Fair Game
By TOM JOHNSON
Supervisor Foley stops Back Bay landgrab in its tracks
Several issues ago we wrote about Buck and Colleen Johns’ efforts to annex a 1/3-acre parcel of land adjacent to their property in Bayview Heights. Well, the people have spoken, including newly elected Second District Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, and the Johns will not get the property.
As in no, not now, not ever!
According to Supervisor Foley, the property will now be unfenced for the first time in years and years, and the county will work with the Newport Bay Conservancy to restore the land with native plants.
“It’s a great view spot,” said Foley of the land that overlooks the upper end of the Back Bay. “Maybe we even put in a bench,” she added.
Several things occurred in recent weeks dooming the efforts of the Johns. Petitions opposing the attempt included some 790 individually submitted signed ones from residents that were forwarded to the county, and Foley’s right as a supervisor overseeing her district to simply pull the item.
Foley said that there were multiple reasons as to why she came to her decision. “First, I didn’t think it was right to give away land like this, and I was also concerned that neighbors weren’t noticed properly.”
The Johns were attempting to acquire the land by utilizing a California law that allows for the disposal of surplus land “determined to be no longer necessary for the agency’s use.”
According to Buck Johns, the land in question was taken through the eminent domain process from the parcel prior to his family purchasing it some 44 years ago. The original intent of the use of eminent domain was to use the land to connect University Drive through that area. However, the road was never built.
The issue is now dead. In fact, had Foley not utilized her powers, the number of signatures gathered would have forced a vote of the people if the supervisors would have continued to push the issue.
Foley also said that despite what was reported in a previous column, the Newport Bay Conservancy never supported the land giveaway and will now work towards its restoration.
• • •
It’s not necessarily a rare fish, but it was rare to find it off the coast of Newport Beach, and that’s what happened the other day at Crystal Cove State Park.
It’s called the Pacific Footballfish, which usually hovers about 3,000 ft. below the ocean surface.
Beach visitor Ben Estes was moseying along the state park beach and came across this weird-looking fish dead on the sand. He immediately alerted state park rangers and lifeguards.
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Photo by Ben Estes
This Pacific Footballfish was found dead on the sand at Crystal Cove State Beach. Look closely to view the lit-up spot on its illicium.
It was measured at 18” and has a “fleshy long dorsal fin, called an illicium, which extends in the front of the mouth and has a phosphorescent bulb at the end which can emit light to attract unsuspecting prey closer to it.”
It is so weird and unique, but found in such good shape that it was turned over to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife with a possible future home at a museum or education institution.
• • •
Newport Beach was well-represented at this past week’s 48th Walker Cup Match played at Seminole Golf Club, located in Juno Beach, Florida.
First off, the Walker Cup is a trophy contested for in odd-numbered years between male amateur golf teams featuring the United States against Great Britain and Ireland. Its history dates back to 1922, when the United States Golf Association, under the leadership of one George Herbert Walker, initiated a match with The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Walker, if that sounds familiar, was the grandfather and namesake of Presidents George H.W. Bush (41) and George W. Bush (43).
Back to Newport Beach. Stewart Hagestad, the 17th ranked amateur in the World Golf Ranking and a past winner of the U.S. Mid-Amateur
Championship (2016), who plays out of Big Canyon C.C., was the senior member of the U.S. team at 30 years of age.
Hagestad lost his first two matches of the competition, but rallied during Sunday’s singles matches, winning 4-and-2 over Ben Jones, to earn a full-point in the United States’ 14-12 victory.
Incidentally, Hagestad started the day losing his first two holes before storming back to win five consecutive holes, starting at the ninth hole.
Stewart, a mainstay on the amateur golf stage for the last number of years, was playing in his third straight Walker Cup.
• • •
If you’re into gardening, there is a program you’ll want to catch that starts today at 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 11, with a virtual tour of the Sherman Library & Gardens with Executive Director Scott LaFleur and his team.
You can also watch a program running every day this week called Virtual Garden Profiles that will take you into some of the “most amazing gardens across the nation.”
It’s all part of GO Public Gardens Days, a week-long initiative from the American Public Gardens Association that is designed “to drive the public to visit, value and volunteer at public gardens in their area and when they travel.”
Some of the gardens featured will be the Waterfront Botanical Gardens in Louisville, Kentucky; the University of Washington Botanic Gardens; and the U.S. Botanic Gardens in Washington, D.C.
Oh, and to let you know how special our local garden is, Sherman Library & Gardens will also be featured on the national scene.
Register here to check them out.
Tawny Kitaen dead at 59 in her Newport Beach home
Tawny Kitaen, 59, died Friday, May 7, reported as of 8 a.m. in her Newport Beach home. The cause of her death has not yet been released by the coroner. Her life in the spotlight was filled with unfortunate controversy.
Kitaen was an actress starring in a cross-section of roles, including The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak, and opposite Tom Hanks in Bachelor Party. Other credits included Witchboard, White Hot and Dead Tides.
In the 1980s, Kitaen appeared in several music videos with the bands Whitesnake and Ratt.
After first dating Ratt guitarist Robbin Crosby, Kitaen eventually married Whitesnake singer/frontman David Coverdale in 1989, however the couple divorced two years later.
Courtesy of Tawny Kitaen Facebook Page
Kitaen also has a number of TV show appearances, including Seinfeld where she was Jerry’s girlfriend in the 1991 episode “The Nose Job,” and had regular appearances in The New WKRP in Cincinnati, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and as a co-host of America’s Funniest People. She also appeared on two reality TV shows, The Surreal Life and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.
A second marriage to Angels baseball star pitcher Chuck Finley took place in 1997. That marriage ended in 2002 following a domestic violence issue when Kitaen was charged with attacking Finley.
Legal issues involving drugs also seemed to find their way into Kitaen’s life. In 2006 she was charged with possessing 15 grams of cocaine in her San Juan Capistrano home, when she then entered a six-month rehab program leading to the dismissal of charges, and she was later arrested for DUI in Newport Beach in 2009, eventually pleading no contest. Her sentence included several days in jail and a number of community-service days which she successfully completed.
Finley and Kitaen had two daughters during their five-year marriage, Wynter and Raine Finley. The daughters confirmed Kitaen’s death, releasing the following statement on Instagram: “We are heartbroken and saddened to announce the death of our mom. We just want to say thank you for all of you, her fans and her friends, for always showing her such support and love. You gave her life every day. We miss her and love her, and we know her legacy will live on forever.”
Tawny Kitaen was born on August 5, 1961, in San Diego, as Julie Kitaen.
A post-pandemic “new normal” – Are we there yet?
By AMY SENK
I recently dropped off my daughter at the Happiest Place on Earth for a day with Mickey, Minnie and friends. If anyone told me a year ago that by May 2021, we’d be vaccinated and eating Dole Whips and riding on teacups, I’d have fallen to my knees with gratitude.
We’re moving closer to normal, from Disney’s reopening to fully stocked grocery shelves, but things aren’t anywhere near the same as they were pre-COVID. At Disney, for example, I drove my trusted back ways to the Downtown Disney drop-off point, only to find out that it was all employee parking. I kept hitting “No Entry” signs and barricades, and I had this sense of things being the same…but not the same. My daughter reported short lines and seeing characters who were socially distanced behind fences. Not the same.
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Photo by Jilly Senk
Jilly Senk, who is obviously a Pooh fan, visits Disneyland
Sometimes, I feel like I’ve woken up from a long, deep sleep, and nothing is quite how I remember. One day recently, I suddenly thought, “Spirit Run!” and realized that March had come and gone, but no race had taken place. I emailed Diane Daruty, the race director and president, who said they are planning to proceed with a March 2022 event. Sometimes, I’ll be in a grocery store and marvel at the shelves fully stocked with toilet paper, bread, flour and rice. I’m not sure if I’ll ever take that for granted again.
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Photo by Amy Senk
Nearly empty shelves at a Newport Coast grocery store, March 2020
Sometimes, I feel like we have one foot in and one foot out of pandemic mode. Like restaurants, where we can now dine indoors, but parking lot tents and sidewalk tables remain.
A lot of people have enjoyed the outdoor dining, the only kind we could get during the worst of COVID, and I’m sure many restaurants would like to keep this additional seating, even after June 15, when the governor hopes to fully open the state’s economy. But it seems unfair to residents who live close to restaurants, who have been patient for a year with the increased noise and parking congestion, and who are really ready for things to go back to normal. I also know from years of covering city meetings where restaurant owners had to provide parking arrangements before they were allowed to open or expand, and I think it would be unfair to those business owners if the rules suddenly relaxed without some case-by-case consideration.
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Photo by Amy Senk
Summer House in CdM was one of the many local eateries that were open for outdoor dining during pandemic restrictions
In fact, there will be a Newport Beach Zoning Administrator hearing at 10 a.m. on Thursday about the CdM Chipotle that focuses a lot on parking requirements. (It also could result in a one-way circulation parking lot, with cars entering off East Coast Highway and exiting onto Jasmine Avenue. The meeting is open to the public on Zoom.)
I asked city officials and staff what will happen with the emergency ordinance that allowed the tents and such, and it seems that there will be a City Council Study Session item, probably next month, so the council can provide direction. Stay tuned for more information.
Tonight, the City Council will meet, with the disestablishment of the Corona del Mar Business Improvement District as one of the consent calendar agenda items. Part of tying up the loose ends of the BID was figuring out what would happen to the CdM Christmas decorations, which are paid for, but require funds to store and install each year. At the last BID meeting, there was some concern that the decorations could be auctioned off with the money being dispersed among BID members, leaving CdM with no Christmas tree or other decorations.
But according to a staff report included with the online meeting agenda, Visit Newport Beach, Inc. “has offered to take over the responsibility and annual costs of the Corona del Mar holiday décor.” According to Visit Newport Beach, how and where the decorations will be used is still in negotiations. Again – stay tuned.
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Amy Senk has lived in Corona del Mar for 20+ years and was publisher of Corona del Mar Today, an online newspaper that ran daily for seven years. Senk, a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, is involved in the Corona del Mar Residents Association. She and her husband have two children attending college at the University of Missouri and Duke University. She is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.
Celebrating Moms Sunday
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Photo by Chris Crosson (Instagram @sandcastlekit)
Wishing love to all the Moms out there, including the ones still with us and the ones we will always remember in our hearts
Café Jardin by Chef Pascal to close at Sherman Gardens, new restaurant to open late June
After more than 20 years of delighting diners at Café Jardin and the Creperie at Sherman Library & Gardens in Corona del Mar, revered Chef Pascal Olhats is closing his eatery to pursue new endeavors. Owning restaurants in Orange County since 1988, Chef Pascal has decided to “pass the baton” whereby Café Jardin will be closing May 22.
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Courtesy of Chef Pascal Olhats
Chef Pascal Olhats
His current Chef de Cuisine Jessica Roy, who has been working with Chef Pascal for the past several years, will be reopening with a new restaurant concept in late June – Cultivar – the name referring to cultivating from the garden with “garden-inspired cuisine.” Chef Jessica will be working closely with the horticulture team at Sherman Gardens. With a culinary background working at the Renaissance Hotel in Newport Beach, expect a delightful menu showcasing her diverse talents.
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Courtesy of Chef Jessica Roy
Chef Jessica Roy
According to Chef Pascal, his future projects include “Pascal Cuisine Catering,” a top private events company; Pascal’s merchandising with plans to develop his own coffee brand, soon to be available online; teaching French cuisine at Saddleback College; developing a Culinary Professional Apprentice Program; and organizing cooking and culinary experiences in his hometown of Rouen, Normandy in northern France.
As Chef Pascal stated, “My plate will still be full.” Details of all his projects will be available soon at www.pascalrestaurants.com and www.pascalcuisine.com.
School Notes
Local teachers recognized for music and arts contributions
Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) and the Orange County Music and Arts Administrators have announced the selection of Newport Harbor High School (NHHS) teacher Jamie Tanzer as Orange County Music and Arts Award winner for Secondary Dance and Costa Mesa Middle and High School teacher Sarah Anderson as Orange County Music and Arts Award winner for Secondary Theatre.
Art educators are nominated for this prestigious honor by their peers and/or school community members. Consideration for Orange County Music and Arts Award winners is based on the impact their contribution to the profession has on their school, district and community. The selection process is managed by a committee of Orange County District Arts employees.
Photos courtesy of NMUSD
(L-R) NHHS teacher Jamie Tanzer and CMM&HS teacher Sarah Anderson
Tanzer’s teaching philosophy is guided by patience, grace and empathy. The NHHS dance program is inclusive and fosters a commitment to overall health and wellness. In addition to setting high expectations for her students in dance, she also inspires them to work hard for their goals in all aspects of their lives. Her unwavering devotion is reflected in Newport Harbor’s award-winning dance productions.
Anderson is passionate about teaching the arts. Her organization, motivation and meticulous planning allow her to orchestrate productions for both Costa Mesa Middle and High School. Throughout the pandemic, she has accessed various online strategies to maximize student performances. She prioritizes making all students feel welcome by offering various roles in show production, including lighting and sound. Her collaborative spirit empowers her to leverage a strong network of opportunities for her students.
Other NMUSD nominations included Estancia High School Secondary Instrumental Music teacher Stacy Neacato, Adams Elementary School Instrumental Music teacher Bridget Duffin, and California and Victoria Elementary schools Theatre teacher Nick St. Royal.
“We are grateful for the ongoing support of the arts in our district,” said Teacher on Special Assignment Bridget Duffin. “We are extremely proud of the talented, hard-working arts team and congratulate this year’s nominees and winners!” she said.
NMUSD is committed to all forms of visual and performing arts. As a strong supporter of creative expression, the district offers visual and performing arts opportunities at all 32 schools, and hosts district-wide festivals in arts, music, theatre and dance.
The Orange County Music and Arts Award winners will be honored at a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, May 12 from 5-8 p.m. Click here to attend.
Newly elected OC Supervisor Foley is featured at Chamber’s May Government Affairs meeting
The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee will feature Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley at its Thursday, May 20 meeting. The Zoom video conference will begin at 8 a.m.
Foley represents District 2, assuming office on March 26, 2021, following a special election to fill Michelle Steel’s vacated seat. Foley is an attorney and is the former Mayor of Costa Mesa, serving 11 years on the Costa Mesa City Council. She also at one time served as a member of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board.
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Courtesy of NBCC
Katrina Foley
She rose through the ranks as a graduate of Head Start and a recipient of a Pell Grant. She is the daughter and wife of union members and stands by those workers and their families in their efforts to organize and collectively bargain.
Foley will offer an update on what is presently happening throughout Orange County.
The Government Affairs Committee meets monthly highlighting local political and legislative issues impacting businesses and the community as a whole. Other local elected officials also regularly attend to update attendees on their current issues.
To attend the free meeting you must register with the Newport Beach Chamber here. A follow-up email with the meeting link will then be sent out as well as a reminder.
Questions regarding the Chamber should be directed to 949.729.4400.
Newport Beach – A Look Back
Photo series courtesy of Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach
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Jolly Roger courtyard, circa 1949
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..
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 numbers continued to improve this week, but not enough to move from the Orange Tier into the Yellow Tier just yet.
The seven-day average daily case number decreased from 2.6 to 2.4, which is still above the 2.0 or fewer needed to move into the less restrictive tier. The test positivity rate (the percentage of positive tests among those tested) improved slightly, dropping from 1.4 percent to 1.3 percent. The health equity metric decreased from 1.9 percent to 1.4 percent.
On Thursday, the Orange County Health Care Agency announced that it will shift vaccination strategies to community and neighborhood-based efforts and close the Super PODS that were designed to quickly administer large numbers of vaccines.
The first-dose demand for Super POD vaccines has dropped considerably since April, indicating that county residents who want the vaccines and are able to travel to the Super POD sites have mostly done so. In this next phase, the county will be working to overcome vaccine resistance and create more mobile PODs, with greater outreach, to make vaccination more convenient. The Super PODs at the Anaheim Convention Center, Soka University and the OC Fair & Events Center will continue operations through June 6. The Othena.com platform will still be used for scheduling at the smaller, community-based clinics.
Here is additional vaccine information and resources as of May 7:
–To make COVID-19 vaccinations as convenient as possible, vaccinations through the county are now available for both walk-in individuals (without appointments) and for those with confirmed appointments. A list of sites, hours of operation and vaccine information can be found at www.CovidVaccineFacts.com or by calling the county’s COVID-19 hotline at 714.834.2000.
–Those wishing to make appointments by phone can now do so by calling the OC COVID-19 Hotline at 714.834.2000, following the language prompts and pressing “1.”
–The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is now available through the Othena platform.
COVID-19 Cases in Newport Beach
As of May 6, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Newport Beach was 3,881 and the total cases in Orange County was 254,201. The number of recovered COVID-19 patients countywide as of May 6 was 246,998. These figures are provided to Orange County by the California Department of Public Health.
City Welcomes Paul Blank as New Harbormaster
Paul Blank, a former City Harbor Commissioner and avid boater with deep roots in the local maritime community, joined Newport Beach this week as the new City Harbormaster.
Until 2020, Blank served for eight years on the Harbor Commission, an advisory body that helps the City Council evaluate programs and set policies for Newport Harbor. He is a longtime resident and boater who has served in leadership positions with the Balboa Yacht Club, Corona del Mar Residents Association and Catalina Island Conservancy. He also has experience in management roles in information technology and hotel operations.
As Harbormaster, Blank will manage day-to-day operations of the Harbor Department and oversee a staff of one full-time employee and 13 part-time employees. The Harbor Department staff serve as “ambassadors” of Newport Harbor, providing education and assistance to residents and visiting boaters. The department also coordinates the use of anchorages and mooring fields and manages the city’s guest marina at Marina Park, among other responsibilities.
Homelessness Update
People experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach can now find temporary shelter and support services in the new Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter. Through a partnership agreement with Costa Mesa, the new shelter at 3175 Airway Avenue provides up to 72 beds for individuals experiencing homelessness in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. The shelter is operated by Mercy House, which provides case management to locate appropriate permanent housing, assist with job searches and provide other on-site services.
The city discourages panhandling in favor of targeted assistance through the Good Giving Program. Donations received through the program enable staff to purchase items such as bicycles, work boots and small household items for newly housed people. All donations are tax deductible. If you would like more information, or to donate, visit our Good Giving Program web page.
City staff works closely with our contractor City Net, and our regional partners throughout the county and state, to address homelessness. 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.
Success Stories
–Four people experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach were placed into the new Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter, where they will receive temporary shelter and support services.
–City Net placed an elderly couple into a permanent, supportive housing unit in Stanton that is part of a converted motel. The couple lived in their car for a year by the Newport Pier after losing their apartment. The County of Orange and the City of Stanton secured funding through the state’s Project Homekey program to convert two motels into 132 units of permanent, supportive housing. The City of Newport Beach may place qualified people into the Stanton housing through the county’s system of care.
–City Net case managers assisted a woman with moving into her new apartment in Newport Beach. The woman lived in her car in Newport Beach for a year after fleeing a domestic violence situation.
–City Net staff completed a Vulnerability Index Intake Assessment for one person staying in his car. The assessments are used to screen clients to determine proper placement in the county’s Continuum of Care system. Case managers also prepared a housing assessment and documentation to apply for permanent, supportive housing.
–City Net transported a person to Share Our Selves for medical care. Share Our Selves, established in Costa Mesa in 1970, emphasizes care of the whole person. Share Our Selves provides medical and dental care, access to a food pantry, postal service, and other social services for low-income individuals and families in Orange County.
Insider’s Guide for the Newport Beach City Council Meeting on May 11, 2021
Our next City Council meeting is Tuesday, May 11. Items that may be of interest are highlighted below. The entire agenda, and all reports, can be viewed here.
In-person public comments are welcome. For those participating remotely, please note that City Council meetings will accept remote public comment only through the Zoom platform, with video and audio-only options. If you are viewing the meeting through Zoom, use the “raise hand” function, wait for city staff to announce your name, and unmute your line when it is your turn to speak. To comment through Zoom’s audio-only option, call 669 900 9128 (Meeting ID 991 0098 4261#), and dial *9 during public comments to join the speaking queue (*6 to unmute when it is your turn). For additional information on remote participation, click here.
There will be a Study Session at 4 p.m.:
–The council will hear a report on development impact fees and how they may be applied to future developments to help fund public facility needs. It is a preliminary examination of the issue and no council action will be taken.
The Regular Meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and the following are items of note:
–A public hearing for a proposed zoning code amendment that would allow restaurants and health/fitness facilities along the west side of Dover Drive between 16th Street and Westcliff Drive. The area is adjacent to a bustling commercial strip that includes numerous restaurants and other general service uses. The current zoning for the area allows for offices, retail and mixed-use buildings that combine residential and retail. The proposed amendment would expand the zoning to include restaurants and gym/fitness facilities, subject to meeting parking requirements and obtaining a use permit.
Editor’s Note: Stu News Newport received City Manager’s Updates on Friday, May 7.
23rd Annual NHHS Home Tour debuts this Thursday, virtually
The Newport Harbor Home Tour and the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation is featuring seven beautiful homes throughout Newport Beach in a professionally filmed “Virtual Showcase,” so you can experience the 23rd Annual NHHS Home and Garden Tour at your own convenience with the on demand-style viewing option, debuting this Thursday, May 13.
Presented by Barclay Butera Interiors, you’ll get an in-depth look into gorgeous residences ranging from the Bayfront to Newport Heights, and Dover Shores to the Upper Newport Bay.
In addition, interior designer Barclay Butera will share a rare glimpse of his Palm Springs home located in a classic gated Spanish compound, complimented with lush grounds and an abundance of citrus trees. Butera is featured in a welcoming video, so expect the unexpected and take advantage of him revealing some “inside decorating secrets.” He has been a sponsor of the Home Tour since its inception and usually hosts the after-party at his Westcliff store. Since that is not possible this year, he has agreed to have guests “step inside” his private abode.
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Photos courtesy of NHHS Home Tour
Artwork of this “Dover Shores Dream” home on the tour was created by student artist Hannah Abell, 16, a junior at NHHS
Featured interior designers this year include Barclay Butera, Barclay Butera Interiors; Ashley Clark, sKout Interior Design; Raili Clasen, Raili CA Design; Suzanne Currie & Lise Abraham, Ulloo42; Mindy Gayer, Mindy Gayer Design Co.; Summer Jensen, Hawk & Co.; and Denise Morrison, Denise Morrison Interiors.
You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the online boutique and local pop-up shops showcasing unique vendors/stores, and purchase home décor looks from their featured interior designers. Dine locally and purchase a luncheon voucher for Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails (Costa Mesa location) while shopping and supporting local businesses.
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Student artist Quinn Gladstone-Lamas, 17, a junior at NHHS created this artwork of the “Historic Balboa Island” home on the tour
As the most important fundraiser of the year for the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation, this event directly provides funds for academic support programs at Newport Harbor High School to include: AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a four-year college prep program with a 100 percent college acceptance rate for all AVID seniors; free tutoring in all subjects before and after school throughout the year; grocery gift cards distributed to their families in need, including those who lost their jobs due to COVID and homeless families; rigorous curriculum including Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses challenging their highest achieving students; a career experience mentor program allowing juniors to “test drive” a career with job shadows and regular meetings in the field with professionals in the community; and school safety and professional development for faculty, among others.
Tickets, only available online, are $65 to watch the video and receive the beautiful printed “Look Book,” a magazine-style brochure featuring all the homes on the tour, the interior designers and the student artists. For tickets purchased after May 9, your Look Book may not reach you by May 13.
BONUS! For each ticket purchased, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a $500 gift certificate to South Coast Plaza and a one-night stay at the Balboa Bay Resort.
For tickets, sponsorships and advertising opportunities, and to view the Boutique, visit www.newportharborhometour.com.
ENC hosts SOCALPAPA plein air art show, sale
The Southern California Plein Air Painters Association (SOCALPAPA) and Environmental Nature Center (ENC) are presenting “SOCALPAPA Paints California: Plein Air Art Show and Sale” on Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and 6 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors can view art, watch artists as they paint and enjoy the ENC grounds.
“This year SOCALPAPA celebrates our 20th Anniversary as we continue to promote the centuries-old tradition of outdoor painting,” said SOCALPAPA Show Director Diane Prendergast. “The ENC provides the perfect setting to showcase art featuring California’s wild places, which we’ve all come to appreciate so much more with the pandemic highlighting the importance of nature and just being outdoors.”
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Courtesy of ENC
SOCALPAPA members painting en plein air
Original works of art from SOCALPAPA artists will showcase the scenic beauty and rich diversity of California’s natural heritage. Plein Air Artwork will be displayed on ENC patios and trails throughout the five-acre site. Working “en plein air” (or outdoors) allows the artist to observe and capture the natural colors and light effects of the open landscape. Featured paintings are in oil, acrylic, watercolor and pastel. Guests will have a chance to win a framed original oil painting by an award-winning local artist.
“Nature has always been an inspiration to artists and the focus on California’s biodiversity makes the ENC the perfect place to feature art showcasing our state’s amazing beauty and uniqueness,” said ENC Executive Director Bo Glover. “This event is the perfect opportunity to welcome the public back to the Center after a long absence, at the culmination of spring while it’s bursting with life.”
Live music will be featured throughout the event. On June 5, the Sweetwater Creek Band will perform Folk and Celtic music as well as traditional Bluegrass tunes. On June 6, the Velvet Bow String Duo will perform a blend of classical and folk music.
Part of all art sales will be donated to the ENC, allowing a partial, charitable tax deduction. The ENC promotes natural and social science education to the community, fostering a greater appreciation of the natural world.
More information on the show can be found at www.encenter.org.
The Environmental Nature Center, which features California habitats ranging from desert to redwood forest, is located at 1601 E. 16th St., Newport Beach.
For more information about SOCALPAPA, visit www.socalpapa.com.
Mother Wedge
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Photo by Todd Walker (Instagram @twalkerphotograph/www.twalkerphoto.com)
Wedge waves peak on a quiet spring day in Newport Beach
Child Creativity Lab partners with YMCA for recycled materials collection drive
Child Creativity Lab (“CCL”), in partnership with the YMCA of Orange County, successfully collected more than 200 pounds of recycled materials during its recent Earth Day 2021 collection drive. Instead of ending up in a landfill, the collected materials will be reused in CCL’s creative kits and educational workshops designed to mesh creativity, STEAM, design thinking and reuse. The materials support STEM education in Orange County schools, nonprofit organizations serving children, community makerspace programs, and educators and families.
“We thank the many volunteers who donated materials, while helping reduce landfill waste and benefiting the environment in honor of Earth Day 2021,” said Tracey Hill, CCL’s chief executive officer. “I also want to thank the staffs at the Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo and Newport-Mesa Family YMCA fitness centers who helped with the collections. With their support, Child Creativity Lab will be able to continue its mission to foster the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, innovators and leaders through unique hands-on creativity exploration programs.”
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Submitted photo
Collection boxes during the Earth Day 2021 recycled materials drive
CCL accepts donations of a wide variety of new or cleaned/rinsed materials year-round. Some of the most urgently needed items include bottle caps, disposable plastic forks and spoons, sports drink bottles, pill bottles with labels removed, plastic container lids, straws, Legos, small plastic parts and wine corks. More information about how to donate, including a complete list of items CCL accepts, can be found here.
Prior to COVID-19, CCL’s STEAM + CREATIVITY programming had reached nearly 25,000 youth, 70 percent of whom were from underserved communities. CCL conducted 134 Creativity Challenge Workshops at Title I schools and community organizations across Orange County, and volunteers dedicated more than 3,400 hours to encourage creativity among the youth in their communities. Additionally, 17,800 pounds of waste was diverted from landfills and used as the content for STEAM-based Challenge “tool kits.”
When California schools began to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic, CCL adapted its curriculum and programming to a virtual model by utilizing YouTube and social media. It also donated STEAM Challenge Kits and fabric for face masks to childcare locations for the children of essential workers and first responders. By modifying its programs and volunteer activities to comply with recommended safety guidelines, CCL has been able to continue fulfilling its mission to inspire and foster creativity, serving as a valuable resource to the community during the pandemic.
For more information about CCL’s programs, and team building volunteer opportunities for community groups, organizations and corporations, visit www.childcreativitylab.org.
For more information about the Newport-Mesa Family YMCA located at 2300 University Drive, Newport Beach, visit www.ymcaoc.org.
Newport Beach Public Library Foundation presents author Steve Rowley on Friday
There is still time to purchase tickets for the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation’s (NBPLF’s) Library Live series featuring author Steven Rowley. The virtual event takes place on Friday, May 14 at 6:19 p.m.
Following his bestseller, Lily and the Octopus (2016), Rowley now delivers on the soaring promise of that debut with The Editor (2019), a stunning exploration of the complicated bonds forged within families, and a tribute to the serendipitous relationships that shape and define us. After years of trying to make it as a writer in 1990s New York City, Rowley’s protagonist, James Smale, finally sells his novel to a major publishing house. His editor is none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. With this fictionalized Jackie guiding Rowley’s candidly autobiographical novel, fragile relationships are tested and dysfunction exposed. Lily and the Octopus is in development as a feature film at Amazon Studios and The Editor has been optioned by Twentieth Century.
Courtesy of NBPLF
Steven Rowley is the featured author in this month’s Library Live series
Rowley will be discussing his book, The Editor, in conversation with Samantha Dunn, a senior editor at the Southern California News Group, author and creative writing instructor at Chapman University.
Tickets are $10 for general admission per household with NBPBF members receiving a 25 percent discount. Tickets purchased in Spring 2020 for this event will be honored. To purchase tickets, go here.
Library Live is for adventurous readers who enjoy hearing from established literary figures and emerging talent. Novelists, poets, historians, journalists, biographers, memoirists and more share their ideas firsthand with our community. Participate, engage and be challenged by presentations with today’s most gifted scribes.
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 has been looking forward to sharing with you their most recent kitty available for adoption. Her name is Lucy. She is very petite, gentle, loves attention, is 5 years of age and is blind. She is an incredible cat and will easily find her way around the inside of a home. She will never be able to be an outside cat and will do best being adopted into a home with another gentle, super submissive cat that enjoys kindness. Lucy is very sweet. She will also be totally good as an only cat as long as she has a loving parent that spends time with her, gives her lots of pets, understands the importance of not changing their house around frequently and that it’s important for Lucy to live in a calm environment.
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Courtesy of Newport Beach Animal Shelter
Meet Lucy
If you have any questions with regards to the little diamond Lucy, please feel free to contact the shelter supervisor at 949.718.3454. If you are certain that you can provide the purrrfect home for this extra special, ultra-sweet and cutest girl, please feel free to complete the shelter’s adoption application at www.FONBAS.org. After it is completed, you can email it to the shelter staff at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for review.
Newport Beach Animal Shelter adoption fees:
–Adult Dogs - $150
–Puppies - $225
–Adult Cats - $90
–Kittens - $110
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.
Capturing iconic Newport Beach and beyond: Coachella Valley Preserve
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Artwork by Don Krotee
North of Highway 10, above Palm Desert, is a place where the San Andreas Fault lets upward flow through the earth’s surface, making freshwater pools where the desert comes alive. Dunes and palm trees meet where the palm fronds grow, untrimmed to the ground. There is abundant wildlife, some endangered like the desert pupfish, as well as creosote bush, smoke tree and desert lavender. The Desert Plein Air Association hosts paintings at the preserve and other desert locations throughout the year. The palm oases provide spectacular scenes with the many artists painting and drawing. This work is categorized as a fully transparent, impressionistic watercolor. The work is painted on a 16” x 20” sheet of 140# Arches handmade cotton paper.
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Artist Don Krotee was selected as the “Painter of the Year” by the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society for his submission of this work. Krotee is a 35-year resident of Newport Beach, a member of the 2000 GPAC, a Corona del Mar Residents Association member, the founder of the Newport Heights Improvement Association, a board member of SPON and lives in Corona del Mar. He is an architect, a sailor and a fine artist who has been drawing and painting from an early age. His drawings and paintings of iconic Newport Beach and around the world periodically appear in Stu News.
Applications for the Leadership Tomorrow Class of 2022 now being accepted
It is no secret that businesspeople are better prepared to lead and serve a community when they know its inner workings and what its needs are. This is why each year nearly 30 community leaders participate in the Leadership Tomorrow program. A nonprofit organization, Leadership Tomorrow serves the communities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach and Tustin, and is supported by many community-minded organizations.
If you know someone who would be a good fit for the Leadership Tomorrow program starting in September, please encourage them to apply.
Those who are interested are encouraged to apply online. An interview will be arranged with some of the Leadership Tomorrow board members (potentially in person or via Zoom) to answer any questions about the program.
Applications are now being accepted with interviews being scheduled for May and June.
To apply, visit www.leadershiptomorrow.org/apply/.
Adoption Guild to hold Roy Emerson Tennis Classic over Memorial Day weekend
Continuing a 60-year-old tradition in Southern California, tennis aficionados will gather over Memorial Day weekend for the celebrated Adoption Guild’s Roy Emerson Tennis Classic. This four-day event will be hosted by Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach. The $15,000 in prize money for the Open, 50 & Over and Men’s 35 Doubles Divisions is being proudly sponsored by the Orange County Breakers.
The tournament is named for Australian-born tennis champion Roy Emerson. A two-time Wimbledon victor in 1964 and 1965, Emerson, along with his tennis-pro wife Joy, have fronted the Adoption Guild Classic for more than two decades. “It’s a labor of love,” said the longtime Orange County couple, adding, “We believe in the fine work of the Adoption Guild in support of HFS –Holy Family Services. What’s more important than caring for children?”
On Finals Day, Monday, May 31, sponsors will have priority seating overlooking center court for the finals matches.
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Courtesy of the Adoption Guild
(L-R) Ken Stuart, a longtime fixture in Southern California tennis; Eric Davidson, owner, Palisades Tennis Club; and Roy Emerson
During the tournament, attendees strolling the grounds at Palisades Tennis Club will be tempted by a raffle booth featuring numerous high-end items with opportunity tickets for just $5 each, a Tennis Temptations Boutique with tennis accessories, jewelry and clothing and between matches there will be entertainment available.
The Tennis Classic is led by Adoption Guild co-chairs Katie Richardson and Chris Garber, Tennis Director Drew Arbeiter and is held under the USTA umpire supervision of Laurel Smith. Players are welcome to sign up for men’s and women’s open singles, men’s and women’s open doubles and mixed open doubles, men’s 35 and over doubles, 50 & Over doubles as well as a series of NTRP men’s and women’s 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 singles, doubles and mixed.
This year, the Guild is offering a new division – Mother/Daughter doubles. To register, visit www.adoptionguild.org and follow the link to the USTA site.
For information on the tournament, or to inquire about sponsorship, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
“Finding your fun” at Camp Newport
“Finding your fun” in 2021 is easy this summer, because the City of Newport Beach’s Recreation & Senior Services Department is offering nearly 400 camps during Camp Newport. From surf, sailing and body boarding to science, art, sports and more, Camp Newport will help campers find ways to make memories and connect with others in a safe environment.
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Courtesy of the City of Newport Beach’s Recreation & Senior Services Dept.
Sports & Fitness is among Camp Newport’s summer offerings
The city is partnering with some of your favorite instructors to offer virtual and in-person camps, with half-day and full-day options in a variety of topics.
For more information, visit www.campnewport.com. Register today at www.campnewport.com. Sign up by May 31 and receive a 10 percent or more discount!
Little Seedlings Story Time at Sherman Gardens
What youngster doesn’t enjoy story time? Well, now the little ones can enjoy their favorite tales in a beautiful outdoor setting at Sherman Gardens.
Every Friday from 10-10:30 a.m. bring your tykes to “Little Seedlings Story Time.” Come explore nature through the wonderful world of books with your children for readings of your favorite stories, picture books and poems.
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Courtesy of Sherman Library & Gardens
Join Little Seedlings Story Time every Friday at 10 a.m. in the Central Garden
This get together is perfect for preschool children and their caregivers. This event meets in Sherman Gardens’ Central Garden on a drop-in basis, and is free with garden admission.
All children and adults must wear a mask while in the Gardens. Seating will be spaced for social distancing.
Sherman Library & Gardens is located at 2647 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. For more information, call 949.673.2261 or visit www.thesherman.org.
Sherman Library & Gardens offers mini-gardeners summer camp in July
Kids – get ready to get your hands dirty! Learn to grow your own food in the beautiful Sherman Gardens during their summer gardening camp. Their garden educators will introduce you to the tasty plants that thrive here, help you to plant your own delicious mini-garden and teach you the basics of plant care. The camp includes a variety of fun and creative planting projects to take home including a mini-veg planter and recycled paper pots project.
As mini gardeners, you will go behind the scenes, meet the garden horticulturists and learn in the garden before the public arrives. This STEAM-based camp will develop skills of observation, design and practical plant care.
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Courtesy of Sherman Library & Gardens
Mini-gardeners learn “hands on” practical plant skills during summer gardening camp
COVID-19 Precautions: Children must wear masks at all times, except when eating. Group size is limited to 10 participants to allow for social distancing. All camp activities take place outdoors.
Due to limited space, refunds will not be given. Participants may sign up for any or all of the weekly camps. There will be no proration of fees for any days a child participant cannot attend. Only 10 places are available per week, so book early.
Typical Daily Schedule:
–8:45-9 a.m.: Drop off at Library Courtyard Gate (Dahlia Avenue)
–9-10 a.m.: Exploring the garden with an activity, such as a scavenger hunt
–10-10:20 a.m.: Break/snack in the garden
–10:20 a.m.-12 p.m.: Practical creative/planting projects
–12-12:15 p.m.: Pick up at Library Courtyard Gate (Dahlia Avenue)
Age Guidelines: Mini Gardeners Summer Camp is geared for children ages 7-10 years old.
Camp Dates:
Week 1: Tuesday, July 6 through Friday, July 9
Week 2: Monday, July 12 through Thursday, July 15
Week 3: Monday, July 19 through Thursday, July 23
Week 4: Monday, July 26 through Thursday, July 29
Fees: Member: $180 per week; Non-Member: $200 per week
To register, visit https://thesherman.org/event/summer-camp-2021/. For more information, go to https://thesherman.org/events/summer-camp/.
ENC to hold these exciting May events
The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) is open to those registered for programs. Sign up for a program and take a walk in the fresh May air. The poppies are blooming and the butterflies are flying. The ENC has plenty of fun programs scheduled, with something for everybody. All of their offerings are in alignment with guidelines from our state and local health officials.
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Photos courtesy of ENC
The pond and forest at ENC
–Virtual Spring Faire on Sunday, May 16 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Join the fun at the 16th Annual Spring Faire, presented virtually this year. Embark on a virtual “Craft Crawl” and “Story Walk.” Play virtual nature games and watch performances around the virtual “Fire Circle Stage.” Eat at participating Virtual Savor OC restaurants. The schedule for the day’s online fun can be found here. Be sure to check out the online auction between May 10-16. Purchase “to go” bags here.
You might spot a hummingbird during a quiet walk throughout the ENC
–Bird Watching on Monday, May 17 at 7:30 a.m. Join ENC for some quiet bird watching. Registered birders will walk the grounds independently (this is not a naturalist led program). No walk-ins. Space is limited to keep numbers small and safe. Please remain physically distanced. Click here for a list of birds sighted at the Center in the past. To register, go here.
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Educators share their teaching techniques and lesson ideas during Teachers Night Out
–Teachers Night Out: Share-a-thon on Thursday, May 20 from 4-7 p.m. Teachers, come join other educators on a walk through the Center, after hours, for a fun and educational Share-a-thon! This is a way for all of you to share what you’ve learned from the Teacher’s Night Out series over the past year. Did you utilize some of the teaching techniques or lesson ideas with your students? Please come prepared to share anecdotes and examples of student work with the group. Feedback is encouraged! For more info and to register, go here. Teachers from Title l schools may attend for free. ENC members receive a 10 percent discount. If you can’t attend in person, the Center will send you a link to participate virtually.
–Virtual Wine Tasting on Friday, May 21 from 6-7 p.m. Join Hi-Time Wine Cellars’ North American Wine Buyer & Certified Sommelier, Dan Williams, for an “infotaining” virtual wine tasting of three organic or sustainable wines. Learn about SIP (Sustainability In Practice) Certification, biodynamic and organic wine classifications, and much more. Participants will also be able to submit questions throughout the tasting. Cost of three wines plus the tasting is $100. Purchase your ticket here. All proceeds benefit the ENC Nature Preschool.
Herbalist William Broen shares traditional and modern uses of plants during the Native Plant Uses Walk
–Native Plant Uses Walk on Sunday, May 23 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Herbalist William Broen will discuss traditional and modern uses of plants as well as how a plant’s survival tactics affect how they are used by us, how we can tell a lot about plants through our senses, plant folklore and other related topics. Broen’s walks are informative, interactive, accessible, fun and understandable. He is always happy to share his knowledge of botanical medicine with interested people. Cost: $9 for ENC members; $10 for non-members. To learn more and register, go here.
Bring your camera to capture the beauty of the wildflowers in bloom
–Self-Guided Wildflower Walk on Sunday, May 23 from 12:30-3 p.m. Join the ENC for a self-guided Wildflower Walk. Tour the grounds in search of blooming natives. Bring a camera or your nature journal to capture their beauty, but please stay on the trail. Space is limited to keep everyone safe. Masks are required when not physically distanced. Cost is $5. Sign up for a window here.
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ENC native plant Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) with butterfly
–Butterfly House Docent Training on Sunday, May 23 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Want to spend some time enjoying the butterflies in their Butterfly House, while teaching others about these important animals? Butterfly House Docents help monitor the butterfly house, greet the public, provide casual interpretation, clarify rules and answer questions. Docents commit to volunteer approximately three hours per month or more if desired, during butterfly season (June through September). Register for the virtual training here.
–Story Walk: Andrew Henry’s Meadow on Monday, May 24. This self-guided Story Walk combines physical activity and literacy. Pages are posted at stations along the route. As you walk through the Center, you are directed to the next page in the story. Andrew Henry’s Meadow by Doris Burn is a children’s classic. The creative antics of Andrew Henry Thatcher and his friends will inspire your imagination. Burn wrote and illustrated Andrew Henry’s Meadow in 1965. Children 2 and under are free. Cost is $5. Sign up for a window here.
Environmental Nature Center is located at 1601 E. 16th St., Newport Beach. For more information, visit www.encenter.org.
New summer concerts announced for OC Fair
As plans come together for the 2021 OC Fair, new shows are being announced regularly to fill the calendar.
New shows scheduled for The Hangar include:
–July 24 - Which One’s Pink?, a tribute to the music of Pink Floyd (two shows).
–July 31 - No Duh, the ultimate tribute to No Doubt (two shows).
–August 8 - Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez (two shows).
–August 14 - Led Zepplica, the Led Zeppelin experience (two shows).
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Courtesy of OC Fair & Event Center
Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez to perform two shows at The Hangar on August 8
Tickets for these shows are on sale now, including same-day admission to the OC Fair, at www.Ticketmaster.com.
The OC Fair runs from July 16-August 15, open Wednesdays through Sundays. Advance tickets are required and there will be limited capacity each day, with extended hours and more elbow room for guests.
COVID Super PODs closing in favor of more localized approach
The demand for first-dose COVID-19 vaccinations through the Othena platform at county Super Point-of-Dispensing (POD) sites have dropped by over 75 percent since the end of April. This indicates that county residents who want the vaccines and do not face difficulty traveling to the Super PODs have, for the most part, been able to do so.
Further efforts to achieve mass immunity will require that Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) focus on more community and neighborhood-based vaccination strategies. This will mean working to overcome vaccine resistance and creating more mobile PODs, with greater outreach, to make vaccination more convenient for people to get vaccinated where they live, work and play.
To meet this changing community need, the County of Orange will close its Super POD sites at the Anaheim Convention Center, OC Fair & Event Center and Soka University, as well as at Santa Ana College on June 6 and shift operations to an expanding network of robust mobile PODs.
The County of Orange and its partners at the Orange County Fire Authority launched “Operation Independence” in January 2021. The HCA organized an Incident Management Team along with community and city partners, as well as representatives from Orange County law enforcement and fire departments, to stand up and staff Super POD sites to administer vaccines to thousands of Orange County (OC) residents and workers each day.
These large, regional Super PODs were intended to administer higher quantities of COVID-19 vaccines quickly and efficiently to help slow the spread of the virus while helping to alleviate the emergent burden placed on OC’s hospital system by a surge in COVID-19-positive patients.
Vaccine supply has become more plentiful and alternative distribution channels, such as local pharmacies, hospitals, health care systems, community clinics and providers are more actively administering doses throughout OC. Consequently, the county has seen a decrease in demand, as also experienced in many regions nationwide.
The last Moderna first-dose appointments will be offered at county Super PODs tomorrow, May 8. The last Pfizer first-dose appointments will be offered at county Super PODs on May 15. The HCA will continue to meet all second-dose obligations.
All county Super and community PODs will offer one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine immediately through close of business on June 5.
Community members are encouraged to access the schedule of upcoming mobile PODs by calling the OC COVID-19 Hotline at 714.834.2000 or by registering and logging in to their account in the Othena platform at www.Othena.com. Mobile PODs will accommodate both appointments and walk-ins based on vaccine availability.
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
