Numbers released for Newport Beach COVID-19 cases
According to the latest figures offered by the Orange County Health Care Agency, the City of Newport Beach has had 36 active cases of COVID-19 to date. This number compares to Orange County overall statistical numbers of 403 cases to date, resulting in four deaths. Today alone (Saturday), there have been 85 reported cases with one death.
For more Orange County COVID-19 data, visit https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/coronavirus-in-oc.
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Courtesy of OC Health Care Agency
Orange County Coronavirus Case Count, as of March 28;
Click here to visit page that is updated daily
Guest Column
Will O’Neill
Mayor’s coronavirus update
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Courtesy of City of Newport Beach
Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill
Thank you for being a community that has shown and will continue to show that we are going to get through this together. Thank you for your prayers, for your kind notes to Jenny and to me, and for expressing your worries and your joys in the midst of this chaos.
Now, let’s get down to business.
Our City acknowledged early on that we are not a health care agency, that we are not infectious disease specialists, but we know people who are. We have followed Federal, State and OC Health Care Agency orders (force of law) and guidance (expert recommendations) and continue to do so. We reached out to Hoag Hospital early on and continue to work as a team. Per Hoag, “stay home if you believe you have been exposed to the virus, even if you are not showing any symptoms, and contact your health care provider.” (I encourage you to click on the hyperlinks in this paragraph. They are good and accurate sources of information.)
Our City staff have handled this crisis with experience and grit. We are really fortunate to have long continuity at the department director position and those long-standing relationships are proving invaluable right now as we move quickly and efficiently.
The health agency orders and guidance have changed repeatedly over the last couple of weeks and we have acted on those orders and guidance each time. Most recently, California’s order requires people to stay at their home of residence with limited exceptions. We have closed OASIS Senior Center, our libraries and community centers, and our City Hall to the public. To thin outdoor crowds and follow the State guidance that “you may still go outside so long as you practice social distancing of six feet,” we have closed beach parking, piers, playground equipment, taken down volleyball nets and closed spaces like basketball and pickleball courts.
As discussed a bit more below, beaches and parks remain open, but we implore you to follow the social distancing model when you are outside for exercise.
Taking Care of Our Seniors
Although the OASIS Senior Center is temporarily closed, staff is available to assist senior residents during the COVID-19 response.
The City will continue its meal delivery and transportation services during the Senior Center closure. In addition, Newport Beach seniors who are homebound and require special assistance are encouraged to call the City’s Senior Services Dept. at 949.644.3244 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
My thanks to our excellent OASIS senior services staff and the Friends of OASIS team, including president Mike Zimmerman.
Find ways to help seniors in your neighborhood as long as you can safely help.
One example of this help is Mario Marovic. He and I donated approximately 1,100 rolls of toilet paper to our Friends of OASIS for distribution to low income seniors. Think of ways that you can help, big and small.
City-specific information
Our –City is updating our City-specific response to COVID-19 daily. Please bookmark or follow the following:
We held a City Council meeting this week where we received updates from our Police Chief, Fire Chief, Public Works Director and City Manager. A video of the meeting is here.
Helping Our Local Businesses
Restaurants are closed to anything but take-out. Bars are closed. Hotels are shutting or at single digit occupancy. Non-essential businesses are closed. Employees are furloughed or laid off in extraordinary numbers. So doing the little (and really big) things can go a long way in the lives of so many.
Go to this site to see the restaurants offering traditional takeout and creative grocery options too.
Your Mental and Physical Health
An article yesterday started by saying: “Isolation and anxiety over the coronavirus pandemic are taking a toll, with calls to a National Suicide Prevention Hotline call center rising 300 percent.”
We have folks losing their jobs, wondering where their next paycheck will come from while their kids are home from school without childcare, often in small apartments and condos. We have empty nesters suddenly finding the nest full again because adult kids are losing their jobs. We have folks in tough relationships, broken homes, and folks with mental issues that are exacerbated by isolation. The mental wellbeing of our community during this time is really important.
From a policy side, I agree with every word of the Governor’s admonition that “you may still go outside so long as you practice social distancing of six feet. California State Parks have closed indoor facilities and campgrounds, but trails and outdoor spaces are still open. Spending time outdoors can lead to a number of overall health and wellness benefits like lessening anxiety, boosting creativity and getting your vitamin D. If you decide to make a trip, remember to keep social distance.”
This is similar to the advice given by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
And it is consistent with the guidance given by the California Coastal Commission, which cautioned coastal cities from shutting down access to the coast. The key guidance is that restrictions/closures can’t last longer than shelter order, must be “minimum action necessary,” and no permanent structures.
Importantly, the Coastal Commission qualified even that relatively high standard by concluding: “recreational beach and coastal access also play important roles in maintaining mental and emotional health, especially during times of stress, public agencies and local governments should strongly consider maintaining access to such public spaces where recreational users are practicing safe social distancing and there is no obvious increased risk to public health, or if other measures are deemed sufficient in a given area. We recognize there is an inequity in coastal access and we strongly encourage local governments to consider approaches that balance public health order requirements and equitable public access – the coast belongs to all.”
Given this guidance, it is no surprise that the State and County have kept their beaches and parks open, though with various crowd-thinning measures in place.
So if people are following social distancing properly, great. But I’ve seen the pictures of people missing the mark and we need to either do a better job of educating, enforcing, or more. So, for now at least, we have taken steps to mitigate congregations while keeping parks and beaches open for physical and mental wellbeing.
Look out for friends, for family, and for yourselves. We’ll pull through this. But remember, it’s ok not to be ok, but please pick up the phone and call someone.
Orange County COVID-19 case count
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Courtesy of Orange County Health Care Agency
Orange County Coronavirus Case Count, as of March 26;
Click here to visit page that is updated daily
Fair Game
By TOM JOHNSON
Can anyone argue that best-selling author Dean Koontz is a soothsayer?
Jan Landstrom sent me an email earlier this week recalling a book written back in 1981 by Newport Beach resident and best-selling author Dean Koontz. In it, Jan says that a Palm Springs friend of hers pointed out several interesting entries from the book The Eyes of Darkness.
Jan asked, “Could hardly believe what I read! Could this be true?”
Here’s what she’s talking about, you decide.
On page 312 Koontz writes, “In around 2020 a severe pneumonia like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments. Almost more baffling than the illness itself will be the fact that it will suddenly vanish as quickly as it arrived, attack again ten years later, and then disappear completely.”
Some pages later Koontz writes about a character named Li Chen who he says “defected to the United States, carrying a diskette record of China’s most important and dangerous new biological weapon in a decade. They call the stuff ‘Wuhan-400’ because it was developed at their RDNA labs outside the city of Wuhan, and it was the four-hundredth viable strain of man-made microorganisms created at that research center. Wuhan-400 is a perfect weapon. It afflicts only human beings.”
Huh…attacking the lungs, illness, spreads throughout the globe, Wuhan… coincidence?
If nothing else, you might want to pick the book up and see how it ends. Maybe it’ll offer all of us some insight, too.
Gotta love Dean Koontz.
• • •
Recently, Newport-Mesa School District was challenged to get more community input on proposed design and landscape changes planned at Ensign Intermediate School in order to make room for a new parking lot and student drop-off area.
People were questioned about the idea in the past, but the District’s outreach efforts appeared weak while including just one community meeting, last September, that drew only 10 or so attendees.
Under some pressure, NMUSD announced plans to host another meeting to be completed in recent weeks, however, the COVID-19 issue came and changed everyone’s plans.
So, here’s what they’re doing instead. Beginning this past Wednesday, and lasting through Sunday, March 29, the District is utilizing an online tool called Thoughtexchange to collect feedback. In it, students, parents, staff and community are asked to respond to one open-ended question, then, consider and assign “stars” to some of the ideas shared by others, and learn what is important to the group overall.
Your thoughts and stars are confidential, and you can go back as often as you’d like to participate.
It’s not perfect, but at least it’s a bonafide outreach attempt.
To participate, go to Ensign Drop-Off Zone Thoughtexchange here.
And, as they say in election circles, vote early and vote often.
• • •
Sixty years ago this week, a group of community leaders gathered to organize and create the Commodores Club. Its membership ranks became one of the most sought-after organizations to be invited to join in Newport Beach over the years to come.
Today, that group includes 35 active Commodores and a whole list of retired or staff members. The good they do is almost unmatched in today’s community with their annual hosting of such events like the Christmas Boat Parade, the Scholarship and Athletic Awards celebrations for our local high schools, the Sandcastle Contest that is held annually on “Big” Corona del Mar State Beach, the Fire & Lifeguard Appreciation Dinner, and more.
Although records have been lost over the years, the names of the originating group included the following: Don Flamm, Jack Barnett, Walter Cruttenden, Tom Evans, Art Gronsky, Norm Loats, Bill Lusk, Tom Riley, Bill Ring, Theodore Robins, Harry Babbitt, Pete Barrett, Vin Jorgensen, Don McInnis, Al Auer, Bob Clifford, Chuck Curry, Bob Gardner, Robert Harris, Fred Howser, Ed Hirth, John McNabb, Paul “Pappy” Palmer, Dick Richards, Cecil Shirar, Richard Stevens, Les Steffensen, Harry Westover, Jack Richardson and George Woodford.
Thanks all, you helped to establish a way of community involvement that still lives today.
“It’s always darkest before the dawn”
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Photo by Kristen Motley taken early in the morning on Balboa Peninsula
This proverb was first used by English theologian Thomas Fuller in 1650, basically meaning “don’t give up during the hard times because things are hardest right before they get better.” It’s something all of us need to keep in mind, especially during today’s trying times.
Take Five: Meet Gunnar Gehl, CdM’s rising musician
By AMY SENK
Corona del Mar musician Gunnar Gehl has come a long way from playing in a garage band at age 8 to performing at Wembley Stadium in London earlier this month. At 18, Gehl, a singer and songwriter, has been touring (until the COVID-19 shutdown), building a fan base on social media and, of course, writing songs and working with the same producers who have worked with Maroon 5 and Harry Styles. I caught up with Gunnar to find out more about the “rising teen pop sensation,” as one magazine called him. To see and hear for yourself, check out his website, https://gunnargehl.com, or YouTube for videos like this one: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TtdA58KnP0.
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Courtesy of Gunnar Gehl
Gunnar Gehl
Q: You first began playing guitar and piano at 7 years old. When did you first know you were destined to become a professional singer-songwriter?
A: I have always played music but kept it to the side in high school because of the fear of how kids would react to me doing something different. I did that for like two years until I finally just posted on Instagram early summer, knowing I didn’t have to see anyone for three months if people hated it. It got really positive reactions, and from that point forward something in my head switched, and I’ve never doubted or looked back since.
Q: Who are some of your musical influences and/or favorite artists? What’s your favorite song?
A: I grew up with my parents listening to rock music such as Tom Petty, so I would say my musical influences is a mixture of rock music and John Mayer. I have two sisters, so I also grew up listening to mainstream pop music with them. Every day I’m constantly finding new music and seeing what I like. My favorite song is always changing, but right now I would say it’s “Canada” by Lauv and Alessia Cara.
Q: What’s your songwriting process – do you keep notebooks of lyrics, start with a melody?
A: I usually write things down on my phone as they come to mind. Then when I go into sessions, I’ll bring up my ideas and talk about it. We usually find a melody first and then write down whatever we’re feeling. The process changes, but that’s what I would normally do.
Q: What are the best and worst parts about being on tour?
A: The best parts about being on the road is experiencing everything. I love meeting fans, seeing a new city and spending time performing. The worst part would probably be the sleep schedule.
Q: What’s in store for you for the rest of 2020?
A: I’m planning on releasing more music and hopefully going on tour and doing some shows. I’m excited to share my new music and hope people enjoy it.
~~~~~~~~
Amy Senk is a longtime resident of Corona del Mar and a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.
Police Files
Suspect enters property, falls in pool, before being arrested for residential burglary
Victims were in a room of their residence around 4 a.m. on Sunday, March 22, when an unknown suspect entered their backyard after climbing the hillside behind their Back Bay home. Once in the backyard, the suspect stumbled into the pool before checking for an unlocked back door.
Finding all the doors secure, the suspect located some bricks along the side of the home and used the bricks to shatter a glass door. Once inside, the suspect took an orange and a water bottle from the kitchen before exiting again to the backyard.
The victims had become aware of the intruder when the suspect first entered the property because of the noise and the motion sensor lights being activated. They immediately called Newport Beach Police who arrived on scene to take the suspect into custody.
Arrested was Bryen Arthur Milton Reid, 29, of Los Angeles, who was charged with forced-entry residential burglary.
He was held on a $50,000 bail.
COVID-19 leading to frauds, scams and price gouging
The City of Newport Beach is advising residents to be on the alert for COVID-19 related frauds, scams and price gouging and call police or the DA hotline with information.
Unfortunately, criminals are taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to perpetuate such scams. If you suspect this type of activity, or become a victim, please contact the Orange County District Attorney’s office Coronavirus Scam Hotline at 714.834.3482 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
You can also call the Newport Beach Police Department’s non-emergency number at 949.644.3717. For general internet crime prevention tips, visit the FBI’s web site at www.ic3.gov/preventiontips.aspx.
“I encourage everyone to be aware and on the lookout for scams,” said Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis. “Take the time to properly research any organization or individual before giving them financial contributions or personal information. Remember that the Police Department is here for you; don’t hesitate to give us a call if we can help.”
Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Guest Column
Gary Sherwin
A Clarion Call to Newport Beach Residents
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Courtesy of Visit Newport Beach
Gary Sherwin, president and CEO, Newport Beach & Company
As we come to terms with home stays and staying healthy during this turbulent time, it is gratifying to see so many people looking out for others, bringing compassion and a sense of service to our community.
People like restauranteur Mario Marovic of Malarky’s Irish Pub whose gesture of donating toilet paper to Oasis Senior Center and selling rolls at cost to neighbors delighted so many of us.
But make no mistake. Restaurateurs like Mario and all others in our city are going to need our help in the coming weeks and months. So will all of our hotels, attractions, retail establishments and all small businesses who depend on our visitors to stay open for business.
With nearly all of our hotels facing single digit occupancy right now, this is obviously a huge crisis. The people who stay in these hotels shop and eat and generate significant tax revenue for the city. But now most of these people are home, just like you are, instead of spending money.
Tax revenue aside, our hospitality community contributes mightily to Newport Beach’s quality of life. Without our visitors, many of these restaurants and retail operations would cease to exist. And if they aren’t there, they not only don’t service our visitors, they also aren’t there to support all of us who work and live here.
They need our help. And they need it now. Here’s what you can do:
–At least once a week, try and support a Newport Beach restaurant with a take-out or delivery order. You can find a complete list at www.VisitNewportBeach.com. Many of our residents are doing this already at many popular establishments, but more support across the board is needed. Go online and find your next favorite restaurant.
–If you have a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion coming up, please consider buying from a retailer online a gift card if your favorite restaurant is selling them. By buying a gift card, you are giving our restaurants capital when they need it most and that is now.
–The same rule applies to retail and attractions too, especially locally owned boutiques and other small businesses.
–Right now, people are rightly staying at home and maintaining safe distances. But if there is a need to have family members nearby and you can’t accommodate them at home, consider one of our hotels. Many of them are still open although with reduced services.
–Wherever you go, remember that our front-line hospitality workers are fighting to keep their jobs. If you take out, please tip generously.
–Finally, we don’t know what the economy will look like when this crisis is over, but we know the after effects will linger for a while with the tourism industry. When it is safe to do so, please go out and act like a visitor in our wonderful city and patronize our businesses who will need every ounce of support they can get.
Tourism is very much the heart of Newport Beach’s economic fabric. For years visitors have provided sustenance for our local businesses to keep them alive and healthy. Now it is up to all of us who live and work here to step up and help fill this void. What’s at stake is our very quality of life.
Gary Sherwin is president and CEO of Newport Beach & Company, which oversees Visit Newport Beach.
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Congressman Rouda reaches out to governors seeking “stay at home” order
Wednesday, March 25, Congressman Harley Rouda (CA-48), along with Representatives Debbie Dingell, Lori Trahan, Veronica Escobar, Mary Gay Scanlon, Haley Stevens, Darren Soto, Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, sent a letter to Governors Larry Hogan (R-MD) and Andrew Cuomo (D-NY), Chair and Vice Chair of the National Governors Association, respectively, requesting consideration of working together with other governors to institute “stay at home” orders nationwide.
“Without approved treatments and a vaccine, aggressive and enforced social distancing is our only weapon to fight COVID-19 and slow the spread of the disease,” said Rouda. “In the past days and weeks governors, Republican and Democratic, have led by instituting “stay at home” orders. While these orders affect about half of our nation’s population, mitigation is most effective with 100 percent participation.
“We need the remaining governors to enact statewide ‘stay at home’ orders immediately to minimize long-term, devastating harm to our communities, families and economy.”
Guest Column
Patricia De Marco Centeno, MD
How to Cope When Uncertainty Becomes Part of our Morning Routine
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Submitted photo
Patricia De Marco Centeno, M.D., physician director, Maternal Mental Health Program for Hoag
To say these are unprecedented times is an understatement. Our parents did not talk to us about that time in their lives when the entire world was brought to its knees by a tiny RNA strand. Although we may have heard from grandparents and history books about the 1918 Flu Pandemic, the notion of a similar occurrence overwhelming modern technology was remote for most of us. But nature has shown us once again that its power overcomes human desires, ambitions and aspirations. And, as nature overcomes our collective ego, there has never been a better time to become mindful about the way we think, feel and behave.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems like no matter how diligently we stay up to date with the news, we still can’t control the fact that each day ushers in a new reality. This collective test on endurance was neither on the calendar, nor in the user’s manual on how to be an adult. But together, we can find ways to move forward and craft good, valuable lessons to pass on to future generations.
While we must be diligent about flattening the peak of our local pandemic, we must remember that there will be a life after COVID-19. Enduring this pandemic may feel like a marathon. So let’s explore a few ways to best pace ourselves during this race.
–Understanding Anxiety: In mental health, we look at behavior in a biopsychosocial continuum. We are biologically primed to act a certain way in the face of danger. But our innate psychological characteristics and the social events of our upbringing determine our own unique appraisal of danger. In the face of a threat, our body activates a cascade of communications between glands to produce the kind of hormones that could help us get into action and escape. But, these glands will not distinguish between a saber-toothed tiger and a bill from the IRS. It is up to our mind to appraise the depth of the threat and to respond accordingly.
–Fear vs. Science: While there is a tiny space between denial and panic, both represent a maladaptive appraisal of danger. When anxiety is excessive, we overestimate danger and underestimate our capacity to cope. When it’s too little, we put ourselves and others at risk by denying the existence of the threat because it’s simply too difficult to handle. Within this space, there is productive anxiety. The kind that helps us evaluate the threat as close as possible to the facts and activate problem solving skills to protect ourselves. Because of this, it is important to remember that the way we feel may not be truly representative of the facts. It is important to stay informed by choosing only reputable sources and to make an active effort to balance both the bad news and the good news every day.
–Controlling What We Can: It is important to remember that the COVID-19 pandemic has mobilized experts around the world who are tirelessly finding ways to bring our lives back. We can control how much we adhere to their crucial public health recommendations to shorten the duration of the pandemic. We can control our health by staying active, eating healthy and following mental health recommendations. We can control the spread of misinformation by only sharing from legitimate sources.
–Keeping Routines: Structure is vital. While our job to stay home right now may seem trivial, we must remember that we function in a structured world and that, unless we plan on re-locating to an Everest, routines are going to be waiting for us when this is over. Change out of your PJs every day. Draft a calendar for the whole family and place it where everyone can see it. Factor in productive times, as well as leisure and physical activities.
–Finding the Silver Lining: Focus some time each day on gratitude and spotting the potential changes and opportunities ahead. Make a fun exercise at home where everyone comes up with a positive outcome from this global crisis.
–Live, Love, Laugh: Humor and altruism are by far my favorite defense mechanisms. Finding humor in everyday life does not invalidate our feelings toward this global tragedy. Giving yourself permission to smile guarantees that your mind gets a break in the midst of this overwhelming amount of new information. As for altruism, a selfless act of kindness has a tremendous healing power, whether it’s dropping off groceries for your elderly neighbor or making your valuable skills accessible in an online platform.
–Make Time For You: Add relaxation techniques, meditation and physical activity to your daily routine. Within a reasonable screen time constraint, leverage technology to get the family moving.
–Ask For Help: If you think emotions of fear, sadness and anger are getting in the way with your ability to focus, problem-solve and parent, please seek help. Remember, you must put your oxygen mask on first before placing it on someone else.
Patricia De Marco Centeno, M.D., is a consultation-liaison psychiatrist who is Physician Director of the Hoag Maternal Mental Health Program.
Newport Coast glory
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Photo by Margaret Lai (Instagram @margaretsslai)
The sunset’s beauty never ceases to amaze us
OC Registrar of Voters stamps Primary results final
The Orange County Registrar of Voters certified the results from the March 3, 2020 primary election Monday night, March 23.
Local primary results included the race for United States Representative 48th District with incumbent Democrat Harley Rouda and Republican Michelle Steel advancing to face off in the November 3 General Election. Rouda led all vote getters with 99,659 votes. However, four Republicans ran, led by Steel, and combined to total 107,916 votes.
In the State Senate 37th District race, incumbent John Moorlach, Republican, cruised past his two Democrat challengers. Dave Min will challenge Moorlach also in the fall. The two Democrats combined for 147,245 votes to Moorlach’s 132,275.
Cottie Petrie-Norris, incumbent in the 74th Assembly District, was the only candidate to earn in excess of 50 percent of the votes cast. Still, she’ll face off against Newport Beach City Councilperson Diane Dixon come fall.
The statewide Proposition 13, a school and college facilities bond, was handily defeated in Orange County and lost by double-digits overall in California.
Lastly, six members were selected to each of the Republican and Democrat Central Committees. Jonathan Adler, Marleen Gillespie, Jane Stoever, Lauren Johnson-Norris, Jill Nelke and Samila Amanyraoufpoor were the Democrats elected. On the Republican side, Diane Dixon, Kelly Ernby, Will O’Neill, Thomas A. “T.J.” Fuentes, Erik K. Weigand and Emily Sanford were elected. O’Neill is currently Mayor of Newport Beach.
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Letters to the Editor
How to support Hoag’s COVID-19 efforts
Many in our donor family have reached out to ask how they can help support Hoag’s COVID-19 efforts. Hoag Hospital Foundation has created the Hoag COVID-19 Support Fund to assist Hoag in caring for our community members affected by the virus as well as the caregivers and staff working tirelessly to treat them. Click here to donate.
The COVID-19 situation is changing daily, and we know it’s important that you stay informed. You can find accurate, up-to-date information on Hoag’s COVID-19 website. You can also visit www.OChealthinfo.com or the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention here.
In this difficult and unprecedented time, we are heartened and comforted by the resilience of the human spirit. We share our nation’s concerns, but we also have unwavering faith that we will get through this challenge together.
Sincerely,
Flynn A. Andrizzi, Ph.D., President
Hoag Hospital Foundation
You should re-think your position on “no tennis”
I am not a member of the Palisades Tennis club and don’t even know where it is but, have to rebut your comment to close all courts (pickleball too).
My daughter and family live elsewhere in California, but for the four of them being able to play tennis has been a godsend. With two active teenagers in the house it is a good way to work off some of that excess energy and
they are being respectful of other peoples’ spaces only being in proximity of family members.
Please rethink your position on this.
Thank You,
Karen Carlson
Newport Beach
On the Harbor: Yachting may be quiet for now, but life will get back to normal
By LEN BOSE
COVID-19 or coronavirus tracking maps and models remind me of the movie WarGames. As we all sit at DEFCON 1 I look to this movie for quotes and a little bit of humor: “‘Confidence is high’ at DEFCON 1.” “Get me a report on the Whopper.” “Dammit sir...they put mayo on it…” I understand Defcon 1 is no time for a lighthearted smile and chuckle, yet, I am laughing to myself as I write this thinking about a Whopper without mayo.
What is not a laughing matter is that the yachting season has all been shut down in our harbor and other harbors throughout our country. Over this last week, the Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA) canceled the Ensenada Race. NHYC has canceled its Baldwin Cup, Harbor 20 Friday Frolic and Earl Corkett Regatta. At the same time, the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club has canceled its Bogart Series to Catalina and back, and has pushed back its H20 Weiss Series. If you are interested, you can find the yacht clubs’ official press releases on my blog site at lenboseyachts.blogspot.com. All the press releases read very similarly regretting to have to cancel their events due to the safety of its participants, volunteers and to help further general safety of the population at large. Each was a reminder that “Confidence is high” and that life will soon be back to normal.
Courtesy of Joysailing.com
A beautiful sunset over a quiet harbor
In an effort to locate the tunnel before we look down it and find the light at its end, I reached out to Harbor Commissioner Scott Cunningham. Cunningham has been on the Harbor Commission for close to three years now and plans on staying around for another five. I am not clear when Cunningham started and when Doug West left, but in my opinion, Cunningham was the perfect person for West to pass the baton over to when it came to the matters of dredging and renewing our harbor’s RPG 54 dredging permit.
Let me remind you what RPG 54 does for the individual homeowners that are trying to obtain dredging permits for their slips. In the past, the homeowner would, for example, stop by three different government agencies, the Army Corp of Engineers, the Coastal Commission and the Water Board, to get their ticket stamped. What the City of Newport has done is rolled all three permits into one with the ability to grant the dredging permit themselves. This RPG 54 permit is good for five years with the one in place now expiring on January 1, 2021. The Harbor Commission along with Chris Miller from Public Works has already submitted the necessary applications to renew RPG 54 for another five years. Talks started last summer with the second round of talks completed in February. Negotiations continue today, and Cunningham explained that trust between the City and the different government agencies has grown substantially over time which has reduced the bumps along the road to complete a user-friendly RPG. During the first year of our RPG, 30-40 permits were processed, while 20-25 had been processed over the last four years.
The other Harbor Commission objective Cunningham has been tasked with is the dredging of our Upper Bay. This involves the removal of 1.2 million cubic yards of sediment to obtain the depth of the original harbor dredging project back in the early 1900s. The first hurdle to reaching this goal is to shape and form a reasonable request for funding with the federal government. Cunningham has now made two trips to Washington staying for two weeks each time. The last trip was in January of this year with council members Duffield and Avery. When asked how it went Cunningham replied, “It went really well, right now we are running on all cylinders, reaching out to both senators, all our congressional representatives, the White House, EPA, the Army Corp of Engineers district, division and corporate headquarters. Two million dollars has already been received for the harbor entrance, and we could see dredging start as early as this winter.”
Because of the COVID-19 virus, I asked if progress would come to a halt. “Work continues, everything we do is not measured in days, weeks or months. Everything we are working on is more on an annual base. If you want to measure dredging you have to look at things one year at a time. The funding comes from an annual work plan budget. Those are measured in increments or milestones; we are doing everything until those budgets are released,” Cunningham shared.
Asked how the Harbor Commission meeting will continue during these times, Cunningham said they will have to wait until April 1 and see what happens. I have always felt very comfortable around Harbor Commissioner Cunningham. Each time I have engaged him in conversation, I’ve felt like I was talking to one of my childhood friends. So know that my confidence is high that our harbor’s two most difficult tasks are in very good hands.
By the way, thank you for all the good luck wishes. I’ve done well in all of the sailing events I have entered this season with a 3rd in the H20 Schock Regatta, 4th in the H20 Midwinters along with an Overall first for Horizon in the Island Race and 1st in division in the PV race. Now, remember that social distancing is easiest done while onboard a boat!
Sea ya.
~~~~~~~~
Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.
Newport Beach Public Library offers new online learning resource – Udemy
Newport Beach Public Library (NBPL) has added a new resource to its eBranch – Udemy, which provides free access to valuable online courses and tutorials. All you need is your NBPL library card and ether a Microsoft or Google email account. Learn and improve skills across business, tech, design and personal interests. Connect to 4,000+ on-demand video courses taught by world-class instructors. Courses cover the freshest and most relevant content on leadership and management, coding, design, marketing, IT operations, data science, project management, human resources, sales, accounting and finance and productivity.
In addition, NBPL offers a wide array of digital options which include:
–Big Library Read. Enjoy this book for free – Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic: A Comedian’s Guide to Life on the Spectrum by Michael McCreary. It is available on Overdrive at https://scdl.overdrive.com, now through April 13.
–Virtual Programs. If you missed one of the Meet the Author programs, Sunday Musicales, or Medicine in Our Backyard lectures, NBPL has added a Virtual Programming page to its website, so you can view some of the recent events. Check it out here.
–Stories and Games. If you are looking for storytimes to entertain your children or educational games they can play at home, check out the Stories and Games page.
–World Book Distance Learning. A variety of resources are available here.
Remember the NBPL eBranch is open all day, every day.
Guest Letter
Jeff Boyles
Fire department and Orange County partners stand ready
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Courtesy of NBFD
Newport Beach Fire Chief Jeff Boyles
The Newport Beach Fire Department (NBFD) has been adapting to the ever-changing information regarding COVID-19 for the past couple of months. We have made adjustments to our 9-1-1 call taking producers through our dispatch center giving our first responders ample information regarding patient care prior to their arrival.
We have identified our supply of masks, eyewear and gowns to wear when providing patient care and have trained our personnel with the latest medical best practices. We have strengthened our policies regarding first responder patient contact in order to minimize potential spread of the virus.
Last week our EMS Division developed training plans and best practices to communicate with seven of our skilled nursing facilities and convalescent care homes. We have found in communities such as Kirkland, Washington that staff within skilled nursing facilities and convalescent homes can inadvertently spread the virus within the facilities thus resulting in multiple deaths. We sent our NBFD Firefighters and Paramedics to seven facilities to ensure they are utilizing proper sanitary methods and prepared to work seamlessly with our personnel as we respond to provide care for their patients.
We have been watching predictive models and planning for various scenarios including overwhelmed hospitals, overtaxed EMS resources and even a limited workforce if they were to become infected.
Education for our employees and the community has been paramount. The information and orders change rapidly thus changing our approach.
The Orange County Public Health Department issued a memo on Friday, March 20, 2020 that we are moving away from containment to a mitigation strategy. In short, that means we were attempting to locate, test and isolate people based on travel and high risk potential for infection. We have recognized that community transmission is now here, and simply mitigating the spread is medically our best approach now.
We have opened our City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and are planning for ways to help our senior citizens, disabled persons and homeless population. Vulnerable segments of the population present unique challenges to our services.
Our firefighters, paramedics and lifeguards stand ready to provide education, protection and service throughout this pandemic.
We are fully staffed and preparing each day to stay out in front of this moving target. The California Fire Service in general is very well prepared to meet the challenges of a crisis with our mutual and automatic aid systems, relationships with base hospitals and highly trained and skilled workforce.
I may be biased in thinking that Orange County is the most prepared of all with our system of dispatching, paramedic response and local hospitals.
Guest Letter
Jon Lewis
NBPD steps up patrols to ensure safety
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Courtesy of the NBPD
Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis
Lately, we’ve all been managing a lot of changes in our daily lives. As we work through this as a community, remember that the Newport Beach Police Department is always here if you need us.
We have taken a number of steps to better support the people of Newport Beach in response to COVID-19. We are closely monitoring our high-visibility areas (such as our beaches and parks) and are patrolling these places more often. We have been engaged in educational efforts with the retail stores that are impacted by the Governor’s Executive Order. We have also been working closely with our public safety partners (our Lifeguards in particular) to monitor activity on our beaches, and we are encouraging everyone to practice social distancing when in public spaces.
The City’s website is a great source of information and is updated regularly. Let’s all stay safe, practice social distancing, and wash our hands. We’re all in this together.
Click here for more information from the City.
So long to the pier…for now
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Photo by Jason Berry (Instagram @its_jason_berry)
The piers are closed for now but we still have these views to look forward to
Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce releases “2020 Market and Economic Update” video
The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce has released a “2020 Market and Economic Update” video presentation prepared by Christopher Schwarz, hosted in partnership with the UCI Center for Investment and Wealth Management and the Greater Irvine Chamber.
Schwarz served as guest speaker at both the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce 2020 Economic Forecast and the Greater Irvine Chamber Business Outlook Breakfast. Today, he provides an update to discuss the current economy in relation to the changes caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19).
To view the video, visit www.newportbeach.com/2020marketupdate.
NB expert to offer free webinar on youth/parent healthy communication this Saturday
With schools continuing to remain closed here in Newport Beach and nationwide, millions of youth and their families have been impacted.
To help teens in navigating school, life and mental health, and assist them as well as their parents on how to have healthy communication, especially among the junior high/high school set and the challenges of online learning, Daniel Patterson, a Newport Beach local and former Corona del Mar High School assistant principal is holding a free live webinar on Saturday, March 28 at 11 a.m.
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Submitted photos
Daniel Patterson
Patterson is partnering with therapist Dr. Amy Stoeber out of Portland, Ore., who will provide answers during the Q&A session, “In This Together: Managing Chaos and Creating Resilient Kids During Uncertain Times.”
Patterson and Stoeber will touch on these topics:
–How to help you manage your own mental health during these times.
–How do you support the mental health of your kids during these times.
–How to create structure and routine in the home.
–How to manage and support education during these times.
–What education solutions or alternatives exist.
During the session, viewers will be able to type in questions that will be answered in real-time, and won’t be seen. They can see and hear the presenters, and be able to type in questions they’d like addressed.
Patterson is the author of The Assertive Parent (2018), a road-map for building autonomy and resilience in teenagers; He has spent more than 17 years in secondary education, serving as an English teacher, tennis coach, student council adviser and high school assistant principal. Through his full-time consulting firm, Patterson Perspective Inc. based in Newport Beach, he consults for a therapeutic high school in Los Angeles.
He has been a featured voice on NBC News, The HuffPost and MSNBC, among other news organizations, a guest expert on Fox News and a keynote speaker at school, recovery and parenting conferences. Having persevered through his own struggles with mental health and addiction, Patterson spends his free time serving on the board of directors of the Imagine Foundation, an organization committed to assisting and empowering struggling young people.
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Patterson’s new book addressing mental health in schools is being released this week
This week, Patterson is releasing his new book RECOVER [EDU], A Communication Guide for Addressing Mental Health in Schools.
To register for the webinar and secure your spot, visit www.doctoramyllc.com/inthistogether.
OC Treasurer-Tax Collector supports waiver for penalties
Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich has announced her full support for a waiver of penalties, costs or other charges as allowed by existing state law for taxpayers that fail to make timely property tax payments. The reason she has cited is the impact of COVID-19 that has been financially devastating for many Orange County taxpayers.
The last timely payment date remains at April 10, as neither the County nor the Treasurer-Tax Collector has the legal authority under the statute to change or extend this date. The April 10 date is set by state law, which can only be amended by the legislature.
Although the federal and state governments have granted extensions for both the federal and state income tax deadlines, the county has no authority to change state law. If the state were to extend the deadline, it would have a significant impact on local governments and K-12 school and community college districts revenues, who have only received just over half of the annual property tax for this year.
In many local governments, property taxes represent one of the largest single annual revenue sources and pay for public safety and other local government services you receive daily during the year.
In addition, schools are the largest recipient of property taxes here in Orange County.
For secured property taxes, the bills are mailed in September and have a due date of November 1 and February 1 (with grace periods to December 10 and April 10, respectively), just two payments in a year.
“COVID-19, and the State’s order for all non-essential businesses to close, has had a significant impact on our taxpayers,” Treasurer Freidenrich said. “I plan to grant waivers on penalties to taxpayers as allowed by existing law to assist them during these challenging times.”
For taxpayers that do not make payment of property taxes due to COVID-19 by April 10, they should expect to submit a Penalty Cancellation Request Form and documentation to support the cancellation of penalties as allowed in limited circumstances under current state law. The existing state law, which Treasurer Freidenrich will follow, allows for waiver of penalties, costs and other charges when failure to make a timely payment is due to reasonable cause and circumstances beyond the taxpayer’s control, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care in the absence of willful neglect.
Questions can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. regarding property tax payments.
City currently seeking applications for boards and commissions
The City of Newport Beach is currently accepting applications to fill the upcoming vacancies, all of which are for four-year terms, expiring June 30, 2024.
The vacancies include seats of the Board of Library Trustees (one seat), Building and Fire Board of Appeals (two seats), City Arts Commission (two seats), Civil Service Board (two seats), Harbor Commission (one seat), Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission (one seat) and Planning Commission (two seats).
All applicants must be qualified electors of the City, none of whom shall hold any paid office or employment in City government.
The deadline for filing applications is noon on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.
For applications and additional information about the Boards and Commissions, go to www.newportbeachca.gov/vacancy or call 949.644.3005. The application and information about the Boards and Commissions can also be accessed through the City’s website at www.newportbeachca.gov/bcc.
Vital senior services maintained during closures
Critical services for Newport Beach’s senior community, including meal delivery and transportation services, will be maintained during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) response.
Although the OASIS Senior Center is temporarily closed, staff is available to assist senior residents during this time. On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom released updated response guidelines, which included a recommendation that people 65 and older, and those with chronic health conditions, should stay at home.
The City will continue its meal delivery and transportation services during the Senior Center closure.
In addition, Newport Beach seniors who are homebound and require special assistance are encouraged to call the City’s Senior Services Dept. at 949.644.3244 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“If you are struggling and feel like you need help, please call us and we will figure out a way to provide assistance,” said Celeste Jardine-Haug, OASIS senior services manager.
These measures are among a series of steps adopted by the City of Newport Beach in recent days to protect public health and align with recommendations from the state Department of Public Health, federal Centers for Disease Control and Orange County Health Agency.
Families needed to join Project Crystal research program at Crystal Cove Conservancy
Crystal Cove Conservancy (CCC) needs your family’s help to finish their ecological research project this spring.
Normally, CCC’s Project Crystal program brings underserved students to Crystal Cove State Park’s Moro Canyon to help with ecological research, studying the best way to help native seedlings grow. During the coronavirus crisis, CCC is moving Project Crystal online so that families and youth can engage in this same sort of science investigation at home. You and your family can help them learn about restoration at Crystal Cove, analyze ecological data, and make recommendations to Park managers about restoration methods.
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Courtesy of Crystal Cove Conservancy
Studying the growth of native seedlings at Crystal Cove
The Project Crystal curriculum is aimed at fifth grade Next Generation Science Standards, but appropriate for other age levels as well. The entire program will last six weeks, with new sessions posted every Tuesday and Thursday.
To join Google Classrooms for free and sign up for Project Crystal, visit http://classroom.google.com. Use classroom code: acvelwv.
During this difficult time, Crystal Cove Conservancy appreciates your support to help them continue to provide educational resources to our community.
Save the Date: Balboa Island Artwalk rescheduled
The 26th Annual Balboa Island Artwalk has been rescheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. along the South Bayfront Promenade. The Balboa Island Artwalk is the premier showcase for talented local artists with art, music, sun and fun for the whole family. Admission is free.
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Artwork by Debra Huse
Courtesy of Balboa Island Artwalk
“Gold Rush,” 24 x 20, original oil by Debra Huse was featured at last year’s Balboa Island Artwalk
After conferring with the City of Newport Beach and referring to the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, Balboa Island Artwalk is excited to move forward with this community celebration of art and live music.
Presented by Mary Hardesty Realty, this fine art show features 90 artists exhibiting paintings, fine jewelry, blown glass, sculpture and photography. Spectators will enjoy live music throughout the day on five stages along the walk.
For more information, visit www.balboaislandartwalk.info.
April Coastal Commission meeting canceled
The Coastal Commission meeting scheduled for April 15-17 has been canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis.
For the May meeting, the Coastal Commission is working to develop the structure and procedures for a remote meeting to assure the health and safety of the public, commissioners and staff. The Commission released the following, “Unfortunately, these new measures will not be in place in time for the April hearing. Thank you for your patience and understanding during these difficult times. Our virtual offices remain open.”
For more information, visit www.coastal.ca.gov.
Police Beat Primer
Compiled by Tom Johnson
Police Beat derives from information in the log maintained at the front counter by the Newport Beach Police Department and required under CA Government Code Section 6254 (f). The press does not have access to written police reports.
Information in the police department log is deemed reliable and StuNewsNewport is not responsible for mistakes made available as public record by the Newport Beach Police Department.
Any person arrested is innocent until found guilty in a court of law.
Abbreviations sometimes used in Police Beat:
647f – Public Intoxication; DUI – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; NFA – No fixed address; RP – Reporting/Responsible Party; UTL – Unable to locate
DUI Arrests
Daniel Christopher Mena, 37, Corcoran – Sunday, March 22
Esteban Rolando Caplucas, 18, Costa Mesa – Friday, March 20
Incident Reports
Tuesday, March 24
Arrests for Being Drunk in Public
None
Balboa Blvd. I 1500 Block I Narcotics
4:37 p.m. Mario Joseph Urrutia, 48, Encinitas, was arrested for possession of a narcotic controlled substance. Bail was set at $500.
Monday, March 23
Arrests for Being Drunk in Public
None
Sandcastle Drive I 900 Block I Paraphernalia, Burglary Tools, Narcotics and Controlled Substance
5:35 p.m. Michael Allen Wilson, 30, Anaheim, was arrested for possession of unlawful paraphernalia and possession of burglary tools. Bail was set at $500.
5:30 p.m. Clara Lesky, 23, Lake Forest, was arrested for possession of unlawful paraphernalia and possession of a narcotic controlled substance. Bail was set at $2,500.
5:23 p.m. Christopher Fred Fischer, 30, Anaheim Hills, was arrested for possession of burglary tools and possession of a narcotic controlled substance. Bail was set at $10,000.
5:17 p.m. Cory Joseph Clark, 30, Lake Forest, was arrested for possession of burglary tools, possession of a narcotic controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $12,500.
Sunday, March 22
Arrests for Being Drunk in Public
None
Bayside Drive I 1000 Block I Assault, Battery and Shoplifting
4:55 p.m. Dennis Fernando Gonzalez Jr., 28, Santa Ana, was arrested for assault, battery and shoplifting an amount less than $950. Bail was set at $500.
Mariners Drive I 900 Block I Burglary
4:19 a.m. Bryen Arthur Milton Reid, 29, Los Angeles, was arrested for residential burglary with a forced entry. Bail was set at $50,000.
Saturday, March 21
Arrests for Being Drunk in Public
None
Ocean Blvd. & Channel Road I Vandalism
7:36 p.m. Danielle Denise Bazant, 22, Huntington Beach, was arrested for vandalism by defacing property with graffiti. Bail was set at $500.
7:32 p.m. Justin Russell Peltier, 28, Gardena, was arrested for vandalism by defacing property with graffiti. Bail was set at $500.
W. Ocean Front & 24th St. I Disorderly Conduct and Battery
4:44 p.m. Nathaniel Monks Hutchinson, 55, Stanton, was arrested for disorderly conduct for being under the influence of drugs and battery on a peace officer or emergency personnel. Bail was set at $2,500.
Friday, March 20
Arrests for Being Drunk in Public
None
Vista Ridge Road & Ocean Heights Drive I Warrant
10:46 a.m., Christopher III Klamczynski, 50, Santa Ana, was arrested on a warrant for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $7,500.
Superior Ave. I 1500 Block I Trespassing and Battery
1:24 a.m. Bianca Senequa Copeland, 41, Kalamazoo, was arrested for trespassing for refusing to leave property and battery on a peace officer. Bail was set at $500.
Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.