashboard, click here.
Numbers are updated daily by Stu News Laguna and reported on our social media pages @StuNewsLaguna.
Click on photos for larger images
Courtesy of OC Health Care Agency
Orange County COVID-19 case data as of September 24, as reported by the County; click here to visit page that is updated daily
Arts Commission seeking public’s input in survey
In an ongoing effort to bring meaningful public art and cultural arts programming to the community, the Newport Beach City Arts Commission is seeking public opinion via an online Community Arts Survey.
Community input provides the needed support to create more dynamic public visual, performing and cultural arts programming for the enjoyment of residents and visitors in the community.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of NBPL and Cultural Arts Services
“Fractured Peace” by artist Nancy Mooslin is among the Phase V sculptures in Civic Center Park
All participants who provide a valid email address will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card. One entrant shall be randomly chosen weekly during the survey period. Entrants are limited to one survey and must be over 18 years of age.
The online survey is available now through October 19, 2020, and weekly winners will be notified via email.
For more information about the survey, visit www.newportbeachca.gov/culturalarts, or contact the Cultural Arts Services office at 949.717.3802.
City Manager’s Updates
From the desk of Grace Leung
Courtesy of City of Newport Beach
Newport Beach City Manager Grace Leung
Community members,
Orange County’s COVID-19 metrics are continuing to trend in the right direction.
The County has remained in the red tier (“substantial” transmission) for 11 days under the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. This designation allowed some business sectors to reopen indoors as of September 8, with modifications and capacity limits, and other sectors to expand operations. And, if current trends continue, all K12 schools in the County could be eligible for reopening for in-person education as soon as September 22.
The State’s tiered system tracks two key COVID-19 metrics: average daily case rates per 100,000 population and the percentage of positive tests, known as the positivity rate. As of September 18, Orange County had 4.4 average daily cases and a 3.9 percent positivity rate. To move into the less restrictive orange tier (“moderate” transmission), the County will need to see average daily cases drop to less than 4, and the positivity rate stay below 4.9 percent.
Counties must stay in each tier for a minimum of three weeks and meet the criteria for the next tier for a minimum of two weeks. Visit www.COVID19.ca.gov for more information on the color-coded tier system, the current status of counties, and the businesses that are permitted to open or expand with each tier.
COVID-19 Cases in Newport Beach
As of September 18, the number of COVID-19 cases in Newport Beach was 1,106 and the total cases in Orange County was 51,646. The number of recovered COVID-19 patients countywide as of September 18 was 46,435. These figures are provided to Orange County by the California Department of Public Health.
COVID-19 News and Resources
Three weeks ago, State officials unveiled the Blueprint for a Safer Economy (Blueprint), a new, four-tiered, color-coded system for reopening California’s businesses. The Blueprint, which went into effect on August 31, replaces the County Data Monitoring List. It includes revised criteria and timelines and is designed to reopen businesses more gradually than the State’s previous process.
Counties will move through each of the four tiers based on two key metrics: case rates and the percentage of positive tests. Moving from tier to tier will require a 21-day wait time and counties will be required to meet the metrics for the next tier for two weeks in a row.
The State’s “COVID-19 Employer Playbook” includes guidance for workplace safety, best practices for an outbreak, testing information for employees, and more. The document, available at this link, provides useful information for business and industry to slow the transmission of COVID-19 and prepare for cases among employees.
The County of Orange continues to add new COVID-19 data and information to its website at https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/coronavirus-in-oc. The County of Orange Healthcare Agency’s COVID-19 Hotline can be reached at 714.834.2000, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. County staff monitors the hotline and email box and answers questions about industry reopening and activity resumption, current guidance and more.
The County also maintains a growing list of FDA-approved testing sites for County residents who are essential workers or showing symptoms of COVID-19. If you are showing symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider for testing information first. If you do not have a healthcare provider, go here for testing information. The SOS Health Center in Newport Beach is an approved community testing site. Call 949.270.2100 for an appointment.
Please visit www.newportbeachca.gov/covid19 for the latest City news and useful web resources, including information about the federal, state, and county resources available to help small businesses and workers that have been financially impacted. We also have a page of free resources available through the Newport Beach Public Library and local organizations like SCORE, including online learning and business databases. You can also follow the City on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and look for alerts from our City staff on Nextdoor.
Fire Rings Temporarily Closed Due to Air Quality Concerns
The City has temporarily closed all fire rings amid the unhealthy air quality that has resulted from regional wildfire smoke.
Fire rings will reopen when air quality returns to less harmful levels. For up-to-date information on local air quality, visit www.airnow.gov/ or the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Labor Day Weekend Joint Efforts
Crews from the Public Works Municipal Operations Division and the Utilities Department worked on preparing and keeping the beaches and surrounding areas clean for the three-day Labor Day weekend.
Beach preparation efforts included the Peninsula and Corona del Mar beach areas from the Wedge to the river jetty. Attention was also given to McFadden Plaza, surrounding business sidewalks, Balboa Village, the Fun Zone area, Balboa Pier, Newport Pier and surrounding parking lots and streets. In addition, fire ring maintenance was conducted at Corona del Mar beach and Peninsula beaches. Trash cans on the beach, boardwalk and parking lot areas were emptied by City contractors and City crews.
On Tuesday, crews from Municipal Operations and the Utilities Department crews continued the joint cleanup efforts.
Thank you to all involved in keeping Newport Beach a safe and clean city!
John Wayne Airport’s General Aviation Improvement Program (GAIP)
The multi-year planning and approval process for John Wayne Airport’s General Aviation Improvement Program (GAIP) came to a close earlier this week when the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved long-term leases with two of the companies that will build and operate the airport’s new general aviation facilities. Please read our September 16 Aviation Activities Update for details. The next step for the GAIP involves construction plans and permitting and that will be followed by the actual development of the new facilities.
Newport Beach Fire Dept. Helps Battle Regional Wildfires
Nearly 30 Newport Beach firefighters have been deployed during the past several weeks to help battle some of the record-breaking wildfires that have consumed more than 3.4 million acres throughout California so far this year.
As of Friday, September 18, 11 NBFD firefighters are deployed at four fires throughout the state: The Bobcat Fire in L.A. County, the El Dorado Fire in San Bernardino, the Oak Fire in Mendocino, and the Creek Fire in Fresno. Those firefighters are nearing the end of a two-week deployment and will be returning Saturday, September 19, to be replaced by a fresh crew of 8.
For more information visit www.newportbeachca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/38643/2720.
Newport Beach Central Library to Open September 21 with Modified Hours and Services
The Newport Beach Public Library will reopen the Central Library to the public with modified hours and services on Monday, September 21. The Crean Mariners Branch, Corona del Mar Branch and the Balboa Branch will remain closed due to limited space for social distancing and staffing considerations. The three branches will continue to offer Curbside Service.
Following State guidelines for the New Blueprint for Safer Economy Plan, the Library will begin restarting in-person services incrementally. Occupancy will be limited to a capacity of 100. Face masks will be required for both staff and the public entering the Library. The Library will offer a “grab and go” business model. Initial services offered will allow patrons to browse the shelves, check out materials, and manage accounts. Public computers will be available by appointment.
Until restrictions on gatherings and building capacity are lifted, the use of seating areas, study rooms, and program spaces will be prohibited.
In accordance with guidelines from the State of California, Newport Beach Public Library is implementing a variety of precautions to make the environment as safe as possible for staff and the public upon reopening. The Central Library is equipped with Plexiglass barriers at public service desks, social distancing demarcation signage, and hand-sanitizers.
The Library continues to encourage patrons to use Curbside Service, telephone reference and the Library e-Branch to facilitate social distancing at the Library. No programs will be offered at this time.
Hours of operation for the initial reopening will be as follows:
Central Library, 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. No Curbside Service at Central, holds can be picked up at the other branches.
Curbside Service Only for Mariners Library, 1300 Irvine Avenue, Newport Beach Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Curbside Service Only for Balboa Branch Library, 100 E Balboa Blvd., Balboa Peninsula Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Curbside Service Only for Corona del Mar Library, 410 Marigold Avenue, Corona del Mar Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Wildland Preparations Within the City of Newport Beach
The Newport Beach Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division staff are completing its first round of vegetation inspections for the communities adjacent to the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) areas. The Newport Coast communities’ work for this summer/fall season is complete. The City-owned properties are nearly finished in the Upper Buck Gully area as well as the Eastbluff areas near Back Bay. At the end of September, staff will be contacting property owners in the Middle and Lower Buck Gully areas to evaluate conditions in these neighborhoods.
In addition to field inspections, prevention staff is preparing a new public safety message regarding ember resistant zones for home protection or “hardening.” According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, up to 90 percent of home and business ignitions during a wildfire are due to embers. While direct flame contact is a concern, embers are the primary threat to homes. To address this threat, staff is preparing an educational program using information from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to let property owners know the importance of creating a five-foot, non-combustible zone around their homes. Moving mulch, flammable vegetation, and combustible materials away from the structure, as well as removing leaf litter from roofs, repairing roofs and rain gutters, reduces the opportunity for embers to start a fire. These low-cost improvements increase the survivability of a home during a wildfire event.
Staff will be updating the Fire Prevention Division’s website with program information; followed by a mail and social media campaign and staff presentations to homeowner associations and neighborhood groups. The combination of vegetation management and home improvements will provide increased protection for our neighborhoods from a future wildfire event.
Treasury Report
The July 2020 Treasury Report is available on the City’s website at: www.newportbeachca.gov/treasury.
As of July, the City’s portfolio totaled just over $297 million. Approximately $75 million of the portfolio was invested in very liquid investments available for day-to-day operations and cash funding for major construction expenditures.
The short-term portfolio ($210 million) had a weighted average effective maturity of 1.79 years. The trailing twelve months’ total return was 4.51 percent. Our benchmark for the same period, the BAML 1-3 Year Treasury index, returned 4.29 percent. The income yield on the portfolio, a better measure of income derived from the portfolio, was 2.21 percent.
NEWPORT BEACH CULTURAL ARTS SEEKS COMMUNITY INPUT
In its ongoing effort to bring meaningful public art and cultural arts programming to the community, the Newport Beach City Arts Commission is seeking public opinion via an online Community Arts Survey.
Community input provides the needed support to create more dynamic public visual, performing and cultural arts programming for the enjoyment of residents and visitors in the community.
All participants who provide a valid email address will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. One (1) entrant shall be randomly chosen weekly during the survey period. Entrants are limited to one survey and must be over 18 years of age.
The online survey will be available from September 14 through October 19, 2020, and weekly winners will be notified via email.
To complete the survey, go to: www.newportbeachca.gov/Home/Components/News/News/38604/ or contact the Cultural Arts Services Office at 949.717.3802 for more information.
Homelessness Update
Addressing homelessness continues to be a priority in the City’s ongoing COVID-19 response, working closely with contractor City Net and regional partners throughout the county and state. Recently, people in Newport Beach experiencing homelessness have been placed in motels through Project Roomkey, a state initiative to provide shelter during COVID-19. Newport Beach staff and City Net staff are collaborating with the Illumination Foundation, a local non-profit agency working with the state to facilitate Project Roomkey.
Success Stories
–In the first week of September, nine military veterans and their families were housed through the County’s Coordinated Entry System. The Coordinated Entry System manages a roster of eligible veterans and works with service providers, such as City Net, to match veterans with housing opportunities.
–One woman experiencing a mental health crisis was placed into the County care system. The Homeless Liaison Officer worked with the County’s Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT). PERT staff are mental health clinicians who ride along with assigned law enforcement officers to address mental health related calls in the assigned city. PERT conducts risk assessments, initiates involuntary hospitalizations when necessary, and provides resources and education. The program also provides outreach and follow-up services. PERT may be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, in multiple languages, at 866.830. 6011.
–City Net staff assisted several people with completing their CalFresh applications. The CalFresh Program, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. The CalFresh Program helps to improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing them a means to meet their nutritional needs. SNAP was established in 1977.
–Two people in Newport Beach experiencing homelessness were enrolled into City Net services, including one veteran. City Net staff completed Vulnerability Index Intake Assessments for each. The assessments are used to screen clients to determine proper placement in the County’s Continuum of Care system. Some assessment factors include age, health issues, and length of time being unsheltered. Case managers will follow up with the clients to provide housing assessments and prepare documentation for housing.
–City Net staff continues to provide support and case management to several elderly people sheltering in motels while they await placement into permanent, supportive housing.
The City Net hotline number is 714.451.6198. Those who call the hotline may leave a detailed voicemail message for themselves or others in need and City Net staff will respond within 48 hours. For immediate assistance call the County’s Crisis Prevention Hotline at 877.7.CRISIS or 877.727.4747. To enroll in Project Roomkey, call 714.834.3000.
Insider’s Guide for the Newport Beach City Council Meeting on September 22, 2020
Our next City Council meeting is Tuesday, September 22. Items that may be of interest are highlighted below. The entire agenda, and all reports, can be viewed here.
There will be a Closed Session at 4 p.m. and there is no Study Session.
The Regular Meeting begins at 5 p.m. The following are items of note:
–There will be a presentation by Southern California Edison on Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Strategies. With the many fires in California, Edison will provide an update on their efforts to protect infrastructure and property.
On the Consent Calendar:
–The Sculpture Garden pathways will be getting a facelift as the City received a State grant to replace the walkways with a more durable material for the many visitors who enjoy the art in the park.
–The Public Works Department continues to provide high quality maintenance throughout the community. Council will consider two contracts, one to maintain medians and roadsides and one to maintain and clean sidewalks, piers and public areas.
Public Hearings include:
–The City receives Federal Community Development Block Grant funds and is required to report on the expenditures on an annual basis. This public hearing is a report on the revenues received and how the City spent those funds.
–The City Council will consider a resolution modifying the fees for short-term lodging permits. The initial fees are proposed to increase from $104 to $169 and the renewal permit is proposed to increase from zero to $96. The increases are necessary due to additional review by City staff and a new 24/7 hotline service for short-term lodging complaints.
Current Business includes:
–Changes to the Municipal Code regarding Oceanfront Boardwalk Safety Program. This proposal includes action items from the City Council Study Session in February 2020 concerning electric bicycles on the Oceanfront Boardwalk. For Council consideration is an update to the Municipal Code to include modes of transportation on the boardwalk that are not currently included, increase fines for violations along the boardwalk and provide additional traffic calming devices along the boardwalk. Staff is also seeking further direction on implementing a prohibition of motorized or other transportation devices, including electric bicycles, on the Oceanfront Boardwalk.
Good Morning Corona del Mar webinar meeting features Senator John Moorlach
Good Morning Corona del Mar, the monthly government and community affairs discussion group hosted by the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce, will hold its next meeting via live webinar on Monday, Sept. 28 beginning at 10 a.m.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce
Senator John Moorlach
The featured speaker is Senator John Moorlach, who will share updates from the state and a review of upcoming ballot propositions in this important election year. There will be time for a Q&A.
For additional information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 949.673.4050. For details on other upcoming Chamber events, visit www.CdmChamber.com.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Crystal Cove Conservancy fundraiser gala goes virtual to benefit STEM programs
The 18th Annual Crystal Cove Conservancy fundraiser, usually held on the blufftop overlooking beautiful Crystal Cove, has pivoted to a livestream virtual event scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9, with all proceeds benefiting the Conservancy’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. Title sponsor The Resort at Pelican Hill will provide dinner and wine to-go for sponsors and underwriters.
“Underserved students in our community shouldn’t lose the opportunity to learn because of the pandemic,” said Kate Wheeler, Conservancy president and CEO. “Over the last several months, we’ve adapted all of our programs for Distance Learning platforms so we can continue to support our students and their teachers until we can bring them all back to the Park.”
Rooted in the notion that Crystal Cove State Park is an ideal outdoor classroom for cultivating young environmentalists, the Conservancy uses a social enterprise model to fund preservation, conservation and education initiatives with the goal of creating a sustainable future for Crystal Cove State Park.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy Crystal Cove Conservancy
Crystal Cove Conservancy’s virtual gala will help support its STEM programs
“A Night In With Crystal Cove” will livestream at 6:30 p.m. and will include a live auction and special guest Carl Safina, ecologist and author. “In the same way our educational programs bond students to the Park and its delicate habitats, Carl’s writing, grounded in science, builds an emotional connection between his readers and the natural world – inspiring readers to real action,” said Wheeler.
The event will begin with a toast in memory of philanthropist and community leader Madeline Swinden, who was a staple of the event for more than 10 years, followed by a look at the Conservancy’s work to support students and teachers during the COVID crisis, and a live auction with villa packages from The Resort at Pelican Hill, a seven-night Mammoth getaway, and weekend stays at the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages.
Many companies, foundations and individuals have already stepped up to sponsor the event including Title Sponsor The Resort at Pelican Hill; the Gardner Grout Foundation; Eva and Doug Le Bon; the Massen Greene Foundation; Crystal Cove Beach Cottages; Lucy Donahue; the Archarios Foundation in honor of Madeline Swinden; Paula and Jeff Cole; Contrarian Group, Inc.; Stephanie Quesada and Vince Jackson; Teddie Ray; Roger’s Gardens; Fred and Wendy Salter; Shelley B. Thunen; Glenn Bozarth, Laura Davick, founder of Crystal Cove Conservancy; the MacGillivray Family Foundation; Janet and Walkie Ray; Al Bennett and Rudi Berkelhamer; and Scott and Angelica Palazzo.
For more information on the event and how to become a sponsor or purchase an opportunity drawing ticket for a three-night stay in Cottage #14 at Crystal Cove, visit https://crystalcove.org/nightin/. To register for the livestream event, visit www.cove.givesmart.com.
Letters to the Editor
Former principal rings endorsement of Crane
I had the privilege to work with Carol Crane for seven years during my tenure as Corona Del Mar High School principal. I knew her as an involved parent, an impactful PTA president and as an informed community member.
Through our work together Carol’s priorities remained consistent and action-driven. Her number one priority was always focused on making decisions that supported students both academically and social-emotionally. She placed attention and resources on enhancing educational initiatives for teachers and championed parental involvement and collaboration to strengthen communication between the school and the community.
Without a doubt, Carol has the vision, the knowledge and the work ethic to make a positive difference for Newport-Mesa Unified School District.
Kathy Scott
Former Corona Del Mar High School Principal, 2013-2020
Don’t let special interests sway your vote
Once again, Newport Beach voters will face a small group of special interests attempting to buy a seat on the city council.
For the past four years, Jeff Herdman has been an independent voice, working hard for residents and listening to all sides before making a decision. He has led on reducing the noise from John Wayne Airport, making our city safe, reducing traffic and protecting residents from poorly thought out development schemes. Most significantly, he has led in efforts for political reform to clean up our city after the California Fair Political Practices Commission found widespread violations of our campaign laws and contribution limits.
The same machine politicians who opposed Jeff’s efforts of reform, have found Noah Blom to run against Jeff in the November election. In nearly eleven years on the city council, I have never met Mr. Blom. [To my knowledge] He never attended a council meeting, community association meeting, civic event or in any other way demonstrated an interest in the city [that I know of] before running for office this year.
You know Mr. Blom is out of touch with our community by the positions he takes. During the September 9th Speak Up Newport candidates forum, he supported expanding short term vacation rentals to every neighborhood in our city. Not surprisingly, on September 17th, he received a maximum donation from an out of town vacation rental business.
Even more bizarre, Blom was the only candidate to support bringing back the high-rise, high-density Museum House project. Perhaps he failed to notice that nearly 14,000 Newport Beach residents signed a petition to oppose this project in a period of only two weeks. He is simply out of touch with our city values and priorities.
Don’t be misled by the well-financed special interest hit pieces that are sure to come. Vote for Jeff Herdman for an independent council member who will represent you, not special interests.
Keith Curry, former Mayor
Newport Beach
Being an educator is a plus
It is incomprehensible to me why someone would want to vote for a new candidate that few people know over one who is “tried and true.” I am speaking, of course, about voting for Jeff Herdman. To learn why he is such a valuable member of City Council, one need only go to www.JeffHerdman.com to appreciate the amazing number of things that Herdman has achieved on Council.
To imply that being involved in education (in Jeff’s case as an administrator) is a position that would not adequately prepare one for city government is an insult to those of us in education. In truth, there are few fields that could prepare one better for a leadership role than school administration.
I taught at the secondary level for over 30 years and feel that it was the first half of my career teaching at the junior high level that prepared me most for an understanding of local politics such as I have witnessed since I retired.
Lynn Lorenz
Newport Beach
Guest Column
Flu shot remains a must for cancer patients
By Misagh Karimi, M.D.
Medical Oncologist, City of Hope Newport Beach
For cancer patients wondering whether they should get a flu shot this year as the COVID-19 crisis continues, the answer from the medical community is a resounding yes.
Flu season and COVID-19 are about to collide, and cancer patients may feel overloaded with information as they seek to protect themselves from both illnesses amid a constant stream of health advisories.
In August 2020 according to the CDC, patients with COVID-19 should hold off getting their flu shot to avoid exposing others in the healthcare setting. At the same time, the agency’s standing advice for people with cancer or a history of cancer is that flu vaccination is especially important.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy City of Hope
Misagh Karimi, M.D.
What does this all mean for cancer patients, survivors and their families?
The broad consensus among medical experts is that cancer patients should get the shot. They, along with other patients with weakened immune systems, need to diligently protect themselves from contagious diseases like the flu, which can be more harmful or even life-threatening to them than to otherwise healthy people.
“It’s important for cancer patients to get the flu vaccine, because they have a higher risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they come down with the flu,” said Misagh Karimi, M.D., a medical oncologist at City of Hope Newport Beach. “And it’s particularly important to get the shot this year, because Orange County needs to conserve healthcare resources to safeguard against possible COVID-19 outbreaks that overlap with flu season. The fewer people who get the flu, the better.”
Cancer patients need to receive a flu injection, not the nasal mist, experts say. The nasal mist is made from live, weakened virus cells, while the flu shot uses dead virus cells. While the likelihood is small that the active cells in the mist could result in a flu infection, it’s a risk that can be avoided by getting the shot instead.
Other ways cancer patients can protect themselves from the flu intersect with COVID-19 prevention guidelines such as masking and social distancing, and include:
–Washing hands frequently with soap and water.
–Wearing a mask and gloves, especially when indoors.
–Staying away from people who are sick.
–Avoiding crowded places.
–Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
Flu shots are typically available by early September. A call to the doctor’s office is the best way to find out how soon they are taking appointments.
When is the best time to get a flu shot? As soon as possible, because it works throughout the flu season. Even if it’s later in the season, vaccination should continue as long as the flu virus is circulating, according to the CDC.
And yes, it’s safe. Flu shots have a long-standing record of safety in people with cancer. And even though vaccines are not generally recommended for patients actively receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment, the flu shot is the exception to the rule, according to the American Cancer Society. Caregivers, family members of cancer patients and survivors should also be vaccinated.
There is no evidence that a flu shot will increase the risk of getting sick from a coronavirus like the one that causes COVID-19, said the CDC. People who have been exposed to COVID-19 should stay home and get their shot after they meet the criteria to come out of isolation, as their doctor recommends.
In addition to a flu shot, cancer patients should consider getting a pneumococcal shot. Pneumococcal pneumonia is a flu complication that can be especially dangerous for patients with a weakened immune system.
And even though the shot cannot guarantee you will not become infected with the flu, it may reduce the severity of the infection – another worthwhile reason to get it early and annually.
“Cancer patients should be having conversations with their doctors now, if they haven’t already, about which vaccine to get, the best time to get it, and whether their cancer treatment may affect how well their body responds,” said Dr. Karimi. “They should also plan with their doctor in advance about what to do if they think they are coming down with the flu, when they should call the doctor, and how they can quickly get any antiviral medications they may need.”
Misagh Karimi, M.D., is a medical oncologist at City of Hope’s Newport Beach location.
NBPL presents a virtual Sunday Musicale
The Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) presents saxophonist Dr. Andrew Harrison and pianist Jason Lo in a virtual Sunday Musicale. Music lovers can view the concert for free at www.newportbeachlibrary.org/ebranch/virtual-programming. This very special concert was filmed offsite expressly for NBPL’s Sunday Musicale Series, and launched on September 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Click on photo for a larger image
Photos courtesy of NBPL
Virtuoso saxophonist Dr. Andrew Harrison
Harrison has emerged as one of today’s most unique and engaging musicians, leading him to perform hundreds of concerts throughout the United States and Europe as a chamber musician and soloist. An advocate for contemporary saxophone music, Harrison has premiered more than 30 new works by emerging and preeminent composers including Joel Love, Jules Pegram, Jim Stephenson and Jennifer Higdon, among others, which range from solo works to large ensemble premieres. He has also recorded on several acclaimed albums.
Harrison will be accompanied by Dr. Jason Lo, a recent graduate of the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music.
Pianist, teacher and chamber musician Dr. Jason Lo
Lo completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the USC’s Thornton School of Music, studying piano with Antoinette Perry and conducting with Larry Livingston. While at USC, he served as a Keyboard Studies Graduate Teaching Assistant, and received the Outstanding Keyboard Studies Teaching Assistant Award for 2015.
This engaging performance is a part of the new series of Sunday Musicales contracted by the Newport Beach Public Library for Virtual Programming.
This event is funded by generous donations from the Friends of the Library. The NBPL presents a variety of programs that foster cultural arts enrichment. For more information, contact the library at 949.717.3800, option 2, or visit www.newportbeachlibrary.org.
Newport Beach Restaurant Month continues, so check out the daily foodie giveaways and Week Four’s grand prize getaways
The inaugural Newport Beach Restaurant Month: Eat. Drink. Win. started September 1 and continues through September 30 with more than 60 participating restaurants. Diners can sign up for their digital Dine Pass to check-in at restaurants to redeem exclusive offers, special menu items and be entered to win daily foodie giveaways and weekly grand prize getaways.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of Visit Newport Beach
Offer Highlights:
–21 Oceanfront: 15 percent off of your bill
–Afters Ice Cream: Free scoop of plant-based Java Chip ice cream
–Avila’s El Ranchito: Free cup of Mama Avila’s soup
–B.Candy: 20 percent off of ice cream
–Blaze Pizza: Bogo 11” pizza
–Bosscat Kitchen And Libations: Free whiskey flight (3 pours)
–Five Crowns: Complimentary appetizer
–Flower Child: 10 percent off your order
–Guacamigos: $10 off of a $30 order
–Harborside Restaurant: 25 percent off all food, Monday-Thursday
–Hornblower Cruises & Events: Free appetizer (chef’s choice)
–Port Restaurant and Bar: 20 percent off your entire bill
–Shor American Seafood Grill: Free dessert
–Sugar ‘n Spice: Bogo frozen bananas
–The Bungalow: Restaurant: Free dessert
–True Food Kitchen: Complimentary seasonal refresher
Here are the Weekly Grand Prize Getaways for Week Four:
–One Night Stay at The Resort at Pelican Hill Luxurious Bungalow with Breakfast for Two
–Gift Card to Five Crowns
–Whale Watching Adventure with Newport Whales
–$50 Nordstrom Fashion Island Gift Card
–One Hour Private Sunset Cruise with Baywatch Boating
For a list of participating restaurants, visit www.visitnewportbeach.com/restaurant-month.
Editor’s Note: We will publish Offer Highlights and the Grand Prize Getaways each week, so sign up now at www.visitnewportbeach.com/restaurant-month for a Newport Beach Restaurant Month Dine Pass. The pass is instantly delivered via text and email and is ready to use. The pass can then be saved on your phone’s home screen for quick and easy access. Browse participating restaurants for al fresco dining or take-out. Arrive and simply click the “Check-In” button to redeem exclusive offers. Each “Check-In” is an entry for daily giveaways and vacation stays in Newport Beach.
Support our local restaurateurs during Newport Beach Restaurant Month
Newport Beach Restaurant Month is underway. The inaugural event, taking place now through September 30, features an interactive, mobile Dining Pass that promotes dozens of participating restaurants while offering diners an all-inclusive restaurant directory, exclusive offers, giveaways and prizes. Dine Newport Beach, a business unit of Newport Beach & Company along with the Newport Beach Restaurant Association have created “Eat. Drink. Win.” for your dining enjoyment.
Go and support our local restaurateurs while experiencing delicious dishes and refreshing libations. To sign up for the Dining Pass, visit www.visitnewportbeach.com/restaurant-month.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of Visit Newport Beach
Here is a list of participating restaurants and establishments to date.
21 Oceanfront Restaurant
A Market
A Restaurant
Atomic Creamery
Afters Ice Cream
A&O Kitchen + Bar
Arc Butcher & Baker
Avila’s El Ranchito - Corona del Mar
Avila’s El Ranchito - Newport Peninsula
Balboa Lily’s
Bayside Restaurant
B.CANDY
Blaze Pizza
Bluewater Grill
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations
Buddha’s Favorite
Café Jardin
CdM
Chihuahua Cerveza
Crocker’s The Well Dressed Frank
Fable & Spirit
Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens
Five Crowns
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse Newport Beach
Flower Child
Gracias Madre Newport Beach
Great Maple
GuacAmigos
Harborside Restaurant
Helmsman Ale House
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Jan’s Health Bar
Lido Bottle Works
Lighthouse Café
Malarky’s
Mama’s Comfort Food
Mayor’s Table Pacific Pub + Kitchen
Mutt Lynch’s
Moulin
Newport Landing Restaurant
Panini Kabob Grill
P.F. Chang’s at Fashion Island
Pescadou Bistro
Pirozzi
Port Restaurant & Bar
Reborn Coffee
Rendezvous French Bakery & Café
Royal Hen
Rusty Pelican
SHOR American Seafood Grill
SOL Mexican Cocina
Stag Bar + Kitchen
Sugar ‘n Spice
Summer House Restaurant
Sushi ii
Sushi Roku
Tavern House Kitchen + Bar
The Alley Restaurant
The Bungalow Restaurant
THE LOT
The Winery Newport Beach
Thrive Juice Lab
Topside Roof Deck Lounge
True Food Kitchen
Wilma’s Patio Restaurant
Zinqué
Sunday Funday on the Balboa Peninsula
Click on photo for a larger image
Photo by Stacia Stabler
Spinning since 1936, the Balboa Fun Zone Ferris wheel is open for children and adults to take in majestic views of Newport Harbor on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The cost is $5 per rider. According to its website, management is “keeping it clean” with thorough sanitization in between riders. All riders (all ages) must wear face coverings.
Central Library reopens to the public
The Newport Beach Public Library has reopened the Central Library to the public with modified hours and services, beginning yesterday, Sept. 21. The Crean Mariners Branch, Corona del Mar Branch and the Balboa Branch will remain closed due to limited space for social distancing and staffing considerations. The three branches will continue to offer Curbside Service.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of NBPL
Newport Beach’s Central Library has reopened to the public
Following the state guidelines for the New Blueprint for Safer Economy Plan, the library will begin restarting in-person services incrementally. Occupancy will be limited to a capacity of 100. Face masks will be required for both staff and the public entering the library.
The library will offer a “grab and go” business model. Initial services offered will allow patrons to browse the shelves, check out materials and manage accounts. Public computers will be available by appointment.
Until restrictions on gatherings and building capacity are lifted, the use of seating areas, study rooms and program spaces will be prohibited. No programs will be offered at this time. Hours of operation for the initial reopening will be Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Central Library is located at 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach.
AlertOC mass notification test scheduled for Thursday
On Thursday, Sept. 24 at 9 a.m., Newport Beach and more than two million other Orange County residents will receive a call to test the AlertOC system. The test will replicate a large scale, multi-jurisdictional emergency requiring thousands of numbers to be called simultaneously across the Orange County region. This is the 10th annual regional test of the system and will include 21 participating cities as well as the county’s unincorporated areas.
All regular landline phones are automatically entered into the AlertOC system. If you have pre-registered additional phone numbers and/or your email, the system will be sending a test message to those contacts as well. Residents can do their part to prepare for emergencies by registering for AlertOC. The time is now to self-register cell phone numbers and email addresses to be included in future notifications.
For more information or to register alternate phone numbers or email addresses, visit www.AlertOC.com or call 949.644.3620.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts National Dance Day celebration is still available to view
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA) joined the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the official sites of this year’s 11th annual National Dance Day (NDD), which took place this Saturday, Sept. 19 from 2-4:30 p.m. National Dance Day was presented by American Dance Movement (ADM), formerly Dizzy Feet Foundation, founded by Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman.
Segerstrom Center is the exclusive West Coast site and the Kennedy Center is the site of the East Coast celebrations. Due to COVID-19, this year’s event was held entirely virtual, both live and pre-recorded, and is available online to view at www.SCFTA.org/NationalDanceDay. Once again, National Dance Day culminated with MCD3 and Shannan Mather leading thousands of people across the country in the new NDD routine.
Photo by Cory Jones
Courtesy of SCFTA.org
Shannon Mather, choreographer
An NDD first at the Center was a real-time chat via the Center’s Instagram account with three noted professionals from the world of musical theater and dance: Complexions Contemporary Dance star Candy Tong from 12-12:45 p.m. and musical theater and concert artist Natalie Powers from 2-2:45 p.m. In addition there were special messages by ABT Principal Dancer Misty Copeland and Christopher R. Wilson from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Segerstrom Center’s program also included live Zoom master classes conducted by American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School teacher Amanda Cobb, followed by Jenny Backhaus, founder and artistic director of Backhausdance, Orange County’s award-winning contemporary dance company. Center Teaching Artists demonstrated dance traditions of Native American culture performed by world champion dancer Terry Goedel and the Danza Azteca Xochipilli company. The Powerhouse Percussive Dance trio added irresistible energy through demonstrations of tap, precision clogging and explosive stomp that will have everyone kicking up their heels – quite literally. Also, upper level students from the Center’s ABT Gillespie School demonstrated elements of both classical ballet and modern dance.
To view this year’s National Dance Day routine choreographed by MCD3 & Shannan Mather, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FoG_6KI0NM.
Police Beat Primer
Compiled by Tom Johnson
Police Beat derives from information in the log maintained at the front counter by the Newport Beach Police Department and required under CA Government Code Section 6254 (f). The press does not have access to written police reports.
Information in the police department log is deemed reliable and StuNewsNewport is not responsible for mistakes made available as public record by the Newport Beach Police Department.
Any person arrested is innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
Abbreviations sometimes used in Police Beat:
647f – Public Intoxication; DUI – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; NFA – No fixed address; RP – Reporting/Responsible Party; UTL – Unable to locate
DUI Arrests
Juan Diego Perez DeLosSantos, 37, Orange – Saturday, September 19 (with prior)
Andrea Chavez, 26, Fullerton – Saturday, September 19
Rodolfo Reveles Hernandez, 38, Laguna Niguel – Friday, September 18
Jesus Morales, 50, Irvine – Thursday, September 17
Agustin Guerrero Magueyan, 38, Santa Ana – Thursday, September 17
Brian Joseph Fleming Jr., 40, Fountain Valley – Thursday, September 17
Incident Reports
Sunday, September 20
Arrests for Being Drunk in Public
Michael Fritzgerald W. Cornell, 25, Azusa
John Doe 16004346, 25, Los Angeles
Britannie Layne Sellars, 40, Newport Beach
Anthony David Portillo Jr., 44, Covina
51st St. & Beach I Controlled Substance and Narcotics
7:31 p.m. Gilbert Joseph Rivera, 45, Costa Mesa, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of a narcotic controlled substance. Bail was set $2,500.
Avocado Ave. I 1500 Block I Battery and Switchblade
4:36 p.m. Christopher Sean Costales, 35, n/a, was arrested for battery with serious bodily injury and carrying a switchblade knife on person. Bail was set at $25,000.
San Joaquin Hills Road & N. Crown Drive I Public Nudity
3:28 p.m. Alan Michael Harrison, 36, Laguna Hills, was arrested for public nudity. Bail was set at $50.
Palm St. & E. Ocean Front Alley I Battery and Warrant
2:35 p.m. Marcus DeShaun Bell, 38, Moreno Valley, was arrested for battery with serious bodily injury and on a warrant for failing a written promise to appear. Bail was set at $26,500.
Ocean Blvd. & Jasmine Ave. I Use of Beach after Closing and Warrant
12:52 a.m. Alejandro Jimenez Martinez Jr., 18, Fontana, was arrested for using the beach after closing. Bail was set at $50.
12:30 a.m. Alex Gabriel Otero, 22, Fontana, was arrested for using the beach after closing and on a warrant for brandishing a weapon. Bail was set at $25,000.
Saturday, September 19
Arrests for Being Drunk in Public
Gregory Scott Smith, 53, Mission Viejo
Robert Lee Roden, 58, Santa Ana
W. Ocean Front I 7300 Block I Warrant
10:59 p.m. Jose Lopez, 27, Orange, was arrested on a warrant for DUI. Bail was set at $20,000.
E. Coast Highway I 3400 Block I Drinking in Public
10:00 a.m. Juan Pablo Galvan, 35, Corona, was arrested for drinking in public. Bail was set at $500.
Newport Blvd. & Hospital Road I Driving w/o License and Warrant
9:43 p.m. Mayra Melina Beltran, 19, Garden Grove, was arrested for driving without a license and on a warrant from an outside agency. Bail was set at $500.
16th St. & Irvine Ave. I Drinking in Public
5:39 p.m. James Estel Jackson III, 57, Anaheim, was arrested for drinking in public. Bail was set at $500.
Newport Pier I Warrant
5:28 p.m. Austin Joseph Knott, 27, Costa Mesa, was arrested on a warrant for vandalism. Bail was set at $5,000.
E. Coast Highway & Los Trancos I Driving w/o License and No Proof of Insurance
1:37 p.m. Andrew Jacob Morales, 26, Garden Grove, was arrested for driving without a license and failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility. Bail was set at $500.
University Drive I 2200 Block I Paraphernalia and Narcotics
3:37 a.m. Priscilla Carmen Corral, 32, Costa Mesa, was arrested for possession of unlawful paraphernalia. Bail was set at $500.
3:35 a.m. Jesus Alfonso Bernal Jr., 37, Costa Mesa, was arrested for possession of a narcotic controlled substance. Bail was set at $10,000.
16th St. I 1900 Block I Vandalism, Threatening Crime, False Imprisonment, Obstructing/Resisting and Battery
12:18 a.m. Jack Christian Kretschmar, 27, Newport Beach, was arrested for vandalism by damaging property, threatening a crime with the intent to terrorize, false imprisonment, obstructing or resisting an executive peace officer and battery on a peace officer. No bail was set.
Friday, September 18
Arrests for Being Drunk in Public
None
13th St. & Beach I Paraphernalia
9:14 p.m. Ian Michael Hugo, 29, Anaheim, was arrested for possession of unlawful paraphernalia. Bail was set at $500.
Placentia Ave. I Costa Mesa I Warrant
6:38 p.m. Luis F. Gutierrez, 34, Newport Beach, was arrested on a warrant for DUI. Bail was set at $25,000.
Bristol St. I 1400 Block I Costa Mesa I False Info to Peace Officer, Driving while Suspended/Revoked and Warrant
12:29 a.m. Alfonso Salcedo, 35, Huntington Park, was arrested for giving false information to a peace officer, driving while suspended or revoked and on a warrant from vehicle theft. Bail was set at $100,500.
Thursday, September 17
Arrests for Being Drunk in Public
Alfredo N. Lopez Garcia, 33, Anaheim
46th St. & Beach I Warrants
5:21 p.m. James Anthony Vinson, 51, Newport Beach, was arrested on warrants for possession of dangerous drugs, forgery and DUI. Bail was set at $15,000.
E. Coast Highway I 300 Block I Controlled Substance, Narcotics and Paraphernalia
3:18 p.m. Cassie Marie Weider, 30, Santa Ana, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a narcotic controlled substance and possession of unlawful paraphernalia. Bail was set at $10,000.
Bison Ave. & MacArthur Blvd. I Obstructing/Resisting and Refusal to Present Driver’s License
2:23 p.m. Sean Abdali, 47, Orange, was arrested for obstructing or resisting a peace officer and for refusing to present a driver’s license to a police officer. Bail was set at $500.
W. Balboa Blvd. I 1900 Block I Vandalism and Shoplifting
9:05 a.m. Peter Joseph Carroll Moore, 35, Irvine, was arrested for vandalism by defacing property with graffiti and for shoplifting an amount with a value less than $950. Bail was set at $500.
Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
