Fair Game

By TOM JOHNSON

Rumors of last-minute changes to re-drawn districts seemingly put to rest

I’m not the biggest fan of 7:30 a.m. meetings…too early for someone who regularly struggles with sleep…but multiple people contacted me this week and said you should join in and listen to City Councilman and former Mayor Will O’Neill speak about the proposed new redistricting lines. Will, you see, was the featured speaker at yesterday’s Corona del Mar Residents Association monthly meeting.

If you follow this process on redistricting, you’ll know that every 10 years a national census is taken and then district lines up and down the different levels of government are redrawn to balance out population numbers in which candidates are elected.

Locally, O’Neill, along with immediate past Mayor Brad Avery and Councilwoman Diane Dixon, had been tasked with reviewing all of the proposed district maps submitted by residents and consultants for future city elections, with the goal of selecting the best one(s) to be forwarded to the council for final approval.

Dixon, O’Neill and Avery, at the end of that process, unanimously agreed that submission “#1” was the one they collectively supported. Then, at the last minute, O’Neill asked that several other submissions also be included in the package to council to offer them a choice and to respect the process of the community getting involved.

That’s when the rumors started. The talk was (is) that the council would change the recommendation at the end of the process and vote on another submission. 

Why is this a problem or concern? Those speculations include the idea that if a new map is chosen, it would change district lines that would eliminate Robyn Grant’s 2022 announced bid for a council seat and also potentially impact Councilwoman Joy Brenner’s 2022 re-election effort. 

That would happen because a redrawn border line would move Grant’s residency into another district, virtually ending her hopes and intentions of running. Those same line changes could significantly impact Brenner’s base of supporters.

Back to Will’s CdM presentation yesterday morning, when he reiterated that he continues to support submission #1. That seemed to bring relief to those on the Zoom call, most of whom were ardent Joy Brenner fans.

Still, I called Will afterwards to discuss his eventual plans on the issue. You see, the approved submissions now go to a City Council Study Session, with a hearing, on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and then on to Council (also with hearing) for formal adoption on Tuesday, Feb. 22. 

When confronted with the rumors on a potential unwanted maneuver, Will asked me if I’d also write about it when those negative rumors proved to be unfounded afterwards? I promised him I would. 

• • •

Speaking of O’Neill, his Elect Our Mayor initiative was brought before the Lincoln Club’s Legislative Committee recently for discussion and consideration.

The Lincoln Club is the largest conservative donor network in California and founded here in Orange County back in 1962 to “to reduce the power and scope of government, pushing for lower taxes,” according to their website.

Will made a presentation promoting the initiative, while Walter Stahr presented the dissenting side. 

Stahr’s biggest issue, I’m told, centered around the fact that the initiative could elect an opposition candidate, much like last year’s OC Supervisor race did when Democrat Katrina Foley ran against three Republicans, affording her the opportunity to gain the most votes, or Costa Mesa, which now elects their own mayor, and are now left leaning.

The Legislative Committee agrees with Stahr, rejecting support as they passed the item over to their Executive Committee, where it was also rejected. Finally, it went before the overall Board of Directors, where it reportedly was also “unanimously” rejected.

Will said that he was “surprised that the Lincoln Club even took an opinion,” saying he personally thought it strayed from their core mission.

• • •

A “Public Notice of Application for Ownership Change” for the ABC license at the Helmsman Ale House on the Balboa Peninsula was posted last week. The sign announced the new applicant as Lemon Meringue LLC.

So, what’s going on? Mr. Everything restaurants, Mario Marovic and his Lounge Group have owned the Helmsman. Mario told me they sold to “a nice young man” named Lucky Callender. He’s reportedly the son of Don Callender of Marie Callender fame. 

Meanwhile, Marovic and his team are busy opening their new authentic oceanfront taqueria and tequila bar named Super Panga Taqueria. 

Mario tells me they’ll feature “homemade Mexican food, rotisserie Al Pastor and more, in an open-air concept with multiple roll-up garage door windows. It’s located next door to Dory Deli. 

 They’re scheduled to be complete by mid-February.

• • •

A huge endorsement for Diane Dixon in her run for the 72nd Assembly District. Earlier this week the Republican Party of Orange County officially endorsed Diane.

“This endorsement gives Dixon a massive advantage in the election and sends a clear message to potential challengers,” said Dixon campaign consultant Natalie Blanning.

Just prior to the endorsement meeting, Scott Voights, a past mayor and current councilman in Lake Forest decided to throw his hat into the ring. 

He then received endorsements from O’Neill, Newport Beach Mayor Kevin Muldoon, Mayor Pro Tem Noah Blom and Councilman Duffy Duffield, but those overall efforts failed to attract the Party as a whole.

Dixon also received endorsements from the Lincoln Club, Rep. Young Kim, Rep. Michelle Steel, former Rep. Mimi Walters, Senator Pat Bates, Assembly member Laurie Davies and former Assembly Republican leader Curt Pringle.

The newly drawn Assembly District includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Newport Beach and Seal Beach.

• • •

Say it ain’t so, Library Services Director Tim Hetherton is retiring from overseeing the Newport Beach Library. Tim initially planned to call it a career come March but has now agreed to stay around until a new library director can be found.

We’ll keep you posted.

Police Files

Residential burglaries continue to hit Newport Beach

A number of residential burglaries continue to be reported in Newport Beach.

At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10, a burglary occurred in the 1500 block of Baypointe Drive. A suspect took the screen off the kitchen window and slid the unlocked kitchen window open, while the victim was in another part of the residence.

The victim heard a noise coming from the kitchen area and went to check. When the suspect realized the victim was home, the suspect fled the scene, having never made entry into the residence.

No items were taken. 

A description of the suspect was reported to Newport Beach Police as a male Hispanic, 30-35 years of age, thin build, short black hair, brown eyes with a beard, wearing a blue shirt.

Next were two residential burglaries that occurred in the Pelican Crest and Crystal Cove communities. 

The first report occurred on Sailcrest at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 14, while the victims were away, two unknown suspects approached the front door and knocked on it. 

Once it was confirmed that no one was home, the suspects accessed the interior of the house through an unknown means. Once inside, they rummaged through two bedrooms before fleeing the scene. 

The loss is still unknown. 

Descriptions were reported as two suspects wearing dark-colored hoodies, face masks, dark backpacks, latex gloves and carrying flashlights.

Next was a burglary on Sidra Cove, that occurred between 4:10 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 14 and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Again, with the victims away, an unknown suspect accessed the house by tampering with the locks on the exterior back doors. Inside, the suspect rummaged through drawers, boxes and cabinets in the living room, bedrooms, bathrooms and closets.

The loss is still unknown and no suspect information was available.   

Finally, an attempted burglary occurred in the Back Bay Bayview Heights community in the 2100 block of Mesa Drive. At approximately 6:25 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, while one of the victims was home, unknown suspects accessed the backyard of the residence. The victim heard activity on the second story (possibly the balcony area) and looked outside to observe multiple suspects in the backyard. 

Upon realizing the home was occupied, the suspects fled in the direction of the Back Bay trail. The victim called the NBPD shortly thereafter.   

It did not appear that the suspects ever made entry into the residence.

There was no reported loss.

The suspect information obtained by the NBPD was three to six individuals wearing dark clothing and carrying backpacks

Newport Beach Police remind residents that if you see suspicious activity within your neighborhood (especially at a home where you know your neighbors are on vacation, have gone out for the evening, or their home is for sale), please call the NBPD immediately at 949.644.3717.

• • •

Who let the dogs out? Woof, woof!

The Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) introduced the community to their K9 units on social media to start off the new year.

First up is Officer Rosenberg and K9 Ryder.

Officer Rosenberg started at the NBPD as a community services officer in 2007 and returned to the Department as a police officer in 2015 after serving with the City of Santa Barbara. In July 2020 he joined the Canine Unit.

K9 Ryder is a male Belgian Malinois, born in Germany.

Courtesy of NBPD

Officer Rosenberg with K9 Ryder

Next up, meet Officer De Julio and K9 Goose.

Officer De Julio started at the NBPD as a cadet in 2007 and graduated from the Police Academy in 2011. He joined the Canine Unit in August 2021.

K9 Goose is a Slovak Malinois and the first female K9 at the NBPD.

Courtesy of NBPD

Officer De Julio with K9 Goose

The new VEA Newport Beach will be a win for both travelers and for the city

By GARY SHERWIN

Last week, I wrote in this space about the new VEA Newport Beach, currently the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, and the investment being made by local owners Eagle Four Partners and Lyon Living to transform that nearly 50-year-old property into a modern luxury oasis.

And while the multi-million-dollar construction project is the largest of its kind in the city’s history and the finished project will be gorgeous, if you are a Newport Beach resident, that’s not only the reason you should care about it.

The Marriott has a long history of being one of the largest transient occupancy tax (TOT) generators in the city since it has the greatest number of hotel rooms and has been a significant meetings and conference player. These tax funds generated more than $30 million a year citywide pre-pandemic, supporting essential local services such as police and fire that contribute to our overall quality of life.

The hotel’s new design will include new family and spa suites as well as an overall reconfiguration of the property. But given the enhanced product, these rooms will all be sold at a higher rate. This means fewer people in the hotel paying more per room.

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of Visit Newport Beach

Gary Sherwin

In fact, this new rate structure will mean that the property will deliver more TOT than before the project began. This is already happening with meeting groups who are booking now for later in the year at a higher nightly rate than pre-construction.

These are also the types of guests who tend to spend more freely on spa services and food and beverage, which are other profit centers at the hotel. Again, more tax revenue.

This is the benefit of what I am calling our luxury renaissance. VEA will attract well heeded visitors from around the world who like to spend and enjoy themselves on vacation. To this market, a quality experience is always worth the price, if delivered well.

If you’ve traveled anywhere over the last year, you know what I mean. We’ve all gone on vacation to somewhere and stayed someplace, perhaps even a well-known hotel, but the stay was perhaps uninspired. The rooms were tired, the staff apathetic, and the food and beverage mediocre. That’s because the property likely wanted to extract your cash without putting in the investment to make it memorable. You often check out, not necessarily upset, but your expectations haven’t been met. It was a big meh.

Often rooms are sold at a rate that will entice you to book just to get you there. But once you arrive, sometimes it seems the hotel doesn’t care. They want you to check in and then get you out. Wash, spin, repeat.

That is the exact opposite of the VEA business model. Although the Marriott has always prioritized quality service, it is repositioning itself to pursue an even more discerning crowd that places great emphasis on a unique, service-oriented experience. And visitors, many of them global, will be willing to pay because it’ll be worth it.

You can see this approach already in other parts of the city such as Pelican Hill. It was the city’s first true Five Star hotel when it opened in 2008 and gave us our first property with international appeal. It quickly gained a following from the Middle East since the resort made a sizable investment to pursue business there.

If you’ve ever been in that region, you know that what constitutes service there is far elevated over what we see in the U.S. Even a three-star property has more attentive service than many luxury properties here. Pelican, recognizing this, has always emphasized personalized and discreet service to the high-profile guest.

The Balboa Bay Resort, also owned by Eagle Four, also has created a more modern upscale experience after its renovation a few years ago.

In other words, you need to build a great product and then create and deliver exceptional experiences for a crowd that has already seen it all. Pelican, in fact, is working to further enhance their efforts in this area that is ever changing in tastes and styles.

People now want something personal, unique, engaging, inspiring and tailored to their interests. This is the new luxury, one that is approachable but elevated. And worth having bragging rights to take home with them. Bag the stuffy. Bring me something cool and exclusive. 

If you want to understand the vision behind VEA, this is it. The hotel will be built for plenty of Instagrammable moments, but it will also be designed to give you something to talk about with your friends once you get home. And you’ll see the benefit of that approach with more TOT taxes to the city.

Expect this strategy to also play out when the new version of what has been Fashion Island Hotel is announced in the coming weeks. And this business model will be extended to other areas as well such as retail. 

The new 80,000-square-foot Restoration Hardware [RH] store that will be built at Fashion Island starting later this year, employs the same strategy which is why they are building a gourmet restaurant on its rooftop overlooking the water. If all you want is a cheap couch, go visit IKEA.

While there are lots of hotels in cities who want to grind through guests and focus on high volume, VEA and our other luxury hotels are going to up the game in bringing us a new way forward in the tourism industry. It’s a smart way to play that will not only be more profitable for the city but will also elevate the entire destination.

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

Take Five: Meet Julie Means, CdM PTA president and longtime Home Tour volunteer

By AMY SENK

The 48th Annual Corona del Mar Middle and High School PTA’s Home Tour returns March 1 with the theme “Welcome Home,” which is fitting after a COVID year where all the home tours were virtual. This year, the tour returns with all the in-person bells and whistles, from a pre-tour breakfast and a later luncheon and boutique at the Newport Beach Civic Center to tours of beautiful local homes and an after party – all part of the PTA’s only fundraiser each year. I caught up with PTA president and longtime Home Tour volunteer Julie Means to learn more. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of the CdM Home Tour

Julie Means, CdM PTA president

Q: You’ve been part of the CdM PTA Home Tour before you even were part of the CdM PTA. Can you tell me about the first time you went on the Home Tour and what brought that about?

A: My first time going on the Home Tour was actually an assignment from (Stu News editor) Lana Johnson, who was my supervisor when I was the Real Estate Editor at the Daily Pilot – talk about full circle! She gave me her camera, then sent me out to take photos and write about the homes that were going to be on the tour. I’ve been hooked ever since. Now I’m a Home Tour junkie and love being involved behind the scenes and seeing the homes and spending time with my friends on the day of the actual event.

Q: When did you become active as a volunteer, and what jobs have you held over the years?

A: I’ve been volunteering since elementary school, when I was a Campfire Girl back in Minnesota – do they still have those? When I first moved to CdM, I volunteered at the library in the Friends of the Library Bookstore. Volunteering is the best way to meet people, because you share a common goal of wanting to make a difference and help others. There are so many ways to get involved, use your skills or learn new ones, and there are ways to connect at all ages, all stages of life. Through the years, I’ve volunteered for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), at my children’s preschool, Mariners Church, BCYC and Harbor View Elementary – Go Vikings! That’s where I first really connected in an educational setting with so many parents, students, teachers and staff. While there, I started the first ever Jog-A-Thon to raise funds, which is still going strong and is now held at all elementary schools on this side of the bay. We also started a track team, and I coached for seven years. I also spent many years advocating for the new track and sports fields that are now at CdMHS. At CdMMS, I began with the Renaissance Program, then did PR for the CdM cross country and track and field teams. Because of that, I connected with friends who were involved in the CdM PTA, which has been such an amazing experience. I began as vice president of programs and this is my second year as president. What I’m most proud of is our amazing team. They have done so much to continue to make things happen throughout the past few years, no matter what comes our way. They’re also the kindest, most giving and most fun group I’ve ever been involved with. We’re also very diverse, representing all of our public elementary schools in the area, and private schools as well, with our board. It is the most extreme privilege and pleasure to have this journey come full circle. CdM Home Tour is always one of the best events and to view spectacular homes and to see first-hand what is accomplished from the funds that are raised and how it improves the lives of our students is the best feeling in the world. We have an amazing executive board, and we work so well with our CdM Principals, Josh Hill and Dr. Rebecca Gogel, as well as our school board trustees Karen Yelsey and Carol Crane. The funds raised have paid and continue to pay for impactful things such as student scholarships; technology; a new mural that includes the mascots for the Tritons (middle school) and Sea Kings; updating the high school office; outdoor tables and umbrellas for students; teacher grants and so much more. Currently, we’re working on outfitting the Zen Den in the middle school, where the counselors have created a calming and creative space for students to spend time.

Q: Is there a single home that stands out to you from all the Home Tours you’ve been a part of that was especially magical, that really spoke to you, or impressed you, or had a feature that you just never forgot?

A: There are so many amazing homes and spectacular residences that it would be difficult to choose one. What really stands out are specific features, and the love and care people put into making their house a home. Highlights that I would include are a display of covers from past CdM Home Tours arranged like artwork in a dining room; the waterslide from the top of a family’s backyard into a pool; the oversized tennis racket in a teen’s bedroom; the musical notes of “What a Wonderful World” on a wall next to the piano; the thousands of pebbles hand set into a beach-themed shower; a spa and family oasis just above Big Corona Beach; cookbooks displayed on custom shelving like you would see in a bookstore or library; a shelf designed to display nail polish; a movie theater on a bluff in CdM; the living wall that was two stories high…There was also a home that was very well thought out with a study nook next to the kitchen so parents could keep an eye on kids during meal prep; a storage space next to the family room that held all the holiday decorations; and next to the pool and sport court, another kitchen/family room. We’ve had homes on the tour that belong to CdM PTA board members, Home Tour chairs, CdM parents, friends and a former CdM PTA president, as well as interior designers, celebrities and a lot of very gracious and kind people. We’ve also had three homes on my block on the tour at separate times. When we were looking at the house we’re now living in, we met one of our neighbors while she was outside gardening. I remembered her home from the Home Tour – it had been one of our favorites. I was gushing about her home, and the woman invited us in, gave us a personal tour and introduced us to her husband. Her friendliness was one of the reasons we moved.

Q: What should people know about this year’s Home Tour?

A: This is the best and most fun way to support our CdM Middle and High School students. Our students really are our future, and they will be the ones taking care of us at some point. We can show them how much we value them by raising funds to support their education and their social and emotional health. The past two years have been extremely challenging for them, and this is one way to show them how much we care. Revenue from sponsorships, ads, underwriting and ticket sales directly benefits our students. We are most excited that the 48th Annual Corona del Mar Home Tour is going to be live and in person again. We will be featuring magnificent homes in Corona del Mar and Newport Beach that show the latest trends, spectacular views, custom and personal touches and really showcase our community in all its glory. We’re also excited about having our breakfast and lunch at the Newport Beach Civic Center for the first time. It offers an abundance of space both indoors and outdoors, provides more room for our boutique and easy parking. We are also thrilled that VALIA Properties and Barclay Butera Interiors are on board as our Presenting Sponsors once again.

Q: What are the biggest logistical challenges with putting on a Home Tour?

A: The Home Tour is like having 10 separate events all in the space of 10 hours. There is a breakfast; a tour of five to seven homes that are all staged with extra touches of decor; a luncheon with a boutique; and an after party. There is also a kickoff party/underwriter’s party before the event begins. There is a lot of work behind the scenes with our website, ticketing, venues, sponsorships, ads, coordination of students, promotions, publicity, etc. – all of this is organized, managed, publicized and actually happens because of the hard work of our event chair, Gina Jaha and an incredible team of hundreds of volunteers. The past two years have been especially challenging, yet our team has made the impossible, possible. They are caring, creative and can do anything, and usually with a smile. They make magic happen.

Editor’s note: The CdM Home Tour will take place Tuesday, March 1. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.cdmhometour.com.

~~~~~~~~

Amy Senk is a long-time resident of Corona del Mar and a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.

City construction project begins Monday, Jan. 24

A construction project will begin Monday, Jan. 24 to rehabilitate concrete sidewalks, curbs and access ramps on East Coast Highway and Marguerite Avenue in the Corona del Mar area. The construction will require temporary, intermittent lane closures at the work locations. “No parking” signs will be posted at various locations during the project. 

The areas impacted by construction will be East Coast Highway between MacArthur Boulevard and Newport Coast Drive, and Marguerite Avenue between Bayside Drive and 5th Avenue.

The concrete improvements are expected to be completed by the end of March, and will be followed in April by street repaving, which will be completed by the end of May. To minimize public inconvenience, the East Coast Highway repaving will be done at night. The Marguerite Avenue repaving will be done during the day.

The work is being performed by the city’s contractor, All American Asphalt. 

 For questions, contact Ben Davis at 949.644.3317 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Andy Tran at 949.644.3315 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. from the city’s Public Works Department.

Guest Letter

John (Jeb) Brown, M.D.

Chair of the Robotics Committee

Hoag

Hoag performs 20,000th robotic-assisted surgery

Hospital among only 10 nationally to reach this milestone, improving patient outcomes, reducing pain, easing recoveries, and lowering health-care costs along the way.

Robotic-assisted surgery first became available in the late 1990s, with a handful of specially trained surgeons venturing into a futuristic field that held significant promise for patient care.

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian recently crossed the threshold of our 20,000th robotic-assisted surgery. Only 10 other medical centers in the United States have reached this milestone. Today, Hoag performs the highest volume of robotic surgical procedures of any hospital in California and is 18th in volume nationally. Hoag ranks 15th in the country in the volume of gynecologic and gynecologic oncology procedures, and was also the first hospital in California to be designated a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation.

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of Hoag Hospital

 Hoag Robotics Support Staff

We have been able to achieve this milestone due to the vision shared by Hoag’s executive leadership and surgeons. We performed the first gynecologic robotic surgery in August 2006 and our President and CEO Robert T. Braithwaite made it clear at that time that he shared our desire to use robotic surgery to improve the care of our patients. Hoag’s administration subsequently dedicated the resources for us to build a world-class program.

The data shows that, in many procedures, minimally invasive surgery is better for patients than open surgery. It is associated with less pain, decreased blood loss and fewer complications. Robotic-assisted surgery has extended the boundaries of minimally invasive surgery, allowing us to offer these procedures to patients who previously had no option except to undergo open surgery.

Hysterectomy is a good example of a procedure that has been improved significantly by robotic surgery. In the past, the traditional open surgery patient was in the hospital for three to four days and recovery took six to eight weeks. Today, approximately 80% of patients undergoing a robotic hysterectomy at Hoag go home the same day. Some only take over-the-counter medications for pain relief and many return to near-normal activity in three to four weeks. This has profoundly transformed the care of our patients.

Hoag’s robotic-assisted surgery program would not be where it is today without the support and dedication of the almost 70 nurses and surgical technicians who staff our operating room. We have grown from five surgeons in three specialties to 47 surgeons in 12 specialties:

–Gynecology

–Gynecologic Oncology

–Urogynecology

–Urology

–Urologic Oncology

–Cardiovascular Surgery

–Thoracic Surgery

–Colorectal Surgery

–Head & Neck Surgery

–Bariatric Surgery

–Hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) Surgery

–General Surgery

Hoag’s commitment to the robotic surgery program has allowed us to join an elite group of institutions in the country. Beyond reaching the 20,000-procedure milestone, the recent delivery of the da Vinci^® SP Robot to our Newport Beach campus represents the ninth robot at our Newport Beach and Irvine campuses. However, it’s the tremendous health care benefits our robotic surgery program brings to our patients that gives us the greatest pride.

City leaders join together for animal shelter groundbreaking

Friends of Newport Beach Animal Shelter (FONBAS) hosted the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday (January 20) for the city’s new Animal Shelter. 

On hand for the festivities were Mayor Kevin Muldoon, City Councilmembers Joy Brenner, Diane Dixon and Will O’Neill, along with other city officials, FONBAS board members, Police and Animal Control officers, major donors and volunteers.

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of FONBAS

Members from across Newport Beach gather to celebrate the Animal Shelter’s groundbreaking

The new Shelter plans to provide a comfortable, healthy environment with the maximum opportunity for placement of lost or displaced animals in forever homes. It will include a single-story, 1,500-square-foot building with a 750-square-foot kennel to house dogs, cats and other animals, plus parking, a front-yard greeting area and a secure rear-yard exercise area.

The current shelter is leased and lacks many amenities necessary in a modern animal facility, yet almost 500 animals were still cared there each year. 

The new facility will be located at 20282 Riverside Drive, Newport Beach.

For more information or to become a member of FONBAS go to www.FONBAS.org.

Courtesy of FONBAS

A rendering of the new planned Animal Shelter

COVID-19: 756 new cases and two new deaths reported in Newport Beach this past week

Stu News Newport is reporting COVID-19 numbers on a weekly basis, as reported by the OC Health Care Agency.

This week, January 12-18, there have been 756 new cases in Newport Beach and two new deaths, bringing the overall totals to 8,355 cases reported to date and 110 deaths. 

During the past week, the county reported a total of 52,428 new cases, raising the total to 455,314 to date. The death totals for the county were 27 for the week, bringing the overall total number of deaths to 5,938.

As of Tuesday, Jan. 18, Orange County has performed a cumulative of 6,652,854 tests to date. There are 1,197 current cases of hospitalized patients in Orange County, of which 199 are in ICU.

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 county’s data dashboard, click here.

COVID-19 numbers are updated weekly by Stu News Newport in Friday’s edition. 

Click on photos for larger images

Data courtesy of OC Health Care Agency

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.

Let’s talk golden teddy bears…That’s incredible Angus. What a total love bug. At 2 years in age, one pretty much knows what they are adopting in a dog. Angus is sweet, funny, loves to play, love, relax and hang out. He’s smart, listens, goes along with the program and absolutely shines! He could be your pillow while you’re watching movies and he really pays no mind to other dogs around him. He is an easy-going guy. He’s a shedder, but that absolutely shouldn’t make anyone think twice, because bathing and grooming will definitely be on the to-do list to care for his wonderful fur coat. Angus would also like a yard. He seems to be potty trained to go outside, but that’s also something that any new adopter needs to work on at the beginning stages of adopting and loving a new pup. 

Courtesy of Newport Beach Animal Shelter

Meet Angus

Staff is available to talk during “normal” business hours, so Angus hopes to see you soon.

The shelter does require completed application forms for their animals, so simply print one up from their non-profit’s webpage at www.FONBAS.org. After it is completed, you can email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and upon review, they’ll call you to schedule an appointment. They truly look forward to speaking with you and thank you for sharing in their joys of being the best pet parents ever.

Newport Beach Animal Shelter adoption fees:

–Adult Dogs - $150

–Puppies - $225

–Adult Cats - $90

–Kittens - $110

–Rabbits - $45

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.

Letters to the Editor

Should Newport Beach City Council support the successful acquisition of Banning Ranch?

This week the Costa Mesa City Council passed a resolution to endorse the purchase of Banning Ranch to remain as open space. They cite 17 solid reasons that Costa Mesa should support the acquisition of Banning Ranch for open space. Among the reasons for their resolution, which can be found here (Text of Resolution), they reference the need to provide open park space for residents of their city and neighboring cities, the importance of maintaining the largest undeveloped private piece of land on the California coast between Ventura and the Mexico border, and the need to protect federal and state listed species and rare plants and animals. They further recognize that by restoring and reintroducing tidal flow to the degraded salt marshes within Banning Ranch this would address and mitigate anticipated sea-level rise along the coast. 

The Trust for Public Lands (TPL) has worked tirelessly for four years to negotiate the purchase of Banning Ranch with the property owner and to raise funds for the purchase. Environmental groups such as Still Protecting Our Newport (SPON) and Orange Coast River Park have supported the Banning Ranch Conservancy’s decades long efforts to save Banning Ranch from development of its wetlands, coastal bluffs and coastal open space for the enjoyment of the residents of Orange County and throughout California.   

TPL has raised $83 million toward the purchase price of $97 million. The momentum for this was initiated by a $50 million gift from Newport Beach residents Frank and Joann Randall. 

Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris was able to secure an additional $8 million from the state.

TPL and the Banning Ranch Conservancy are so close that it appears to be possible that this goal could be achieved by the deadline of June 2022. TPL has applied for grants that would cover a large portion of the $14 million delta. The approval of those grants will hopefully be revealed in the coming months. 

Costa Mesa is the first city in Orange County to approve a resolution supporting Banning Ranch which would help secure the additional grants needed to complete the purchase.   

My question is, why hasn’t Newport Beach done the same? 

Banning Ranch is within our “Sphere of Influence”; our General Plan Vision Statement affirms that “We preserve our open space resources. We maintain access to and visibility of our beaches, parks, preserves, harbor and estuaries.”

All Newport Beach residents would benefit from an open space park for recreation and relaxation. 

Shouldn’t we encourage our City Council to be the second city in Orange County to pass a Resolution in support of the acquisition and preservation of Banning Ranch as open space for the enjoyment of our residents and all of Orange County?   

We really owe this to the next generation; our children and grandchildren deserve to have open recreational space. And what a great way to support our coastal residents! 

Nancy Scarbrough

Newport Beach

There’s no Joy in boys town

There was a letter in this morning’s paper that so inspired me that, with “a little help from my friends,” to quote a Beatles’ song, I want to put an assortment of thoughts on the table regarding mayors and city government in Newport Beach. 

First of all, the author of the letter, Lenard Davis, told the story of how the first woman to be elected mayor in Orange County came about in 1954, in Newport Beach before Newport Beach was a charter city. And guess what? She was elected mayor on “a platform to get rid of the corruption in City Hall.” 

Do you see where this is going?

Lenard Davis was, in turn, responding to a letter written by Janet Clarke who was “bemoaning the ol’ boys’ network” which passed over Joy Brenner recently for both mayor and mayor pro tempore. We know that many residents thought that the choice was extremely unfair and that the talents of Joy are far superior to the newly elected mayor pro-tempore, not to mention her greater experience in office.

Well, those who support Joy, who are many, and those who are opposed to electing a mayor, who are many as well, may be able to turn a loss into a gain (if necessary) by talking Joy into running for mayor. Hopefully, the idea of electing a mayor will not come to fruition and that Joy will get her rightful opportunity to serve as mayor and mayor pro tempore when she gets re-elected to Council.

Many of us believe that Joy was not selected for the two positions of leadership because of her failure “to play ball.” Most of the good ol’ boys, however, will be termed out by then and we hope that voters elect councilmembers who serve the community rather than themselves.

Getting back to electing a mayor, there are so many reasons not to and they have been well expressed. The most obvious reason is that as far as anyone knows, despite Will O’Neill seemingly expressing at one time or another that his proposal was “carefully vetted,” no one seems to know the particulars. So, at this point, unless told otherwise, we can only assume that Will is the author. Shouldn’t that be something that we need to know for certain before voting on the proposal to elect a mayor?

The measure that has been placed on the June ballot by the Council in a 4-3 vote is exactly what Will posted on Stu News on September 3rd. This measure is a major change to the Charter, amending eight different sections, deleting roughly 123 existing words and adding roughly 647 new ones! You could compare those major changes to the mere four words in just one section that could change the city to “district” voting but that would have meant that the elected mayor would have to share too much power with the Council.

Pretty presumptuous isn’t it for a man who “rode into town” just a little over eight years ago!

For further information about the charter proposal to elect a mayor, you can refer to https://noelectedmayor.com/.

Lynn Lorenz

Newport Beach

SCR announces cast, creative team for What I Learned in Paris

South Coast Repertory (SCR) with David Ivers, artistic director and Paula Tomei, managing director announcing the cast and creative team for What I Learned in Paris by Pearl Cleage and directed by Lou Bellamy. The play runs February 19 through March 19 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Originally scheduled to start February 12, What I Learned In Paris will now begin one week later with the same number of performances as originally planned. The decision to delay rehearsals and performances was made in the interest of protecting the health and safety of SCR’s artists, audiences, staff and volunteers.

The cast features Erika LaVonn (Eve Madison), Celeste M. Cooper (Lena Jefferson), James T. Alfred (John Nelson), Russell Andrews (J.P. Madison) and Kaye Winks (Ann Madison). LaVonn and Cooper are no stranger to Cleage’s work. LaVonn played Eve in Indiana Repertory Theatre’s 2015 production of What I Learned in Paris and Cooper played Delia in Court Theatre’s production of Blues for an Alabama Sky.

The creative team includes Macelle Mahala, dramaturg; Vicki Smith, set designer; Dana Rebecca Woods, costume design; Don Darnutzer, lighting design; Jesse Mandapat, sound design; Joanne DeNaut, CSA, casting and Kathryn Davies, production stage manager.

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Courtesy of SCR

(L-R) “Fireflies” cast members Christiana Clark and Lester Purry with Lou Bellamy, who previously directed “Fireflies” in January 2020 on the Julianne Argyros Stage at SCR. He is now directing “What I Learned in Paris,” which comes to Segerstrom Stage, February 19 through March 19.

“Pearl Cleage is a playwright I’ve admired for a long time and I’m thrilled we’re bringing her important work to SCR for the first time,” Ivers said. “What I Learned in Paris is a clever, funny romantic comedy that makes us laugh as it teaches us about a pivotal time in American history. And having worked with and studied under Lou Bellamy, I can’t put into words how incredibly fortunate we are to welcome him back to SCR. If you saw his masterful direction of Fireflies, you understand why he is the perfect person to direct this work, along with the rest of this talented cast and creative team.”

Cleage had a front-row seat for that pivotal time in American history. She worked as Maynard Jackson’s [first black mayor of Atlanta, GA] press secretary and speechwriter before becoming – as Ivers described her – “one of America’s most important playwrights.” Plays like Flyin’ West, Blues for an Alabama Sky and Bourbon at the Border illustrated Cleage’s mastery addressing issues of race, gender and domestic violence. Her 1997 debut novel, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, was a New York Times best-seller and Oprah Book Club Selection. It drew critical praise for Cleage’s approach of empowering women undergoing obstacles in their lives. 

Bellamy returns to SCR for the first time since directing Fireflies by Donja R. Love in January 2020. This is the latest stop on an accomplished directorial journey that took Bellamy to Arizona Theatre Company, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland Play House, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Guthrie Theater, The Kennedy Center and Hartford Stage Company, among others. The founder and artistic director emeritus of Penumbra Theatre Company in St. Paul, MN., Bellamy built Penumbra into one of the country’s premier theatres dedicated to exploring the African-American experience.

A 2007 Obie Award winner for directing August Wilson’s Two Trains Running, Bellamy established Penumbra into one of the leading theatres of Wilson’s work. One of Penumbra’s 39 world premieres was Wilson’s first professional production: Black Bart and the Sacred Hills (1977).

Set in 1973 Atlanta in the wake of Maynard Jackson’s election as the first African-American mayor of a major Southern City, What I Learned in Paris takes you behind the scenes to the campaign operatives who helped make Atlanta into the “new Black capital of America.” Love triangles mix with office politics to create a fast-paced romantic comedy that addresses the intersection of race, class and gender.

Jackson is not a character in What I Learned in Paris. But Cleage’s snapshot of Jackson’s impact on this time in history and its enduring legacy across many dynamics provides a valuable lens into issues that remain important 50 years later.

Tickets are now on sale and range in price from $26-$93, with additional discounts available for educators, seniors and theatregoers ages 25 and under. Tickets can be purchased online or by phone at 714.708.5555. More information is available at www.scr.org. 

“We want to stress that we’re taking every measure to ensure our audiences can enjoy our wonderful performances with this incredible cast and creative team in a safe environment,” Tomei said. 

South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

You Must Remember This: Joe Collins

By NANCY GARDNER

Joe Collins, a long-time resident, made his living developing small projects.  Probably his best known was the Jamaica Inn, a popular CdM watering hole in the ‘50s. Development, however, even of successful go-to places, was just a way to make a living. What he really loved was adventure, which must have been genetic because his son Kelly became a race car driver and his grandson, Ronny Burns, was a big wave rider until his premature death in a motorcycle accident.  As for Joe, it didn’t matter whether it was sailing to a new island or participating in an all-terrain motor race, as long as it promised some thrills he was up for it. He was a good friend of my father’s, and often after one of his adventures would come over for a drink and to recount his latest feat. After he left, my father would inevitably make the same lament: “How can someone who has done something so exciting make it sound so boring?” It was a great puzzle to a person who could turn the theft of a manhole cover into a rollicking saga.

At some point in the early ‘50s, Joe and my father went on a fishing trip to Baja. Baja was a very different place in those days. There were no clusters of condos for expatriate gringos. The peninsula was mostly small fishing and farming villages with great swaths of desert in between. Only a couple of places like Tijuana and Ensenada, where they went, were developed enough to have much tourist business. They had fished most of the day, and now it was time for a drink. There were bars in town – Hussong’s among them – but that was not good enough for my father. “Let’s go someplace where we’ll see the real Baja instead of some place with a bunch of tourists.” Joe was immediately on board, his one small concern that once off the beaten path could they make themselves understood well enough to order a drink. “My Spanish will get us through,” my father assured him.

Off they went, leaving the narrow-paved highway and following a dirt road until they came to a small cantina, just what they were looking for. They went in and sat down. “Dos cervezas,” my father said, flashing his Spanish.

The bartender looked at the two of them, and then rattled off a reply in Spanish. It is amazing when you do not know much – or any – of another language, how rapidly a native speaker seems to talk, but my father was able to grasp one word of the barrage: rojo.

“Si,” he said. “Rojo. Red.”

The bartender said something to the several other men who were sitting in the bar, and they came forward.

“Rojo?” one of them asked.

“Si, rojo,” my father said, delighted at how well things were going out in the real Baja.

There was another burst of Spanish between the other men while my father grinned at Joe, happy to be the facilitator of this wonderful Mexican-American exchange, but Joe was looking not at my father but at something behind him. My father turned his head, expecting to see a merry group sharing a moment of international amity, but instead he found a wall of men shoulder to shoulder, all with menacing glares.

After a moment, one of the men snarled something in which my father caught two words, one the now familiar rojo, the other communista. This was the period of the red scare, and the scare, apparently, was not limited to north of the border. Seeing two strangers in a place few strangers came, the Mexicans were instantly suspicious that they were Communist infiltrators, only to have their suspicions confirmed by one of the very men they were accusing. What had my father been thinking? Well, Joe Collins had red hair, and my father, picking up on the one familiar word, had assumed that rojo referred to Joe’s hair. He thought he had been agreeing that Joe was a redhead when he had actually been agreeing that they were Communists.

“No, no,” he quickly said and patted Joe’s hair. “Rojo…hair, no communista.” It took a few repetitions, but the mistake was eventually clarified, undoubtedly helped by buying several rounds for the house, and diplomatic relations were restored.

The only negative result of their little adventure came a week later when my folks went to a party. My father couldn’t wait to tell the story of his misadventure as a translator, and what happened? “Joe was at the party before me and told it first,” my father complained. “Typical Joe. He made it SO BORING!”

~~~~~~~~

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

Pacific Symphony announces artist changes and concert postponements

Pacific Symphony announced today that Pacific Chorale and the American Feel Young Chorus will not be appearing on the Lunar New Year concert (February 5). The orchestra also announced the postponement of Cinderella – Opera for Kids on Farmers & Merchants Family Musical Morning series and Cathedrals of Sound (February 17-19). The common denominator among these three programs is the participation of vocalists, who are unable to rehearse or perform wearing masks, necessitating changes be made. 

For the Lunar New Year concert, the two choruses involved – Pacific Chorale and the American Feel Young Chorus – will not be appearing on the program, although they will be seen on a pre-recorded mosaic video to the traditional Chinese song, “Swan Goose.” Cinderella – Opera for Kids has been rescheduled to June 4 and Cathedrals of Sound will be scheduled for the 2022-23 season. In its place, Carl St.Clair will conduct a program entitled Beethoven and Rachmaninoff (February 17-19), which features Beethoven’s “Pastorale” Symphony and Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto with Italian pianist Alessio Bax as soloist. 

Anyone holding either a 10 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. ticket for Cinderella – Opera for Kids will be able to attend the same program on June 4. Tickets for Cathedrals of Sound will be honored at the Beethoven and Rachmaninoff concerts. 

With vocalists unable to rehearse or perform while wearing masks, officials felt these program changes and postponements were the best way to ensure the safety of audiences, musicians, volunteers and staff. Late January concerts remain scheduled as planned with robust safety protocols in place.

According to Pacific Symphony President and CEO John Forsyte, “We were fortunate to be able to postpone the Family Musical Morning Cinderella program to early June and to make some modifications to the artist lineup for the Lunar New Year program. While we were gratified to be able to bring together an appealing program featuring works of Beethoven and Rachmaninoff with an engaging young piano soloist in place of Cathedrals of Sound, our disappointment is palpable at needing to postpone to next season the world premiere of ‘Fiat Lux’ by the celebrated composer Sir James MacMillan. We know our audiences share that disappointment.”

 Forsyte added, “Our ongoing commitment to the well-being of our audiences, musicians and staff, though, is a responsibility we take extremely seriously. We appreciate your understanding, apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to our performances later this month that do not involve vocalists.”

For more information, call Pacific Symphony’s ticket office at 714.755.5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

Piling on

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Photo by Jason Berry (Instagram @its_jason_berry)

A view from down under Balboa Pier

Finnigan named Newport Beach’s new assistant city manager

Tara Finnigan, the city’s deputy city manager, has been appointed to the position of assistant city manager following an open recruitment, City Manager Grace Leung announced last week. 

Finnigan has more than 25 years of experience in local government, with 14 of those at the City of Newport Beach. Finnigan will succeed Carol Jacobs, who retired from the city in October 2021. 

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Courtesy of City of Newport Beach

Tara Finnigan

“Tara is uniquely well qualified and best of all, knows and loves this community,” Leung said. “In my three years of working with her as deputy city manager, Tara has impressed me with her leadership and project management skills; deep knowledge of the organization and community; and her high level of professionalism, empathy and work ethic. I know she will continue to develop her skills and positively impact the organization in her new role.”

As deputy city manager, Finnigan oversaw the organization’s Information Technology division and Library Services Department, homeless outreach, communication and economic development programs, and manages special projects and certain policy development efforts and legislative issues for the city manager. She also serves as the staff liaison to the city’s Aviation Committee and the Group Residential Uses Ad Hoc. 

Her specific duties as assistant city manager will be determined in the coming weeks, Leung said. 

Finnigan began her career in marketing for planning and engineering consulting companies and went on to work for the Irvine Ranch Water District and the City of Orange, prior to joining the City of Newport Beach in 2008. 

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach.

Businesses and families…register to support Spirit Run and its youth causes, receive benefits in return

Are you looking to market your business to residents from Newport-Mesa and beyond? Consider becoming a vendor at Spirit Run’s Youth, Fitness & Dog Expo. Vendors have a captive audience as participants and spectators flock to the expo before and after their races.

Athletic shoes and apparel, health and fitness information, and youth and dog products and services are obvious fits for the expo. However, the expo is a great place for any business to meet locals as well as people from Southern California and beyond.

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Courtesy of Spirit Run

Cycle booth at Spirit Run’s Youth, Fitness & Dog Expo

Learn more about the expo at www.newportspiritrun.org/expo-vendors.

Businesses, as well as families and individuals, can support Spirit Run and its beneficiaries as event sponsors and receive benefits in return. Benefits for businesses include logo placement on the event website, print materials, T-shirts and more. Businesses may also appreciate race day recognition by placing company banners at the start line, hosting an expo booth, making announcements and more. Families and individuals enjoy name recognition, free event entries and gift cards. Each can choose to direct 25% of their donation to a participating school or youth cause. 

For sponsorship details, visit www.newportspiritrun.org/sponsor.

Newport Beach Association of REALTORS^® installs 2022 officers and directors

The Newport Beach Association of REALTORS® (NBAOR) recently installed their 2022 officers and directors. Krista McIntosh, Villa Real Estate was installed as 2022 president.

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Photos courtesy of NBAOR

2022 President Krista McIntosh giving her acceptance speech

Officers installed include Vice President Reuben Gulledge, Surterre Properties; Treasurer Jennifer Wong, Villa Real Estate; Secretary Jan Langford, Surterre Properties; in addition to Directors Todd Bousman, bouHAUS Properties; Brian Gibney, Villa Real Estate; Bob Milliken, Surterre Properties; Sue Podany, Surterre Properties; Natalie Shaw, Douglas Elliman; John Yasko, Coldwell Banker and Cari Young, Compass.

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(L-R) Brad Avery, Newport Beach City Councilmember and then mayor with 2021 President Brian Gibney

2021 President Brian Gibney, Villa Real Estate was recognized with certificates and proclamations by prominent dignitaries for his outstanding service to the Newport Beach Association of REALTORS^® and the cities of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

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(L-R) 2020 REALTOR^® of the Year Kevin Kubiak and 2021 REALTOR^® of the Year Reuben Gulledge

REALTOR^® of the Year was presented to Reuben Gulledge, Surterre Properties, for his outstanding service to the Association.

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2021 Affiliate of the Year Sandi Rockwood

Affiliate of the Year was presented to Sandi Rockwood, Mariners Escrow for her continued participation and involvement.

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Installation of 2022 Officers and Directors (L-R) Cari Young, John Yasko, Todd Bousman, Treasurer Jennifer Wong, President Krista McIntosh, Installer Michael Johnson, Vice President Reuben Gulledge, Brian Gibney, Bob Milliken, Sue Podany, Natalie Shaw (Not pictured: Secretary Jan Langford)

The Newport Beach Association of REALTORS® proudly serves the communities of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. For more information, visit www.nbaor.com.

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Young Professional Network Core Team (L-R) Cameron Rick, Baylee Leavitt, Tilly Lumpkin, Katie Bethel, Andrew Baker and Shellsy Ashen

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The NBAOR Installation was held in The Pacific Club main dining room

“Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror” history quiz by podcaster Bill Lobdell

Bill Lobdell, former Daily Pilot editor and Los Angeles Times journalist, has a podcast called “Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror,” which looks at historical events and people – famous and forgotten – that shaped Newport Beach. You can listen and subscribe to all episodes of his podcast at http://newportbeach-podcast.com. You can also follow “Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror” on Instagram (@newport_in_the_rearview_mirror) and Facebook (@NewportInTheRearviewMirror). 

Lobdell tests your knowledge with a multiple-choice quiz on Newport Beach’s origins, to see how smart you really are about our town’s storied past. Good luck!

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Courtesy of Bill Lobdell

Newport Landing was Newport’s Plymouth Rock and first port, founded in 1870. It’s now the Lower Castaways (Dover Drive and West Coast Highway). Photo, circa 1885, is from the commemorative book, “Newport 75: 1906 to 1981” published in 1981.

Questions:

1. After Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo arrived on the California coast in 1542, adventurers and sea merchants spent the next three centuries sailing the Pacific Coast without any mention of Newport Bay on their maps or in their journals. Why didn’t Newport Bay make the historical record until the mid-1800s?

a. The Native American population was too small there to make trading profitable.

b. The area, known for its swamps and clouds of mosquitoes, repelled even the hardiest seaman.

c. Superstitious sailors believed the area was cursed.

d. Newport Bay didn’t exist at the time.

The answer is d. Newport Bay flat-out didn’t exist. Up until about 1825, the coastline of what’s now Newport didn’t include a peninsula or bay. The shoreline was just a continuation of the bluffs and beaches of Crystal Cove and Corona del Mar. But in 1825, a massive flood altered the course of the Santa Ana River, and it began dumping out into the ocean near what’s now Lido Isle, delivering an endless stream of silt, mud and sand that over the next few decades served as the building blocks for the peninsula and eight islands of bay.

2. In 1870, Capt. Samuel S. Dunnells turned his 110-foot, flat-bottomed steamer, the Vaquero, into the newly formed Newport Bay, becoming the first to pilot a commercial boat into those waters. He did this despite stern warnings from the government that the bay’s entrance was a death trap. Why did Capt. Dunnells take such a risk?

a. His boat had been hijacked by two stowaways/fugitives who didn’t want to escape in an unpopulated area.

b. He owed a large debt at the Port of Wilmington (now Los Angeles) and was looking for a way to unload his cargo of lumber elsewhere.

c. He wanted to tap into what he had heard was a growing market for lumber created by farmers settling near Newport Bay.

d. He needed to find fresh spring water to cool the boilers in his steamer.

The answer is b. and c. Capt. Dunnells did owe a large debt and profits from his cargo would be used to back merchants at the Port of Wilmington. In addition, he had heard about the demand for lumber needed for the fences, barns and houses of the many farmers settling near Newport Bay.

3. Where did Capt. Dunnells land the Vaquero in Newport Bay and establish a “new port”?

a. At what’s now Balboa Island.

b. Just inside the harbor entrance at what’s now China Cove.

c. At what’s now the Lower Castaways at Dover Drive and West Coast Highway.

d. Near what’s now the Balboa Pavilion. 

The answer is c. The Lower Castaways was a convenient site, positioned between the Upper and Lower Newport bays. It had a freshwater spring and provided local farmers and merchants a convenient meeting point to import and export goods. 

Soon, a tiny village sprung up at the new port, which included a wharf, warehouses, a few shanties, a two-story home for the port operator and a boarding house for workers. The settlement was known by several names, including Newport, Newport Landing, McFadden Landing and the Port of Orange. 

4. Who were the first non-Native American settlers there?

a. Portuguese fishermen.

b. Mexican fishermen.

c. Los Angeles land speculators.

d. They were a virtual United Nations of residents. 

The answer is d. According to the 1880 census, about 35 people lived in the village, including three Chinese fishermen, a Papago Native American, several Latinos, seven Portuguese and a Scandinavian girl who would marry a Mexican immigrant and have 12 children. Newport wouldn’t see that kind of diversity again for more than 100 years!

5. Despite 18 years of prosperity, Newport Landing became a ghost town virtually overnight. Why?

a. A long drought caused it to go bankrupt.

b. The freshwater spring there dried up.

c. An earthquake leveled the buildings and wharf.

d. The harbor entrance proved too dangerous for boats.

The answer is d. The harbor entrance was a flat-out death trap. Over the years, boats, cargo and men had been lost to the shifting sandbars and the huge waves that formed at the harbor entrance. The McFadden Wharf (now the site of the Newport Pier) was built on the oceanside of the peninsula in 1888 so the bay could be avoided.

If you want to learn more about Newport Beach history, including seven more quiz questions on Newport’s origins, you can subscribe to “Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror” podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify or simply listen at www.newportbeach-podcasts.

Editor’s Note: Stay tuned for connecting to Bill Lobdell’s future podcasts in Stu News.

Register for the Couch to 5K program to get ready for the 38th Annual Spirit Run

If your list of New Year’s resolutions includes becoming more fit, Spirit Run has a way to jump start your training. Register for their Couch to 5K Program.

Couch to 5K is perfect for new runners and those needing a tune up. Their coaches will slowly and gently prepare you for Spirit Run’s 5K.

Couch to 5K training is scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. at Newport Harbor High School beginning January 31 and culminating in participating in the Spirit Run on Sunday, March 27.

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Courtesy of Spirit Run

Previous Couch to 5K participants at the finish line after their Spirit Run 5K race

You’ll enjoy their friendly and experienced coaches. Coach Ashton is excited to return to their Couch to 5K program. Ashton competed for UCI’s Cross Country and Track Team where he made the Big West All-Academic Team three consecutive years, so Spirit Run is thrilled to welcome Coach Thomas back. Thomas is a USA Olympic Trials Qualifier in the Half Marathon and the 2020 Surf City Marathon Champion. He ran for Princeton and Corona del Mar High School. 

Couch to 5K registration is open to adults and families. The modest registration fee covers your entry into Spirit Run’s 5K. Save 20% with code COUCH when you register by January 20.

For more information and to register now, go to www.newportspiritrun.org.

Newport Beach – A Look Back

Photo series courtesy of Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach

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The Newport Beach Cannery area, circa 1940s or 1950s. Artists would gather on the opposite banks and paint the Cannery and fishermen at work.

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

Newport Bay Conservancy co-hosts World Wetlands Day celebration

Newport Bay Conservancy is co-hosting the two-day World Wetlands Day celebration for the public, along with the Sea & Sage Audubon Society, Amigos de Bolsa Chica and Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy. The event takes place on January 29 and 30.

The theme for this celebration is Migratory Birds of the Pacific Flyway. Saturday, Jan. 29 will feature online symposium talks by eight migratory bird experts. Then return on Sunday, Jan. 30 for optional behind-the-scenes tours of the wetlands of Orange County to observe some migratory and resident birds. The speakers will cover everything from new technologies used to track migrating birds to conservation issues regarding wetlands of California’s Central Valley. All talks take place via Zoom and the link will be emailed to attendees before the event.

The symposium is free, but you are welcome to make a voluntary donation, which will be split equally between the four sponsoring organizations.

Among the five scheduled tours on Sunday, Jan. 30, two provide you with an experience at Upper Newport Bay.

–Tour 4: Big Canyon Bird Tour with Newport Bay Conservancy from 8-11:30 a.m. Meet at Big Canyon Parking Lot located on Back Bay Drive (turn right on Back Bay Drive from San Joaquin Hills Road). The maximum number of participants is 20.

Note: True rain will cancel this event, but the threat of rain or a light drizzle will not.

–Tour 5: Kayak Tour of Upper Newport Bay with the Newport Bay Conservancy from 12-2 p.m. Meet at the Newport Aquatic Center, 1 Whitecliffs Drive, Newport Beach. The maximum number of participants is 20. Cost: $10/kayaker, which supports the maintenance of their kayak equipment.

For tickets, the speaker line-up and more information, go here.

Up, up and away

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Photo by Kevin Pellon (Instagram @socalsnapz)

A drone view captures the Newport Pier on this beautiful morning

What will 2022 throw our way?

By AMY SENK

The kids returned to school, the trash guys picked up the dead Christmas tree, we are stuck in the middle of January. As one of my favorite comics Billy Eichner would say, “And away…we…go!”

I spent the past few weeks trying to clear the holiday cobwebs from my brain, and a big part of that included making lists of issues and events to pay attention to over the next year in Newport Beach.

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Photos by Amy Senk

The California Pizza Kitchen in Fashion Island with its sign torn off. The space will be part of the new RH that includes a rooftop wine bar and restaurant.

Let’s start with one that’s fun – construction of the new RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) store at Fashion Island. Construction is going to begin this year to turn the old Forever 21 space into a four-story, 80,0000-square-foot shop that will include in-house designers and a rooftop wine bar and restaurant. The company’s November announcement included the news that some nearby merchants would have to be relocated as part of the work – and a spokeswoman for The Irvine Company confirmed that California Pizza Kitchen decided to close instead of move within the center. Le Pain Quotidien may close or relocate, Victoria’s Secret will move and its sister retailer, Pink, will close, and the Apple Store with lose some non-public space but will remain in the same spot. No other information was available. The new RH could open by May 2024.

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This space, which used to be Forever 21, will be turned into the four-story, 80,0000-square-foot RH store

Other things to pay attention to – the city’s East Coast Highway and Marguerite Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation project that will start January 24. The work is scheduled to take up to 80 days and will cold mill and overlay the existing pavement on East Coast Highway, from MacArthur Boulevard to Newport Coast Drive, and on Marguerite Avenue, from Bayside Drive to Fifth Avenue. The end result will be nice – smoother and quieter rides – but traffic will not be fun while they work.

I’m also very interested in the city’s redistricting efforts, which are required every 10 years so district lines reflect the latest census data. Newport Beach formed a committee last fall to explore options, and the public was allowed to submit their own ideas for maps – and now there are 11 to choose from. One is basically the same, while others chop up Corona del Mar, or lump Balboa Island with the Peninsula, or with CdM, along with other dramatic shifts. The City Council will discuss this all at a February 8 Study Session meeting and a final vote is scheduled for March. This could be a nothingburger or result in very big changes – we shall see.

There are other issues that I will be monitoring over the next few months, including fractional home ownership as orchestrated by companies like Pacaso, which uses the slogan, “The modern way to buy and own a second home.”

The City Council last year talked a little bit about what if anything they can do to keep homes owned by multiple owners from becoming unruly party houses. On one hand, property owners should be able to invest with their partners. On the other hand, companies like Pacaso have been causing headaches for city officials from Napa to Jackson Hole as they buy luxury properties in resort areas and sell fractional ownership stakes. In Newport Beach, some of those “owners” are acting more like party people than responsible neighbors, some residents told our City Council. It will be interesting to see what happens, if anything, to manage this new vacation home business model.

I’m also going to follow the issue of sober living and other group homes, which have a long history in this city of causing problems with neighbors, but which became headline news last August when a Santa Ana Heights detox house resident forced his way into a neighbor’s home. The neighbor shot the man to death and was cleared by the district attorney.

At first, some City Councilmembers seemed disinclined to tackle this issue, saying their hands were tied and pointing partisan fingers at Democrats in Sacramento. Later, meetings were held, including one with city, county and state officials, and in October 2021, the city formed a Residential Care Facilities Ad Hoc Committee to provide recommendations to the council on Residential Care Facilities regulations and policies. Then Deputy City Manager Tara Finnigan said the City Council approved a resolution last week, initiating zoning code and Local Coastal Program amendments related to residential care facilities. 

“This was the first step in the amendment process and once staff drafts the proposed changes, the recommendations will go to the Planning Commission for review before they go to the City Council to consider adoption,” she said. 

Changes will be good, not just for concerned neighbors, but to ensure the residents in such group homes are safe.

There’s more! We also have a city budget surplus, and how will we spend the money? Will part of it go toward rebuilding Newport Pier with on-pier parking and a Ferris Wheel? 

We also will have a special election in June about whether we want to directly elect our mayor or stick with the longstanding current system of electing City Council representatives by district who, in theory, rotate the mayor’s position. There are passionate views on both sides of this topic, but as I’ve written before – educate yourself because it’s a lot more complicated than it sounds, with deeper ramifications than you might think. 

And of course, as soon as that is over, we are likely to start hearing about November elections, where voters will decide who will be on the City Council for districts 1, 3, 4 and 6.

So stay tuned – and let me know if I’m missing anything. There’s a lot happening. Paying attention and staying engaged should be a priority for us all.

~~~~~~~~

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.

ENC seeks high school volunteers for upcoming camps

The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) is looking for responsible high school students that love nature and working with children to be a part of the Leader in Training (LIT) program for their upcoming Presidents Week and Spring Break Nature Camps.

What is a Leader in Training? “LiTs” are amazing high school students that help with Nature Camps. This is a perfect opportunity for volunteers who enjoy working with children.

Courtesy of ENC

ENC is holding Presidents Week and Spring Break Nature Camps and seeks high school volunteers

Sessions:

–President’s Week Session: February 21-25

–Spring Break Session: April 11-15

Why? Get outside and away from screens for a few hours a day. Get some exercise, fresh air and some sun. Spend time with your peers and gain experience and responsibility supervising young children. It provides an excellent experience to include on a resume or college application.

What about COVID? The health and safety of ENC campers, staff and volunteers is and always has been of utmost importance to the Center. To ensure the well-being of all, they have transitioned to modified camp protocols aligned with best health practices. You must be vaccinated to be an LiT.

For more information, go to https://encenter.org/camps/.

Environmental Nature Center is located at 1601 E. 16th St., Newport Beach.

Newport Beach Cultural Arts grant applications open for 2022

Each year, the City of Newport Beach distributes funds to arts organizations, enabling them to expand arts programs offered to the local community. To apply, arts organizations are required to meet the following criteria and submit a Cultural Arts Grant Application to the Newport Beach Public Library’s Administrative Office by Friday, Feb. 11, 2022.

Courtesy of NB Cultural Arts

Grant Application Criteria:

–Only arts organizations are eligible; they do not award grants to individual artists.

–Arts organizations must propose projects/programs for funding that directly benefit children and adults living in Newport Beach, and schools only within the city’s geographic boundaries. Collaborative events, such as public performances or programs implemented in conjunction with the City of Newport Beach are also eligible for grants.

–The Arts Commission funds only arts projects/programs which will be presented before January 16, 2023, not general operating expenses.

–Arts organizations that received cultural grants during 2019-2020 and 2020-21 will not be considered unless they have completed and returned their Cultural Arts Grant Completion Report, even if they have not completed some of the components of the project/program by the grant application due date.

–All applications must be typed or word-processed and complete with requested attachments. You may reformat on the computer as long as the font and pagination appear the same.

 For more information, application instructions & the application form and the Cultural Arts Grant Completion Report, go here.

Mesa Water invites students in service area to enter water video contest

Mesa Water District^® is hosting a video contest for local students who live in or attend high schools and colleges in the Mesa Water service area, to promote water awareness.

“We are excited to see the next generation of storytellers highlight our 100% local, reliable and safe water. Local students represent the future and the video contest is a creative and meaningful way to partner with students in telling Mesa Water’s story of abundant local, reliable, clean safe water,” said Marice H. DePasquale, Mesa Water board president.

Students are invited to submit a fun and informative video (60 seconds or less) addressing one the following questions:

–Why is it safe to drink Mesa Water straight from the tap? – #ByeByeBottled

–What does it mean to you that Mesa Water is 100% local? – #PurelyLocal

–Why do you love Mesa Water? – #ILoveMesaWater 

Animations, songs, poems, TikToks, monologues and stop motion videos are welcome. Video entries will be accepted from January 1 through February 28, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Three winners will be selected with the following monetary prizes:

~1st Place - $1,000

~2nd Place - $750

~3rd Place - $500

A panel of judges will select the winning videos based on accuracy, creativity, quality and entertainment value. Winners will be notified in March 2022 and will be invited to attend a board meeting in the Spring to be recognized and receive their prize.

Students must live in or attend high school or college in the Mesa Water service area, which includes Costa Mesa, parts of Newport Beach and some unincorporated areas of the county. For official contest rules and a map of the service area, visit www.MesaWater.org/VideoContest.

Founded on January 1, 1960, and governed by a publicly elected, five-member board of directors, Mesa Water District is an independent special district that provides water service to 110,000 residents in an 18-square-mile service area that includes most of the City of Costa Mesa, parts of Newport Beach and unincorporated Orange County including John Wayne Airport.

Registration is now open for Newport to Ensenada

The Newport Ocean Sailing Association has announced that registration is open for the 74th Annual Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race to be held on April 22, 2022.

“We’re more excited than ever to get racers back out racing as we celebrate our organization’s 75th anniversary,” said Vice Commodore, Administration Phil Herzfeld. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of NOSA

The 74th Annual Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race is scheduled for April 22, 2022

Once again NOSA is offering three different N2E courses: Ensenada, San Diego and the Dana Point sprint. The finish line for the San Diego race has been moved out further from the harbor entrance and will be a virtual finish line.

Information about the line-up of 2022 sailing seminars – in person and via Zoom – so every racer can maximize their chances to sail safe, fast and perhaps bring home some anniversary silver will be announced early in the new year. 

NORs for each course are also posted at https://nosa.org.

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