Timber!
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Courtesy of City of Newport Beach
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Photo by Patsy Metcalf
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Photo by Ron Yeo
Early Wednesday morning (March 15) around 5 a.m., Newport Beach city crews responded to a mature Red-Flowering Gum tree that experienced a whole tree failure in the 300 block of Jasmine Ave. Three vehicles were damaged, including one that was totaled. Property damages were limited to the parkway irrigation, landscape and the sidewalk. Fortunately, no injuries occurred. The tree was removed, including the massive stump, and the street was reopened.
Fair Game
By TOM JOHNSON
Rain washes out half of Hoag Classic Pro-Am but hopefully clear skies remain now through Sunday
A tough couple of days for the many local amateur supporters of the Hoag Classic who signed up to play 36 holes over two days in the Legends Pro-Am. Rain canceled all of Wednesday’s planned rounds, after the day’s two 18-hole formats had earlier been converted to two 9-hole events, in an attempt to save them.
Then, with rain temporarily in the rearview mirror, Thursday’s rounds went off as planned. The difference was NO crowds were allowed onto the grounds for the day. So, that meant the usual family members and friends, who normally come out to cheer the amateurs on, couldn’t. So, no one to complain to when they were playing bad and worse yet, nobody to share that “great shot” with.
And, although the Pro-Am is THE important fundraising component of the tournament, there are still a number of other things that combine to make Hoag Classic Week special.
Tuesday morning, at the VEA Newport Beach, 400+ guests enjoyed a very entertaining and detailed interview conducted by local Newport Beach orthopedic surgeon Alan Beyer, MD, with PGA Tour Hall of Fame member and Newport Beach resident Fred Couples.
Couples and Dr. Beyer bantered back-and-forth, beginning by touching on Fred’s decision early in life to move away from his family’s favorite sport of baseball and on to golf; to his early college years at the University of Houston, where he roomed with another longtime PGA tour member Blaine McCallister, and CBS lead sports announcer Jim Nantz; he talked about Augusta and what winning the Masters meant to his career; about his friendships on Tour, including a special one with Tiger Woods; and, he offered his thoughts and opinions on the recently introduced LIV tour, calling the players out for their false representations of why they made the move, what he thought they were now missing and the fact that he really didn’t care one way or the other whether it makes it or not.
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Courtesy of Hoag Classic
Newport Beach resident and Hall of Fame golfer Fred Couples entertains at the Champions Breakfast
Fred also widely praised the track out at Newport Beach Country Club as one of the tour’s best, and the love the players have for Newport Beach on the whole.
Now though, we move to 54 holes that will ultimately lead to a champion on Sunday afternoon. So, who will win? Names that would seem to factor in would seem to include Couples, who says he’s playing well; Bernhard Langer, who week-in and week-out is at or near the top of the tour and has been in what seems to have been forever; Chris DiMarco, who at 54 is still a relative youngster on this tour or David Duval, who, better yet, is only 51, and at one time was the best player in the game; and then Jim Furyk, at 52; or Padraig Harrington, who won the 2022 season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship; and, it would seem that Davis Love III and Steve Stricker would also be worthy of watching.
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Courtesy of Hoag Classic
Jim Furyk, a three-time PGA Tour Champions winner
But at the end of the day, it’s truly anyone’s guess. Remember in 2006, the “Beer Man” Mark Johnson won, holing out for eagle on 18 in Sunday’s final round to win by four. It’s kind of proof of that point.
If you’re planning to go out to the tournament this weekend, here are a couple of things that should be of interest.
First, tomorrow (March 18) is Military Appreciation Day, presented by CoreLogic. All active duty, military reserve, national guard, military retirees and veterans receive complimentary admission and food service for themselves and a guest.
Then, following the day’s golf, a military charity presentation will take place on the 18th green and there will be the recognition of local honorees who have distinguished themselves. These individuals will then be added to the Colonel Norman G. Ewers Military Wall of Honor, which pays special tribute to our honorees in perpetuity.
The tournament also donates to numerous military charities. Last year, the Hoag Classic donated more than $125,000 to partner organizations, including the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, the Blue Angels Foundation, United States Navy Memorial and the Heart of a Lion Foundation. Each year the program continues to grow with the support of our many corporate partners.
It’s a special time and a lot of work goes into it, courtesy of event chair and local attorney/Newport Beach resident Bob Callahan.
Then, Sunday’s final round is presented by Kingston Technology who also underwrites Student Day. All students 18 and under get in free for the day.
Kingston Technology also adds to the mix by contributing a number of scholarships, last year presenting six at $5,000 each.
• • •
Hoag Classic Executive Director Jeff Purser is in his final run of overseeing the tournament. After 25 years, Jeff plans to return to Youngstown, Ohio, where he grew up.
During his oversight, Purser has made the Hoag Classic (previously the Toshiba Classic) into arguably the PGA Tour Champions most admired and respected event, during which time they have raised some $20 million for local charities.
He will be missed!
• • •
If you watched the Academy Awards last Sunday, and paid attention, you perhaps noticed several presentations exquisitely produced by Visit Newport Beach.
The first one came in ABC7/KABC’s On the Red Carpet After the Awards segment, which featured an interactive interview with the Visit Newport Beach CEO Gary Sherwin. During it, Sherwin helped showcase different locations in Newport Beach from iconic films and shows such as All Quiet on the Western Front, Gilligan’s Island, To Have and Have Not, The OC and more.
The second one came immediately following the Oscars in the form of a 30-second spot that began in old black and white clips and segueing to today’s market beauty.
You really should check them both out by clicking the two links above.
• • •
Monday is big stuff and you’re invited to join in and celebrate. Of course, we’re talking just about here in the Northern Hemisphere. Yup, the vernal equinox occurs that day meaning the sun crosses the celestial equator going from south to north. You might know it as, Spring arrives.
That evening, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., a guided sunset hike will take place at Crystal Cove State Park. You’re invited to join a park naturalist on a moderate one-hour hike and learn about some of the “crepuscular” animals that live in the backcountry.
Meet at the Ranger Station (PCH inland at stoplight School-State Park, follow signs towards the Ranger Station). Wear sturdy shoes, bring water and dress in layers. $5 sunset rate.
• • •
Finally, it is with tremendous sadness that I tell you Newport Beach City Councilmember Robyn Grant’s husband, David, passed away early Wednesday morning of this week.
David was often by Robyn’s side during her year-long campaign effort for office, which would in itself be a miracle for most people considering how on-the-go Robyn always is. He had been struggling recently with various health issues, but his passing certainly didn’t appear to be imminent.
My condolences go out to Robyn and the Grant children.
Council moves forward with broadening timeshare definition to include fractional homeownership
By SARA HALL
City Council this week unanimously approved broadening the definition of timeshares to include fractional homeownership.
Councilmembers voted 7-0 on Tuesday (March 14) to move forward with city staff’s “preferred recommendation” to change the definition as described in city code. Staff noted that, as a timeshare use, fractional homeownership would effectively be prohibited in all residential zoning districts.
The issue has been studied and discussed for more than a year, most recently at the February 23 Planning Commission meeting, when an ad hoc committee made some basic recommendations on regulations, but declined to suggest specifics on several points.
While commissioners didn’t give the direct recommendation that council take action to broaden the definition of timeshares to include fractional ownership, several emphasized that the opportunity exists and that it was under the purview of the council to make that decision, not the commission. Most of the commissioners generally agreed that this business model is set up like a timeshare but framed as fractional ownership and that it seems to commercialize residential neighborhoods, but they stopped short of including it in the official recommendation and instead stressed that the City Council has the ability and authority to make that determination. Several also encouraged residents to share their comments with the council.
When the matter came before the council this week, city staff proposed the “preferred recommendation” to broaden the definition of timeshare to include fractional homeownership, which councilmembers ultimately agreed with, along with an overwhelming majority of public comments and letters.
Staff also provided the council with an “alternative recommendation” to create a separate regulatory process for fractional homeownership, including certain components regarding location restrictions, a maximum cap, public noticing for transparency, enforcement and practical regulations.
The “preferred recommendation” has language that aligns with what pretty much everyone is asking for right now, said Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neill.
“We’ve gone through the process enough to see what this is (and) what this isn’t, and (we can) start moving forward with the language that we’ve got in place,” O’Neill said.
They aren’t the only jurisdiction grappling with how to get their arms around this, noted Councilmember Lauren Kleiman.
They know they cannot, nor would they want to, preclude owner occupants from purchasing property in an LLC or prevent property owners from hiring a company to manage their properties, she noted.
“What we can look at is the use of the property and whether it’s consistent with the neighboring uses, as intended by our general plan and our zoning code. This is obviously a very transient use that has potential for impacts that can be differentiated from the typical residential use in our neighborhoods,” Kleiman said. “I’m not confident that the law will be on our side in the interpretation of land use here, but what I am clear about from the many, many, many emails that we received and from all of you here tonight, is the community’s desire to disallow this type of use to the extent that we’re able.”
“Absent the willingness of these operators to cease acquisition of these properties while the court in the Pacaso versus the Saint Helena case continues to examine whether the city exceeded its zoning authority and taking action to treat fractional ownership as consistent with a timeshare, we’re left with, I think, really no choice but to respond to the community’s will to address this,” she added.
The way that we do that is by adding language to the city’s existing ordinance that specifically addresses this type of fractional homeownership, Kleiman said.
As it stands today, allowing fractional homeownership as it’s being used today is an improper use of land planning, said Councilmember Joe Stapleton.
“It creates a camouflage for timeshares in areas that are not zoned or currently do not permit it,” Stapleton said. “If it acts like a timeshare, we should probably regulate like a timeshare.”
When he bought his house in Newport Heights 36 years ago, Councilmember Brad Avery didn’t think he’d have to worry about his neighborhood.
“It just never occurred to me that R1 would be threatened,” Avery said, noting that they’re dealing with a lot of pressure regarding housing from the state. “But the sacrosanct one to me is R1.”
It’s about building families, relationships and community, he said.
“To me, a deal’s a deal,” Avery said. “And R1, when you buy your home, it’s inconceivable to me that you would end up having a rehab home next door to you, which has happened to many people in our city. Or, in this case, a timeshare – or whatever you want to call it – it’s just that the [turnover] cycles are too much for being shoved into an R1 neighborhood as far as I’m concerned.”
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Photo by Kevin Pellon (Instagram @socalsnapz)
City Council agreed to broaden the definition of timeshares to include fractional homeownership in the city
The city has done their fair share of letting people experience Newport Beach by providing short term rentals, Avery added.
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Take Five: Marco Sassone returns to OC on the book tour for his memoir American Journey: My Life in Art
Artist Marco Sassone, who lived in Laguna Beach from 1972-1981, is returning to the area 40 years later on his book tour for American Journey: My Life in Art. Southern California Art Projects + Exhibitions (SCAPE) gallery in Corona del Mar (2859 East Coast Highway) will be hosting an exhibition of his work and a book signing on Saturday, March 18 from 4-6 p.m. This is a free event.
Sassone has embraced international acclaim as a painter and visionary for more than 50 years. His exhibitions have been featured extensively in the U.S. and abroad, and his work is included in some of the most prominent art collections in the world.
Now 80 years old and still painting, Sassone will be sharing his VIP life stories from his new memoir at SCAPE gallery on March 18.
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Photos courtesy of Marco Sassone
Marco Sassone discusses his new memoir on March 18 at SCAPE
Born in Florence, Italy, the most poignant and enduring influences can be traced back to his studies in the 1960s with painter Silvio Loffredo, himself a student of the expressionist master Oskar Kokoschka. The agitated brushstrokes and vibrant colors appealed to Sassone, offering the artist a foundation that has remained throughout his career.
Sassone’s work has been presented in numerous exhibitions, including those at National Academy of Design, New York (1977); Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, Calif. (1979); Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (1988); Bernheim Jeune, Paris (1988); Museo Italo Americano, San Francisco (1994); Cloisters of Santa Croce, Florence (1997); Pietrasana Museum, Pietrasana, Italy (2003); San Angelo Museum of Fine Art, San Angelo, Texas (2014); Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto (2016) and Columbus Centre, Toronto (2019). Many books and catalogs have been published about his work, including the volume Sassone (1979), written by art historian Donelson Hoopes. Sassone was knighted into “The Order of the Merit of the Italian Republic” in 1982.
Stu News caught up with Sassone to find out more about his inspirations and process.
Q: How did you choose the artwork for the SCAPE exhibition?
A: The director of SCAPE, Jeannie Denholm and I decided to do something special, and more intimate in a sense, for this event. We selected mostly works on paper of small format: watercolors, pastels and charcoal drawings from a variety of periods and dates.
Sassone began taking notes for his memoir in the 1990s
Q: How does an artist choose his subjects? Or do your subjects choose you?
A: Definitely, the subject chooses you. That is at least for me. Most often, art is autobiographical; it takes you and directs you places where you desire to be in – often an unpredictable process that leads you through your life of art to show you who you are, to discover yourself. I write about this in my book. There is a persistent voice inside all of us. A subtle voice – often annoying – that reveals the essence of yourself if you listen to it. I encourage young artists to pay much attention to this intimate sensation.
Q: You call your paintings creatures. Why?
A: The act of painting is an intense activity that uses body and mind. As I immerse myself in the complexity of that vision, it becomes a part of me. It is through this process – a process in which I act more as a witness then as a controlling agent – that your work comes alive. It is like giving birth in a sort of way. These are my creatures that surround me in the studio, providing energy to paint. I miss them when I am away.
Q: As such a visual person, how did you think to put your life into words? What was the inspiration for the book? Talk a bit about the process of this book, and how did you start? How long did it take to complete?
A: At a certain point during my career, I felt compelled to write about my life in art. There was a need to do it, I remember, probably as an act of liberation. I embarked on a journey to write my autobiography as I was drawn to the real and the genuine to describe the emotions felt during the process. I started during the 1990s. I wrote about what came to mind in the moment. Often in the corner of my studio in San Francisco, I would put down again on paper additional parts of the text. It was an unbelievable process, as these pieces would later amalgamate into the story, many years later. I was inspired to write, and my sensations became part of the story – an inspirational story like a novel, but with real events and real people.
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“Man with Blue Eyes” by Marco Sassone
Q: Your work has been featured in more than 350 exhibitions with openings at famous galleries in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. What exhibition is your most memorable and why?
A: I do not know about “most memorable.” Exhibitions have a story on their own. I remember them for different reasons. From the programming of a show to the curating of the works, the installation and the opening night. The New York exhibition at Wally Findlay Galleries on 57th and Madison in 1979 was certainly impressive as all works on display were eventually all collected.
The one in Los Angeles at the LA Municipal Art Gallery in 1988 brings special memories with Mayor Tom Bradley inaugurating the exhibit in front of probably the largest attendance to any of my shows that I recall. The exhibition that touched me the most was Home on the Streets in Florence in 1997 – a traveling exhibition installed in San Francisco and Los Angeles, before Florence in the Cloisters of the Church of Santa Croce. It was the most appropriate venue for my Homeless Series in a spiritual space run by the Franciscan monks.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear Sassone’s stories in person.
To learn more about Marco Sassone, go to www.marcosassone.com.
For more information about the book signing at SCAPE, go here.
Assemblymember Dixon and Supervisor Foley take steps to assist with State of Emergency
On Tuesday evening, March 14, California Governor Gavin Newsom added Orange County to the State of Emergency for the severe winter storms after the Board of Supervisors voted to pass a local declaration.
“We have housing foundations and backyards sliding into the Newport Bay resulting from days of torrential rainfall,” said Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-AD72) from Sacramento. “I appreciate the expediency with which the emergency declarations passed. This will ensure that our local residents have the resources and support needed to respond swiftly to the damage caused by the storms.”
On Sunday, Assemblymember Dixon visited the Newport Beach Dover Shores neighborhood to witness first-hand the damages recent storms have inflicted on homes of her constituents. She recognized Supervisor Katrina Foley’s urgent action to include Orange County in the Governor’s State of Emergency Declaration.
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Courtesy of City of Newport Beach
Dover Shores homes affected by recent slide
“It was essential the Orange County Board of Supervisors declare an emergency so the county could be eligible to tap into funding for storm-related response efforts,” said Dixon. “This aid will help those who are experiencing landslides in Newport Beach and impacts elsewhere in the district.”
Crews have been working to stabilize the Dover Shores bluff since the hillside was impacted at the beginning of the month by heavy rains. State support is key to ensuring the bluff is stable and other homes in the neighborhood won’t be in danger. Assemblymember Dixon and State Senator Janet Nguyen (R-SD36) sent a letter to the governor in advance of the Board of Supervisors meeting to show their unified support.
We are the champions, AGAIN!
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Courtesy of Allison Tift
Newport Beach Mayor Noah Blom and his fellow councilmembers recognize the back-to-back CIF-SS champion Newport Harbor High School boys water polo team at Tuesday’s City Council meeting to celebrate their recent success
Newport Beach Film Festival is now accepting entries for 2023
The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF), sponsored by the City of Newport Beach, is now open for film submissions in all categories. NBFF will celebrate its 24th anniversary with an action-packed line-up of independent and studio films from around the globe. Scheduled to take place October 12-19 throughout Newport Beach and Orange County, the festival will screen an international slate of more than 300 films in eight days, including feature-length narrative, documentary, short, animated and student films.
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Courtesy of NBFF
The 24th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival takes place October 12-19
During its eight-day run, the festival will feature an astounding array of nightly special events including red carpet premieres, gala celebrations, filmmaker receptions, compelling filmmaker Q&A sessions, international spotlights, popular industry seminars, musical performances, fashion shows and retrospectives. The festival will host numerous opportunities to connect with enthusiastic new audiences, fellow filmmakers, film industry professionals, non-profit organizations and members of the media.
Special Programs planned for 2023 NBFF include: Action Sports Film Series; Environmental Film Series; Art, Architecture + Design Film Series; Music Film Series; Family Film Series; Collegiate Showcase; Music Video Showcase; Youth Film Showcase and their free Seminar Series.
Deadline for submissions is Friday, March 31. Submission costs: Feature, $75; Short, $60 and Students, $25 (use the college student submission).
Founded in 1999, the NBFF has evolved into a prestigious multicultural event, attracting more than 53,000 attendees to Orange County.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts and Pacific Symphony bring Guide Dogs for the Blind to rehearsal today
Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced the opportunity to partner with Pacific Symphony and Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) puppies and their raisers to experience the sights and sounds of an orchestra performance.
Twenty-five trainers and 16 guide dogs will be seated on aisles in Orchestra Terrace and Box Circle of an upcoming Pacific Symphony rehearsal at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on Friday, March 17 at 2 p.m. At GDB, volunteer puppy raisers try to introduce many different activities and environments to the puppies to socialize and prepare them for their future as a guide dog, breeder dog, or K9 Buddy.
Headquartered in San Rafael, Calif. with an Oregon campus in Boring, Guide Dogs for the Blind is the largest guide dog school in North America. GDB believes that everyone deserves to move through the world safely and confidently – to live the life they want to live. Their passionate community employs innovative practices to create life-changing partnerships.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit www.scfta.org.
CdM High School students planning community Spring Car Show for Sunday, March 26
The Associated Student Body at Corona del Mar High School is hosting its inaugural Spring Car Show on Sunday, March 26, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Pool Parking Lot of the school.
Besides a collection of cars on display, the community event will also feature performances from the CdM Jazz Band, the CdM Cheer Team and the CdM Drumline.
The community is invited to walk around and enjoy the cars with family and friends for free. Get there early and enjoy donuts and coffee, free of charge.
Celebrity judges will include Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neill, City Councilmember Joe Stapleton and Newport-Mesa Unified School Board Trustee Lisa Pearson. The judges will pick winners who will receive prizes from dealerships who have sponsored our event.
Student Body President TJ Rokos, also active in local politics, has chaired a committee of students who have worked for months on the event. In fact, it has been several years in the making, being originally planned for prior to the pandemic.
“It is an honor to live in a community that values our education so highly,” said Rokos. “The citizens of Newport Beach always have our backs, and we wanted to do something for them. Our student government has been committed to seeing this event through as a way to connect with our community.
“I’m proud to say that this event is purely student run, but it would be impossible to accomplish without the resources given to us by the parents and school administration,” added Rokos. “I would also like to give credit to my committee of Monty and Nolan Crane, Will Hemphill, Will Chavez, Will Oldakowski, Owen Edwards, Bentley Adams and Michelle Nguyen.
For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 714.348.3308.
Corona del Mar High School is located at 2101 Eastbluff Drive, Newport Beach.
Save the Date: 28th Annual Balboa Island Parade is scheduled for June 4
The 28th Annual Balboa Island Parade and After-Party featuring The Fabulous Nomads is scheduled for Sunday, June 4, beginning at 11 a.m.
This year’s theme, “Horsin’ Around Island Style,” will have you wearing your best Stetson and polishing your favorite cowboy boots. The parade begins on Marine Avenue with the After-Party following immediately afterward in front of the Balboa Island Fire Station. Jack “Coconuts” Callahan is this year’s Grand Marshal.
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The colorful Balboa Island Parade as it heads down Marine Avenue always attracts a large crowd
Sponsored by the Balboa Island Improvement Association, this 28-year Island tradition is filled with children on bikes, Island dogs, decorated golf carts and floats, the United States Marine Band, USC Marching Band, horses, decorated vintage cars, the Keystone Cops, drill teams, marching school bands, local dignitaries and much more.
Balboa Island is going Western Island style, so in addition to your cowboy boots and hat, wear your Island shorts and shirts, bring your beach chairs and join a fun-filled family day.
If you would like to participate in the parade, you may also pick up parade registration entry forms at the following Balboa Island locations: Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach, Irvine Ranch Market, Wilma’s Patio and Island Market at the Balboa Ferry. Entries will be accepted through May 20. Awards will be presented at the Pancake Breakfast at the Carroll Beek Community Center on Saturday, June 24.
The bridge closes at 10:45 a.m. so get there early.
You Must Remember This: Taking a surfin’ safari
By NANCY GARDNER
Back in the ‘50s and early ‘60s, things along the coast were pretty basic compared to today. I remember a lot of this from my surfing ventures. Before things like Surfline came along, you got in your car and you drove around looking for surf, tootling along PCH. Going south from here, we never looked at Laguna much. Maybe the locals didn’t like us? Our usual destinations were Salt Creek, Doheny and Trestles – but not San Onofre. That was for old guys (hence the nickname Old Man’s). Of those, the only really easy access was Doheny which had a parking lot – a huge plus and a rare one. There was no parking lot at Salt Creek, nor were there restrooms, grass, barbecues, picnic tables, all listed as current amenities on the county website. The amenities then consisted of a path unpaved to the beach. There weren’t even any trash cans. As for Trestles, not only were there no amenities, after hiking along a dirt path through thick brush to get there, you had to watch out for the U.S. Marines who would kick you out if they found you and, if you were particularly unlucky, confiscate your board. As for the drive itself, there was a lot of open space in between surf sites, and where there was development it was mostly beach cottages – nothing very posh. Coastal cities seemed to be small in size, population and ambition.
Continuing south, if you knew somebody who lived there, you could surf Poche. In those days, that’s what we called the area that is now apparently referred to as Beach Road. I was fortunate because I surfed regularly with Ted Newland, former Harbor High instructor and later UCI water polo coach. Ted’s brother-in-law, Walt Hoffman, lived there. Walt, for anyone into surfing, needs no intro, but to others he was one of the early big wave surfers. He and his brother owned Hoffman California Fabrics that provided cloth and inspiration to the developing surf wear industry. He was also the father of Joyce Hoffman, who like her father, is in the Surfing Hall of Fame. At the time, she was barely into her teens, but already killing it. While grand and getting grander today, the houses on Poche at the time were pretty typical of most beach housing in those days – pretty plain wrap with narrow lots, a lot of one-story places, reasonably affordable.
As for going north, I didn’t, not until I went to UCLA. There, I had a couple of friends who lived on the beach at Topanga. In those days, Topanga was very similar to the enclave at Crystal Cove – a bunch of houses that met no apparent building standards and could be cheaply rented – ideal for students and various individuals shunning the middle class. Unlike Crystal Cove, it didn’t have an advocate like Laura Davick and the cottages were eventually removed to provide more beach. Topanga is a nice point break, and that’s where we usually surfed, but occasionally we’d head up the coast and looking back, that area has transformed as much as our own. The whole of Malibu, now one horrendously expensive palace after another, had many structures that were only slightly improved versions of Topanga. There were vacant lots. You can get a glimpse of this more downscale version in the movie Big Wednesday.
Driving through Oxnard was to drive through even more sparsely populated beach areas like Hollywood by the Sea, and then nothing but farmland – no big discount warehouses, very little commerce at all. If we got as far as Rincon, again the houses were pretty rustic – places where it didn’t take a lot of money to live. As a result, like most beach areas it had its share of quirky, offbeat houses often inhabited by quirky, offbeat characters.
Today, living at the beach has taken on a completely different meaning. The lots don’t get any bigger, but the houses and prices certainly do. There are few noticeable breaks between towns, certainly not acres of open space. Quirky, offbeat houses? Gone, and while there may still be a few quirky, offbeat characters around, they’re very rich quirky, offbeat characters, and at that financial level they’re probably termed singular instead.
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Nancy Gardner, former Mayor of Newport Beach, long-time resident and daughter of Judge Robert Gardner, is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Samueli Theater continues its Family Series
Segerstrom Center for the Arts continues a family series of shows as part of their 2022/2023 season programming. The next performance is Ugly Duckling on March 18 and 19, followed by Grimmz Fairy Tales on April 22 and 23 and concluding the series with Doctor Kaboom: Look Out! Science is Coming! on May 6 and 7. All performances take place on the Samueli Theater stage.
–Ugly Duckling
Meet the most unusual duckling the pond has ever seen! Teased and called Ugly by his siblings, a hero goes on an adventure in search of a place to fit in. Tutti Frutti brings to life Hans Christian Andersen’s well-known tale with a variety of characters, inventive physicality, and live music and songs that quack and trill. This charming production plays with the importance of identity, self-worth and takes us on a journey to discover inner beauty.
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Photo by Brian Slater
Tutti Frutti’s “Ugly Duckling” takes place March 18 and 19
Tutti frutti has been creating imaginative, visual and meaningful story-based theater for children for more than 25 years. They specialize in bringing fantastic, distinctive and carefully crafted shows to children aged 3+ and their families and teachers across the U.K. and the world. Tutti frutti currently performs to around 37,000 children and their families giving more than 250 performances per year.
The Ugly Duckling at 10 a.m. is Sensory Friendly/Relaxed (SF/R) performance. To give everyone in the community the opportunity to experience the joy of attending a live performance, the Center presents a series of sensory-friendly/relaxed performances as part of their Family Series. These shows are designed specifically for patrons with sensory sensitivity to enjoy with their families. These performances include pre-visit guides, a reduction of any overwhelming lighting or sound cues, low ambient lighting throughout the performance and the ability to move around and use electronic devices as needed.
–Grimmz Fairy Tales
Jay and Will Grimmz, the hip-hop fable story dance-pop sensation, have come back home to the city where they grew up to give a concert. They’re known not just for their sounds, but for their powerful storytelling and an inventive remix of familiar classics. The brothers put a modern spin on valuable life lessons in “Snow White and the Seven Shawties,” “Down with Rapunzel,” “Hanzel & Gretel: Lost in the Hood” and their featured first Granny-winning song, “Break, Cinderella, Break!” Pay your bling, hear them sing, and get ready to drop the mic in this unforgettable theatrical experience.
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Newport Dunes hosts Beyond Blindness Easter egg hunt on April 1
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort will welcome Beyond Blindness students back to the resort for a special sensory Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 1 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Having partnered with Newport Dunes to host the unique Easter egg hunt for more than 15 years, the Orange County-based nonprofit whose mission is to empower children with visual impairments and other disabilities to achieve their fullest potential, will bring 350 of its students – ages 1- 17 years old – to the Grand Gazebo and soft grassy lawn area for a sensory egg hunt, featuring special beeping eggs donated by the OC Sheriff’s Department.
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Submitted photo
Nearly 2,300 plastic beeping Easter eggs will await eager youngsters on this year’s hunt
“Family events like our Beeper Egg Hunt in partnership with Newport Dunes and the OC Sheriff’s Department are so important to the children and parents we serve, and a critical part of our programming,” said Beyond Blindness President and CEO Angie Rowe. “Children with visual impairments and other disabilities and their families enjoy the opportunity to connect with each other, have fun and make lasting memories. We’re thrilled that this year’s event will be the biggest and best yet.”
Nearly 2,300 plastic beeping eggs, used as training devices for the OC Sheriff’s Department Hazardous Devices Section, will be carefully placed in a safe, grassy section of Newport Dunes’ tranquil waterfront property. The beeping Easter eggs provide an innovative solution to help visually impaired students take part in a favorite Easter tradition.
“We’re truly grateful for the meaningful partnership that we have with the Beyond Blindness organization, and look forward to hosting this wonderful event which has continued to grow year after year,” said Phil Ravenna, general manager of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. “We’re honored to be able to provide an unforgettable Easter celebration for these resilient kids and their families with the help of various members of our community.”
The OC Sheriff’s Department will be onsite along with their OCSD Bomb Squad dogs to interact with the youngsters, giving them a valuable sensory experience. Beyond Blindness staff and parent volunteers will assist and give support to the children during the Easter egg hunt. Following the hunt, a beachfront picnic lunch for the children, staff and volunteers will be catered by Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, and the children and families will have the opportunity to visit and take photos with the Easter Bunny.
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina is located at 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach. For more information, visit www.newportdunes.com.
Two local churches to host one-day conference on gender, sexuality and the Bible
Christ Church by the Sea (United Methodist) and St. Mark Presbyterian Church, both located in Newport Beach, are hosting a one-day conference on Saturday, March 25, themed “Gender, Sexuality and the Bible: A New Map.” The event takes place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Mark Presbyterian Church.
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St. Mark Presbyterian Church is the venue for the one-day conference
The Religious Right has used the Bible as a weapon against women and the LGBTQ community. But what does the Bible really say about gender and sexuality? And what does proper biblical interpretation really look like?
Come join this discussion and listen to a diverse panel of speakers as you look again at the Bible in the light of new understandings of gender and sexuality.
St. Mark Presbyterian Church is located at 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach.
There is a $10 registration fee to cover the cost of lunch.
You can register at http://stmarkpresbyterian.org.
For more information on the conference schedule and speakers, go here.
Letters to the Editor
Thank you for Council’s support of recommendation to curb fractional home ownership proliferation
(Note to Mayor Noah Blom and Honorable Councilmembers on Wednesday, March 15)
Thank you for your insights and patience last evening. Thank you as well for unanimously supporting Councilmember (Robyn) Grant’s motion to adopt the Planning Commission’s preferred recommendation as to all residential districts (which would include R-2).
We are unaware of any pending fractional homeownership transactions; hopefully the number we heard last evening (12) will not increase during the upcoming expedited drafting/adoption/effective date process.
Councilmember (Erik) Weigand’s concern regarding enforcement of grandfathered properties seems well taken; hopefully, this concern can be factored into the drafting and related processes.
Thank you again for protecting our residents’ quality of life in all residential districts.
Paul Watkins
Newport Beach
Get out and explore Buck Gully with three stunning hikes
Taking a trek in the Buck Gully Reserve, which connects Corona del Mar and Newport Coast, is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the warmer spring and summer weather. Explore this 300-acre natural habitat on foot, with three hikes led by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff.
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Photos by Emily Spain
Several bridges provide vantage points for taking in reserve vistas
–Buck Gully Loop Hikes: Come and explore the entire Buck Gully Reserve trail system on Tuesdays, March 21, April 11 and June 20 and Saturday, May 13 from 8-11:30 a.m. Beginning from the OASIS Senior Center, you’ll hike up through the almost three-mile length of the canyon, then along San Joaquin Hills Road for about a mile, stopping at Canyon Watch Park, where you will take in the panoramic view of the reserve and the Pacific coastline before descending back into the canyon along the Bobcat Trail. This hike is 6 miles; duration, 3.5 hours with high-moderate difficulty and conducted at a walking pace, approximately three miles per hour. It is geared to those 12+ years of age. This hike is free, but registration is required. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar Register at www.letsgooutside.org.
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Enjoy panoramic views as you take in the canyon’s natural beauty
–Bridges of Buck Gully Hikes: Buck Gully is a natural, coastal canyon which opened up to the public in 2012 with the installation of four bridges to allow for safe public access. Discover the bridges on Saturday, April 1 and Tuesdays, May 9 and June 6 from 8-11:30 a.m., which facilitate exploration of the Buck Gully Reserve, and also provide viewing platforms from which to pause and observe the abundant life in and around the stream. The guided program starts with a short walk from the OASIS Senior Center to the beginning of the Buck Gully trail, offering a visually dramatic entrance into this special canyon. Open to those 12 years and older. Conducted at a walking pace at approximately 3 miles per hour. Distance is 5 miles; duration is 3.5 hours with moderate difficulty. This hike is free, but registration is required. Meet at the OASIS Senior Center auxiliary lot at 5th and Marguerite in Corona del Mar. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.
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The stream is running, making for a memorable late afternoon/early evening hike
–Buck Gully Upper Loop Evening Hikes: Explore the richness of Buck Gully Reserve as you hike during the beautiful early evening hours on Tuesdays, April 18 and May 23 and Saturday, June 10 from 3-5:30 p.m. The stream is running, and the rich plant and animal life are enjoying the cool, shady canyon making for an evening hike in a natural oasis amid the suburban surroundings. Walk along San Joaquin Hills Road, which overlooks Buck Gully for the first mile, then drop down into the canyon on the Bobcat Trail, looping back through the upper end of the gully along the Buck Gully Trail. This activity is conducted at a walking pace, approximately 3 miles per hour. The distance is 4 miles; duration, 2.5 hours with moderate difficulty. This hike is open to those 8 years and older. This hike is free, but registration is required. Staging area is the Newport Coast Community Center at 6401 San Joaquin Hills Road. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.
NBPLF Library Live Author Series on March 23 features Omar El Akkad
On Thursday, March 23 from 7-8:30 p.m., the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation (NBPLF) is presenting Omar El Akkad as part of its Library Live Author Series in Central Library’s Friends Room.
El Akkad will be discussing his book, What Strange Paradise (2021), the story about a boy who survives a refugee passage and a girl whose homeland feels fractured but dares to save him.
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Courtesy of NBPLF
Author, journalist Omar El Akkad
El Akkad, an author and a journalist, has beautifully woven a compelling story about hope and despair, empathy and indifference, against a backdrop of the all-too-common dehumanization and dismissal of the global refugee crisis.
The book won the Giller Prize, the Oregon Book Award for fiction and was shortlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize. His debut novel American War (2018) has been translated into 13 languages and was selected by the BBC as one of 100 novels that changed our world. His journalism has earned the National Newspaper Award for Investigative Journalism and the Goff Penny Award for young journalists. El Akkad fiction and non-fiction writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian and Le Monde.
Tickets are $35 and include a lecture, book sale and signing along with refreshments. Purchase tickets here.
Central Library is located at 1000 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach.
Project Access fundraising pickleball tournament scheduled for March 23
On Thursday, March 23, from 12:30-4 p.m., the courts of the Tennis and Pickleball Club in Newport Beach will swing into action for a good cause as Project Access Resource Centers stages its first-ever charity fundraising pickleball tournament presented by Freespeed Aviation, LLC.
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Courtesy of project-access.com
Create a team, bring a friend and support low-income families at the Project Access pickleball tournament
This fundraiser will raise funds to support low-income families with health, education and employment services throughout California and the country by showcasing the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.
Tournament registration includes two hours of play, a beginner’s clinic with a pickleball pro, a swag bag, prizes, food and refreshments, opportunity drawing and a “totally rad” 1980s costume contest. The event is open to all skill levels, with doubles encouraged and singles welcomed. The tournament is “ladder” format with no eliminations within the championship round. To register, sign up at www.project-access.org/pickleball.
Sherman Library & Gardens’ fine art collection travels to Laguna Art Museum, first time in 50 years
Sherman Library & Gardens’ legendary collection of fine art is traveling outside the garden gates for the first time in 50 years.
Beginning on Saturday, March 18, the Laguna Art Museum (LAM) will present Unseen Ties: The Visual Collection of Sherman Library & Gardens. This selection of work attempts to reveal the unseen ties between individuals, land and industry.
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Photos courtesy of Sherman Library
“Westwind” by Joan Irving is among the collection
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“Threatening Weather” by Anna Althea Hills is among the collection
“Each artwork in Sherman Library’s fine art collection is an opportunity to make connections between past and present, tell a tale of local lore and notoriety, and see the ties that weave California’s coastal and artistic communities together,” said Jill Thrasher, director of the Sherman Library.
Unseen Ties features artists Rex Brandt, Phil Dike, Anna Althea Hills, Clarence Hinkle, Edgar Payne and William Wendt. The Visual Collection of Sherman Library & Gardens is organized by guest curator LAM Meg Linton.
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“House by the Sea” by Clarence Hinkle is among the collection
On Sunday, March 19 at 11 a.m., come hear, “A History with Jill Trasher,” when she discusses the connection between the artwork and the unique holdings of the Sherman Library. Advance tickets are recommended. LAM Museum members: $7, Sherman Library members: $7, Non-members: $14. For tickets, click here.
During the run of the exhibition, LAM is offering complimentary admission for Sherman Library & Gardens’ members. Admission is for named cardholder only and you must present your current membership card and ID for free admission.
If you are not a member, click here to join today.
Laguna Art Museum is located at 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. For more information, visit https://lagunaartmuseum.org.
The Cantilena Trio to perform at Balboa Island Classical Concert
Courtesy of Balboa Island Classical Concert
The Cantilena Trio is set to perform at the Balboa Island Classical Concert on Tuesday, March 14 from 7-8 p.m. Taking place at St. John Vianney Chapel, tickets are $15 and may be purchased online at www.balboaislandnb.org. St. John Vianney Chapel is located at 314 Marine Ave., Balboa Island. (The Cantilena Trio is pictured L-R: Jon Lee Keenan, Susan Greenberg and Kenton Youngstrom.)
Look what’s happening at ENC in March
The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) is offering a variety of events in March. Check out these upcoming happenings.
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On Teachers Night Out: Earth Science join other instructors to crowd-source ideas for making lessons more hands-on and more fun
–Teachers Night Out: Earth Science on Thursday, March 23 from 4-7 p.m. Earth science has so many fun avenues of exploration – from lessons on erosion and rock types, to modeling tectonic plate movement, to building and testing structures that are resistant to earthquakes. Join other instructors to crowd-source ideas for making earth science lessons more hands-on and more fun. Afterwards you’ll enjoy a light meal together and share some wine by the campfire before breaking out the marshmallows and skewers to make some s’mores! Cost: ENC members, $9; Non-members, $10 and Title 1 teachers are free. Register for teacher’s night out here.
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Museum Docent Volunteer Training takes place on March 4
–Museum Docent Volunteer Training on Friday, March 24 from 3-4:30 p.m. ENC is seeking new Museum Docent Volunteers to staff the front desk, answer phones, greet visitors and provide basic information about the ENC. Training includes an overview of frequently asked questions, a description of the building’s sustainability features, and a brief narrative of the ENC’s history and current programs. Docents will view a one-hour presentation, tour the building and grounds, and learn the phone system. Register here for docent volunteer training.
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Take a Native Plant Uses Walk with herbalist William Broen
–Native Plant Uses Walk on Saturday, March 25 from 10-11:30 a.m. Join this Native Plant Uses Walk with herbalist William Broen, who 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. William’s walks are informative, interactive, accessible, fun and understandable. He is always happy to share his knowledge of botanical medicine with interested people. Cost: ENC members, $9; Non-members, $9. Register here for the native plant uses walk.
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Native plants support local pollinators, birds and other wildlife
–Native Plant Sale on Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Native plants support local pollinators, birds and other wildlife. They are suited to the SoCal climate, so they need less water than most traditional landscape plants and no fertilizer. California is a biodiversity hot spot, with many species found nowhere else in the world. Urban sprawl has destroyed much of our habitat, making plant communities some of the world’s most depleted. Create habitat in your own yard and native plants are beautiful. Cost: Register here for the native plant sale and to see the list of plants for sale.
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Conserve water in your home with rain barrels
–Rain Barrel Sale on Saturday, March 25 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Conserve water in your home. Buy and install a rain barrel. Cost: $20 per barrel is donated to the Environmental Nature Center. Pre-purchase your barrel(s) here.
Environmental Nature Center is located at 1601 E. 16th St., Newport Beach. For more information, visit www.encenter.org.
Pet of the Week 
Stu News Newport is delighted to be working with the Newport Beach Animal Shelter to help get the word out in search of loving homes for pets that deserve a warm, nurturing environment and a place to call “home.”
The shelter is excited to announce the availability of Romeo, a 2-year-old domestic shorthaired mix cat, just in time for St. Patty’s Day. Romeo is a male cat with an easygoing personality, who is also great with other cats. He is up to date on all of his vaccinations, has been neutered and has a clean bill of health. He is a playful and affectionate cat who loves to give and receive lots of love. Romeo is sure to bring joy and love to his forever home.
Don’t let this opportunity to adopt Romeo pas you by. If you would like to visit him, please reach out to the Newport Beach Animal Shelter by calling 949.718.3454, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to set up an appointment. The Newport Beach Animal Shelter is open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. daily and appointments are required.
Courtesy of the Newport Beach Animal Shelter
Meet Romeo
In addition, they have a great professional photographer who is donating her time to help the shelter get the best out of their pet guests. They invite you to visit Andrea Domjan’s IG page at @andrea_domjan_photography to see all of her fabulous photography that she shares with the world.
The shelter does require completed application forms for their animals, so simply print one up from their non-profit’s webpage at www.FONBAS.org. After it is completed, you can email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and upon review, they’ll call you to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions, call 949.718.3454.
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.
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
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