Fair Game

By TOM JOHNSON

2510 W. Coast Highway Project and Balboa Island Undergrounding approved by council

At Tuesday night’s Newport Beach City Council meeting the vote finally came in after a long and arduous process for the Balboa Island Undergrounding Project, but not before a last-minute attempt in court by resident Bob McCaffrey to halt the process.

The attempt, however, failed in Superior Court earlier Tuesday morning.

So, during the meeting the ballots were ordered to be counted from the Council dais and shortly thereafter came back with 499 “Yes” votes vs. 269 “No” votes. Additionally, five other ballots failed to be counted because of no signature attached.

A motion was then made by Councilperson Joy Brenner to approve the creation of the assessment district for the undergrounding and was seconded by Diane Dixon. With Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Muldoon and Councilperson Noah Blom recused, and “Duffy” Duffield absent, the vote passed unanimously, 4-0.

Project team leader Lee Pearl said after the vote, “We are very happy and our time invested is now going to create a legacy project for the future. We had an incredible team working on this project and never strayed off course.”

• • •

The other big action was centered around the Public Hearing and potential approval of the 2510 W. Coast Highway Mixed-Use Project.

First off, a detailed presentation was made by Mark Moshayedi’s attorney, Shawn Matsler from Cox, Castle & Nicholson, that reviewed the updated changes brought forward on the development. 

Those changes focused primarily on an updated design which incorporated more of a nautical theme with the introduction of several lighthouses. The design was compared several times throughout the evening to following elements of the Lido House Hotel.

Next, opposition voices to the project were heard. Comprised mainly of Protect Mariners’ Mile members, the group continued to focus on the loss of views, the burdens of traffic, the lack of parking and concern about building heights.

When the discussion from both sides was completed, the following comments were voiced by various City Council members: Commenting on the design, Muldoon said he was “pleasantly surprised;” Mayor Brad Avery, discussing the updated design, said, “I commend Mr. Moshayedi for doing the right thing;” and Dixon, talking about the confusion brought about during the approval process that “we need more objective standards.”

Approval for the project was then moved by Will O’Neill and seconded by Muldoon. With Blom recusing himself and Duffield absent, the vote passed unanimously, 5-0.

Elsewhere in Stu News today, reporter Sara Hall writes a detailed story on the project including examples of view lines and the updated design.

• • •

The California Department of Public Health has announced new recommendations for fully vaccinated persons to mask up indoors in public situations to follow new CDC guidelines.

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Steve Rosansky shares the latest.

• • •

Finally, the sports world’s hottest craze has turned professional and is coming to Newport Beach. Next week, from Thursday, Aug. 5 through Sunday, Aug. 8, comes the Pro Pickleball Association’s Takeya Showcase.

The tournament, that is now closed for entry, will feature 826 players, with a $90,000 professional player payout at the Tennis Club of Newport Beach, 11 Clubhouse Drive, behind Newport Beach Country Club.

The tournament will feature all levels of play, including a Junior PPA Showcase.

For tickets and more info, visit here.

• • •

This in from local fight promoter Roy Englebrecht: If you were waiting to buy tickets for the Fight Club OC event August 26 at The Hangar on the grounds of the OC Fair & Event Center, too late, the event is officially sold out.

Englebrecht reports this is the earliest sellout in the 12-year history and that tickets for the September 23 show are going fast.

For those still looking to see the August matchups, Roy informs me that the show will be carried on www.fite.tv for $9.99.

For info, go to www.fite.tv/watch/fight-club-oc-august-26/2p9s7/.

• • •

Lucky you, Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich announced that 54,478 unsecured property tax bills totaling more than $320 million have been mailed to the names of the property owners on the most recent tax roll. These unsecured property tax bills are now available online at www.ocgov.com/octaxbill.

These unsecured property taxes are related to business property, leased equipment, boats and aircraft for fiscal year 2021-22 and are due on August 31. Freidenrich recommends that taxpayers skip the line and pay online at www.ocgov.com/octaxbill.

There is no service fee to pay online by eCheck (bank account), and taxpayers can pay online up to midnight on August 31 and receive same-day credit and a receipt that can be printed or emailed.

• • •

Finally, I spent yesterday morning parking cars for a local fundraiser for fans attending the Los Angeles Chargers pre-season workouts at Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa, right next to Costa Mesa High School.

It’s a nice set-up and fans can get up close.

Attendance requires online registration, but is free of charge. For more info, including a schedule of dates, go to www.chargers.com/camp/.

Rumors are that the San Francisco 49ers will travel to Costa Mesa for some pre-season scrimmaging.

Council upholds approval of Mariners’ Mile project, with significant revisions

By SARA HALL 

City Council approved a controversial mixed-use project in Mariners’ Mile this week.

On Tuesday, July 27, council voted 5-0 (Marshall “Duffy” Duffield was absent and Noah Blom recused himself) to uphold the Planning Commission’s previous approval of the project at 2510 West Coast Highway. 

The project consists of 36 residential dwelling units, including three affordable housing units and a 5,096-square-foot office (previously an 11,266-square-foot boutique auto showroom), located at 2510 and 2530 West Coast Highway, on a 0.98-acre lot near Avon Street and PCH on Mariners’ Mile. The property is currently developed with a vacant marine sales use.

Mayor Brad Avery called for review of the Planning Commission’s Feb. 18 approval of the development. On April 27, council heard from more than a dozen concerned residents and, after about two hours of discussion, decided to continue the item.

When it came before the council again this week, council reviewed a significantly revised project and heard many of the same concerns, but several up on the dais felt their hands were tied legally due to the state.

“We’re in a tough spot with this project,” Avery said. 

Avery and his fellow council members commended property owner Mark Moshayedi for trying to adjust to the concerns of the residents.

“In these situations, you don’t get everything you want on either side, but he absolutely didn’t have to do what he did, which is make the project look a lot better,” Avery said. “He wound up with a better project because of it. The team dug down and came up with something that’s great for them and good for the city.”

When he first saw the project, he was upset, said Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Muldoon. He thought it was tone-deaf and he’ll do what he can to protect the aesthetics of the city, he added.

“I was pleasantly surprised, Mr. Moshayedi, that you made those changes, actually I was shocked,” Muldoon said. “In my perfect world, it still probably would look a little bit different, but I feel, personally, that my hands are tied, legally, as far as what can and cannot be done.”

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Courtesy of the City of NB/Westgroup Designs

An updated rendering of the revised mixed-use project in Mariners’ Mile 

The prior marine sales use on the site was originally established at 2510 West Coast Highway in 1960 and expanded into the adjacent 2530 West Coast Highway location in 2001. 

The site is developed with two office buildings, several small storage sheds and paved areas for ancillary boat and automobile parking. The site has no landscaping and provides no scenic resources, coastal access, or public parking. 

More recently, a vehicle sales office was established at the site, which does not include any on-site inventory.

The project would replace the vehicle sales office with a mixed-use development consisting of 36 residential dwelling units and a 5,096-square-foot office. The residential component would consist of eight studio units, 22 one-bedroom units, and six two-bedroom units. Three of the units would be provided as workforce housing and made affordable to very low-income households. The commercial component of the project would consist of the 5,096-square-foot office.

During the April meeting, Avery said the “totality” of the building was what concerned him the most and that it would change the landscape of the nautical businesses in the area. 

For longtime residents, it’s difficult to see things you treasure go away, Avery said on Tuesday, as he described what that stretch of Coast Highway used to look like.

“Just about anything you needed for a boat was along that stretch, which is why it’s called Mariners’ Mile,” Avery said. “It’s just a shadow of itself now.”

The older the resident, the less recognizable the town is, Avery said, and that’s tough for many people. But it’s the culture of the town, it’s always renewing, he added. 

It’s both exciting and daunting considering the projects that will be built on Mariners’ Mile, Avery said.

Sean Matsler with Cox, Castle & Nicholson, representing the applicant, shared some changes to the project made in response to the council and community comments from April.

They reduced the size of the building, changed the commercial use, incorporated more nautical architectural features into the project, used more authentic materials instead of synthetic and improved the view from John Wayne Park, Matsler said. 

City staff described it as “substantially updated in comparison to the original project.”

Perhaps the most notable change is the reduction in the building’s size and a different proposed use of the project’s commercial space.

Whereas the original project proposed an 11,266-square-foot boutique auto showroom, the revised project now proposes a 5,096-square-foot office space. 

This revision eliminates the project’s need to obtain a conditional use permit for a boutique auto showroom and its associated parking reduction, according to city staff.

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Courtesy of the City of NB/Westgroup Designs

An artist’s rendering of the property in use

At the April 27 hearing, Rosenthal argued that the Housing Accountability Act did not require approval of the conditional use permit to allow the reduction in parking. 

“This issue is now moot given that the revised project no longer requires a conditional use permit since it is fully parked with a total of 44 residential parking spaces, and 21 spaces for the office use which results in a five-space surplus above the minimum parking requirements,” according to the staff report. 

The architecture and orientation of the building has also been significantly updated. The original project was comprised of two buildings connected with a bridge between the residential and commercial to the roof deck. Now, the revised project is a single structure interconnected by the West Coast Highway lobby area and without a roof deck. 

The original project proposed a more contemporary California coastal style, while the revised project is a New England/Nantucket style that draws influence from the sea and is similar, in style, to the Lido House Hotel. 

“We know that the architecture of Lido House has been received favorably in town and we just emulated that,” Matsler said. “We think it looks great.”

The building has also been elongated between its West Coast Highway and Avon Street frontages to allow greater articulation along the east and west sides of the building. One additional residential unit has been incorporated into the project bringing the total to 36 residential units, including three affordable units. 

The applicant has also offered/incorporated a 20-foot dedication along the Avon Street frontage to accommodate the widening of Avon Street. Staff has incorporated a condition of approval into the draft resolution to ensure the applicant designs and constructs this Avon Street widening in accordance with city standards.

The condition wouldn’t obligate the city to widen Avon Street, but it provides the opportunity in the future, explained Deputy Director, Community Development Jim Campbell. A CIP (Capital Improvement Project) would have to be approved for that possible future project. 

The applicant is willing to dedicate and pay for that specific portion of their property; the burden of Avon will still be on the city, added Community Development Director Seimone Jurjis.

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Courtesy of the City of NB/Westgroup Designs

View simulations of the project as seen from John Wayne Park

During public comment, neighbors were concerned primarily about the view impact from the proposed project and the aesthetically incompatible design of the building for the Mariners’ Mile neighborhood. There were also comments about the traffic impact, community outreach, the need for story poles, conflicting uses, variances, housing density and more. 

Residents urged the council to continue the item and study the project further before making a final decision. 

Deborah Rosenthal, an attorney for the Coalition to Protect Mariners’ Mile, shared a number of concerns the group still has about the project, including that it doesn’t represent the community and sets a bad precedent. 

The developer needs to better consider the relationship between the two buildings, Rosenthal said; it’s a bad idea to have two uses on the same parcel. Also, the waivers and concessions don’t support the affordable housing as they should, she said. She also emphasized concern about the impact on traffic.

Residents’ vision was of a more active neighborhood-serving use, Rosenthal said. This is a significant change for the area, she added. 

It’s “death by 1,000 cuts,” or “nibbled to death by ducks,” she said. As each project comes in saying it’s a small impact, at the end of the day, they all add up, she said. 

“As Mariners’ Mile redevelops the way the city wants it to redevelop, there’s going to be nothing left of the water views,” Rosenthal said. 

Resident Patrick Gormley said this project wasn’t done with the village in mind. It’s been recognized that there is a need for a Mariners’ Mile plan, he added.

“It makes sense to actively plan for development of such a visible and important part of our city,” Gormley said. 

There is no consistency between this project and the general plan, which encourages improvement in the villages, or the vision for Mariners’ Mile, he said. 

The concerns were either echoed or recognized on the dais, but several council members said they can’t regulate certain aspects of projects and they are being forced into this situation by state mandates and laws.

California’s “solutions” for housing “turbo-charge” the problems already happening, Avery said. 

Because of SB 330, they can’t reduce the density of residential units, Jurjis said. That’s another handcuff to the state, he said. SB 330 is supposed to sunset in 2025, but they’re looking to extend it to 2030.

The “mantra” of the state now is about increasing density, Avery said, and they have to deal with it at the city.

There will be many residential projects coming forward soon, so there will be some “heavy lifting” in the coming months and years, said Councilmember Diane Dixon. Projects go a lot more smoothly when developers and residents are working together in the process. 

“I implore future developers, as they develop their land, they have property rights to develop their land, they take into consideration the community,” she said. “We’re going to be a little exposed here in the next couple of years because it’s going to be this wild, wild west development going on here because the state imposed these mandates on us…we are handcuffed to the state of California.” 

Residents value the village architectural, she added. While the city doesn’t impose design standards, it’s expected that the development will respect the community. They want the projects, but they want quality projects that come from applicants who respect the neighbors, Dixon said.

Echoing some of the discussion in April, there were again comments regarding the subjective standards within city code and conducting an objective analysis on development projects accordingly.

Projects can objectively comply with city code, but subjectively not fit in aesthetically or be a good fit for the neighborhood. The applicant has complied with all the objective standards in the city’s code and general plan, Jurjis noted. 

They can only include objective design standards, Jurjis explained. They can regulate height limitations in a neighborhood, for example, but not force projects to be “nautical-themed.” 

The Mariners’ Mile Revitalization Plan went through the public process several years ago, Jurjis said. They could pull that out and see what needs to be amended if it satisfies what the community is looking for, he added. 

Dixon also asked about putting in a policy to protect the view plane going forward. Jurjis said that’s challenging, but ultimately up to city council.

“You have to document all the views and take a snapshot of time,” Jurjis said, and that’s something the city has typically shied away from doing elsewhere in town, he added.

When assessing this view plane, staff said the impact was minimal or not significant, but there was no quantifiable measurement of what’s significant and what’s not, Dixon pointed out. That is not an objective standard, she said.

Going forward with these projects, they need more objective standards, which should be codified, Dixon said. 

“So, we don’t just say, ‘We, staff, decided it’s not significant.’ Well, it wasn’t significant to you, but to the residents who live up there it’s significant,” Dixon said.

Take Five: Meet Laura Tippett and Evelyn Best, co-founders of SHARE

By AMY SENK

I was catching up on a recent City Council meeting, which included a proclamation acknowledging Newport Beach resident Laurel Tippett for her work with SHARE Kids. She and co-founder Evelyn Best were there, along with several kids who spoke and were so cute that (for me) it was the high point of the meeting. The women and their organization were unfamiliar to me, so I reached out to them to find out more. 

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Courtesy of Laurel Tippett and Evelyn Best

(L-R) Evelyn Best and Laurel Tippett

Q: Congratulations on your recent City Council recognition for your work with SHARE Kids. Can you tell me more about that organization and its history?

A: SHARE, which stands for Sisterhood, Heart, Altruism, Reach and Empathy, was founded three years ago in 2019. SHARE is a collective of women from Newport and Laguna Beach who gather three times a year, typically during the months of January through March, in support of local businesses and charities. Our members all share a common heart and ability to share their resources in order to enrich their local communities. Each event creates an environment where members support local causes through education, conversation, connection and acts of service. And most importantly we have fun doing it. SHARE also has a passion for connecting with our kids to ensure that the next generation feels the importance of giving back and investing in their communities.

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Courtesy of the City of Newport Beach

SHARE Kids being recognized at City Council meeting – (Back row L-R) Councilmember Will O’Neill, Councilmember Diane Dixon, Mayor Brad Avery, Laurel Tippett and Evelyn Best

Q: What did the kids think about attending a City Council meeting and actually speaking?

A: It was thrilling for our children to be recognized by Newport Beach City Council for their participation in SHARE this last year. One little boy kept repeating, “I get to meet the mayor!” as we were walking into the council meeting. All of our SHARE Kids had big smiles (and a few nerves) as they stood up at the council meeting to have their photo taken with some of the council members. It’s rewarding as a parent to see your children learn early on what it is to be part of a community and doing their part to help contribute. This recognition really solidified this concept for children, and we are exceedingly grateful to Newport Beach City Council for taking the time to give this opportunity to our children and to inspire them to go further.

Q: What have been your biggest accomplishments, and can you describe some of the projects you worked on during COVID?

A: This past year in 2021 we had to shift all of our events to March through May and keep them outside due to COVID. We focused on three causes that became near and dear to us during 2020: anti-human trafficking, The Literacy Project and supporting local businesses. SHARE hosted a beach bonfire protest event in March where our members learned about all the local efforts made to end human trafficking in our area. We heard from our Sheriff’s Department, SSA (Social Services Agency), Willow International and from Dr. Sandie Morgan, the director of the Global Center for Women. In support of The Literacy Project, we hosted a Chinese tea ceremony at the Montage lawn where we relaxed and learned about how The Literacy Project focuses on second-grade children and bringing them up to grade-level standards in reading so they can go on to become whatever they want to be. In support of local businesses, we hosted a pop-up shopping event featuring more than 12 local businesses that donated a portion of their proceeds from the event to The Bar Method Newport Beach, which had been hard hit by COVID closures. SHARE Kids supported these same three causes. For anti-human trafficking, they purchased bracelet kits with the proceeds supporting Willow International. The kits included a kindness activity along with the beads to make two bracelets, one to keep and one to give to someone who needed a smile or some kindness. In support of The Literacy Project, Lido Village Books hosted small group reading events where the kids learned about the importance of encouraging words and then each wrote dedications in books to the children who were currently graduating from The Literacy Project. The teachers then delivered the books to their students as a graduation gift, so the students know that other kids in their community are aware of them and supportive of them as they continue to read. Finally, the kids participated in a Shop Local bingo activity where they received a stamp on their bingo card for each local shop they visited during the month of May with prizes for the kids with the most stamps.

Q: Can you describe what it’s been like to work with kids or tell me about a specific experience where a child really “got” it?

A: Kids are awesome. They are resilient and have such a unique and unaffected view of the world around them. A couple moments of magic from them this past year would be when my friend told me that her son made a kindness bracelet for his grandma who was undergoing cancer treatment. He said, “I haven’t seen her smile in a while...I think she would love this bracelet.” Or another story when my daughter took a kindness bracelet to school and said that she gave it away to a friend who normally is super excited to play at lunch time, but this particular day seemed a little down. The bracelet did the trick and brought a smile to her face. We also had the extra special bonus this year of having the children who participated in two or more of our SHARE Kids events honored by Newport Beach City Council. The kids loved seeing their city in action and experiencing first-hand that when you support your community and give back, your community sees and appreciates you. Such an important lesson when we are surrounded by so must affluence and beauty. The group favorite activity was shopping local. They all agreed it was really cool to support local businesses which had been affected by COVID.

Q: How can people get involved? Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? 

A: Follow us on IG @sharenewportlaguna. Membership and programming for 2022 will be released in the fall of 2021. So please stay tuned.

~~~~~~~~

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

Local Petersen leading the way in the GovCup

Jeffrey Petersen (USA, Balboa YC) and Emil Kjaer (DEN, Royal Danish YC) have advanced to the semifinals of the 54th annual Governor’s Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship.

The two other semifinalists will be the top two teams at the end of a third round-robin (the “Repechage”) that began yesterday afternoon and concludes today.

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Photos by Tom Walker photography

Jeffrey Petersen, USA, sails out of Balboa Yacht Club

Yesterday proved to be the moving day for Petersen and Kjaer who were first and second going into the racing, respectively. Petersen continued his near-perfect scorecard including two wins over Kjaer, losing only one match to Porter Kavle (USA, Annapolis YC). Kjaer lost only five matches in the round-robins, finishing two points clear of Kavle and Morgan Pinckney (USA, Newport Harbor YC), who finished the two round-robins tied on 11 wins.

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Emil Kjaer (L), DEN, sails out of Royal Danish Yacht Club

Balboa YC provides the identical Governor’s Cup 22 sloops used for the event. Yesterday was the third straight day of racing in a lumpy 12-16 knots of breeze. The boats have a lot of sail area for their size and weight and were surfing downwind at close to 15 knots in the typical Pacific Ocean chop off Newport Beach. 

Yesterday afternoon, the remaining eight teams finished three of the seven races in the Repechage. Kavle’s experienced Annapolis YC team were on a roll, winning the final three races of the second round-robin, including his win over Petersen, and then three straight wins in the Repechage. 

Kavle & Co. are a clear favorite to advance to the semis with Petersen and Kjaer, as is 16-year-old Pinckney, sailing in only his second major match racing competition. 

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Morgan Pinckney, USA, sails out of Newport Harbor Yacht Club

Pinckney is also undefeated in the Repechage and would have to be considered the surprise of the regatta to date. He has clearly applied his skills as an accomplished fleet and team racer to match racing. In the breeze, he may also be benefiting from being the only skipper with three, rather than two crew. 

There is a weight limit but if that is met, the boats can be easily sailed with a total of either three or four sailors.

Two points behind Kavle and Pinckney are Jack Egan (USA, San Diego YC) and Thimoté Polet (FRA, Sport Nautique et Plaisance du Havre) on 11 points. Also, in the “hunt” is former U.S. Youth Match Racing Champion (for the Rose Cup) and GovCup veteran David Wood (USA, Balboa YC). 

Today any one of these five teams (Pinckney, Kavle, Egan, Polet and Wood) could mathematically capture the two remaining semifinal slots. The semis begin this afternoon and will continue into Saturday (Race Day 5), followed by the finals.

As is traditional in modern match racing, the leader after the round-robin stages will have the privilege of choosing his opponent from among the other three teams in the semis. Usually, but not always, the leader chooses the 4th place team, but Petersen said, “I’ve never been in this position. Before, I was one of three who could be chosen, so it’s a little scary to have to do that. But, by tomorrow, I’ll have it figured out.”

GovCup TV will broadcast all the racing live today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) starting at 11:30 a.m. on www.fb.com/bycgovcup.

A press conference with the semi-finalists will be broadcast live today at 6:45 p.m., as will the final press conference and awards presentation tomorrow (Saturday) beginning at 4:30 p.m. 

Wednesday, July 28: Petersen continued his winning ways (Wednesday), Day 2 of the championship.

While Petersen ended (the day) with another perfect record, he did receive a one-point penalty for a collision on Day 1, but that didn’t faze the newly crowned U.S. Youth Match Racing Champion for the Rose Cup, which was held in June. 

The last race featured Petersen and another top competitor, Kjaer, with Petersen sailing to a relatively easy win. That gives him a two-point lead over Kjaer. 

The Repechage round starts Thursday afternoon. Going into this next phase the favorites appear to be Polet, Kavle and Pinckney who are tied on eight points. Only one point behind are Egan, pre-regatta favorite Wood and Jordan tied on seven points.

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GovCup veteran David Wood, USA, sails out of Balboa Yacht Club

Tuesday, July 27: The first day of the GovCup ended with some great racing, but also anticipation. In the 12-16 knot breezes, the most awaited race of the day, the matchup of undefeated teams after a day of sailing between Petersen, and Kjaer, was postponed until tomorrow (Wednesday) to allow time for minor boat repairs.

Close behind on the leaderboard is Kavle who is tied at day’s end with Kjaer but lost his first-round robin race against the Dane. One point further behind are Egan and the youngest sailor in the fleet, Pinckney, 16. Jordan had some good races and is a further point behind.

In a year when the usual sailors from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom could not attend due to various COVID travel restrictions and quarantine requirements, this year’s GovCup has become like golf’s Ryder Cup competition between the U.S. and Europe. While the GovCup is an individual competition and teams want to win races notwithstanding nationalities, the BYC host decided to dedicate an informal trophy to be given based on the final GovCup placings of the top three U.S. teams versus the Europeans. 

While Kjaer clearly leads his European contingent, the first entry in the GovCup from Metropolitan France, Polet, initially showed great promise with a 2-0 record, but unfortunately lost several races after that. Marius Westerlind (SWE, Royal Gothenburg YC), perhaps the star of Monday evening’s traditional Opening Dinner and Meet the Teams “roast,” was vulnerable to his much more experienced colleagues and was winless on Day 1.

Rep. Steel introduces resolution to designate August 24 as “Kobe Bryant Day”

Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-48) announced the introduction of a congressional resolution to designate August 24, 2021, as “Kobe Bryant Day,” in honor of the basketball legend who tragically passed away last year. Bryant was a Newport Beach resident and lived in the 48th Congressional District with his family. The date August 24 honors Bryant’s two numbers during his 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, No. 8 and No. 24.

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Courtesy of the Office of Rep. Michelle Steel

Rep. Steel before introducing the Kobe Bryant resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives

“Kobe Bryant used his platform to inspire millions and help kids around the world achieve success and strive for greatness. On August 24, we should remember Kobe, celebrate his life and encourage the next generation to dream big just like Kobe did,” said Rep. Steel.

Last year as Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Rep. Steel led an effort to pass a similar resolution in honor of Bryant. You can view a copy of the resolution here.

Are you doing your fair share?

Philanthropy is the lifeblood of nonprofits throughout our community and across the country. Kindness funds help to the homeless and downtrodden; children, who in many cases, would have to do without; medical and health support for so many who are out of other options; and so much more.

Our Spotlight on Philanthropy is designed to show you the inner workings of programs touching our community and, hopefully, encourage you to take a closer look.

Featured Charitable Organization:

Tell us about the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation (NHEF)?

Our mission is to promote academic excellence and enhance educational opportunities for all students at Newport Harbor High School (NHHS).

We were founded in 1995 by the Newport Harbor High School Navigators, a fathers’ group dedicated to improving the quality of education at NHHS. The foundation’s original five directors were Tim Hogan, John Polovina, Rick Robinson and Bob Steel.

Over the years that followed, with the tremendous generosity from donors (including parents, grandparents, alumni, local businesses, along with private and corporate foundations), $17,200,000 has been raised since 1995 for the betterment of Newport Harbor High School. 

So, who do you serve?

We serve all 2,300 students at Newport Harbor High School (grades 9-12), of which 60 percent reside in Costa Mesa and 40 percent reside in Newport Beach. Five public elementary schools assimilate into NHHS including Whittier, Kaiser, Mariners, Newport and Newport Heights, in addition to students from other private K-8 schools.

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Photos courtesy of NHEF

Newport Harbor High students participating in a hands-on physics robotics class

What ongoing programs does NHEF support?

We like to say we fund programs with C.L.A.S.S.:

Computers and classroom technology which includes a state-of-the-art world language lab, curriculum software, digital cameras, and iPads and high-tech tools to enhance teaching and student learning.

Learning assistance to raise the achievements of all students with free tutoring in all subjects by college students, including free evening math lab tutoring by NHHS math teachers and an AVID college prep program (Advancement Via Individual Determination).

Academic enhancement which provides 19 rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) and 19 International Baccalaureate (IB) courses to challenge students and to prepare them for America’s finest universities. 

Safe school environment provided by our Link Crew program that matches each freshman with an upper-class mentor, a nurse’s aide that keeps students healthy, and the Angel Fund which provides grocery gift cards to our food insecure and homeless families. 

Success after high school means making professional mentors available to all juniors to take advantage of NHHS career exploration programs, and the award-winning culinary arts, entrepreneurship, computer and film/TV vocational programs that promote student-driven success after graduation.

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Tutoring by college students at Newport Harbor High 

Why should people donate to support NHEF and how do they do it?

NHEF pledges $500,000 each school year to NHHS to provide the wide variety of programs to help students succeed in their journey through high school.

Donations can be made online at www.SupportNHHS.com or checks can be mailed payable to NHEF, c/o Newport Harbor Educational Foundation, 600 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach, CA 92663.

Are there ways for people to volunteer and get involved in the Foundation?

Volunteer opportunities are available for the annual Anchors Aweigh gala, our Home Tour and the Grandparents’ Day luncheon.

We also have committees to plan our annual events. The Foundation works with the Associated Student Body (ASB) and NHHS Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to welcome freshmen families at “Welcome Aboard” and to orient freshmen families at “Anchor Down.”

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Newport Harbor High School’s Robins Hall – Loats Theater

What are the Foundation’s major fundraisers?

To bring the Harbor community together and build on the strong tradition of Sailor PRIDE, we have the following fundraisers: the Anchors Aweigh Gala which will be held March 4, 2022, with an online auction leading up to the event. It promises to be a fun evening enjoyed at Balboa Bay Resort that will include dinner, with dancing to the live band Flash Pants, plus silent and live auctions. Tickets will be available in early 2022 at www.BiddingForGood.com/nhef.

We also have our signature Newport Harbor Home Tour, which is planned for May 12, 2022 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Attendees will tour a spectacular collection of homes and beautifully appointed gardens and enjoy a delicious lunch overlooking Newport Harbor. Tickets will be available online in January 2022 at www.NewportHarborHomeTour.com.

Who is the leadership group that oversees the NHEF? 

NHEF has a board of directors comprised of 38 members from the NHHS parents’ community. Our leaders are:

Jamie Mathisrud – Co-President

Rory O’Neil – Co-President

Natalie Pickup – Treasurer

Dena Baron – Anchors Aweigh Co-Chair

Jamie Mathisrud – Anchors Aweigh Co-Chair

Georgina Forbath – Annual Campaign Co-Chair

Christin Gurka – Annual Campaign Co-Chair

Craig Atkins – Matching Gifts/Major Donors 

Ryan Steelberg – Matching Gifts/Major Donors

Grant Bixby – Navigators Chairman

Diana Long – Executive Director This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Newport Harbor Educational Foundation

On-campus office:

NHHS – Room 181 of Sims Hall

600 Irvine Ave.

Newport Beach, CA 92663

949.646.1556 ext. 1

www.supportnhhs.com

Spotlight on Philanthropy is underwritten by

Tickets on sale for 25th Annual “Summer Garden Party” at Sherman Library & Gardens 

The Volunteer Association of Sherman Library & Gardens presents a “Summer Garden Party” fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 4-8 p.m. throughout Sherman Gardens.

The Summer Garden Party is the in-person piece of this year’s 25th Annual Newport Beach Virtual Garden Tour. Upon arrival, guests will receive a map guiding them to all of the Garden Party highlights which include:

–Artists in the Garden: Hand-selected local artists, who served as “Artists in the Gardens” for the Garden Tour, will be painting throughout Sherman Gardens during the party. Many of their original works will be for sale with proceeds benefiting Sherman Library & Gardens. 

–Bouquet Bar: Select from a variety of blooms and create a custom bouquet to take home. Sherman Gardens’ certified floral designer, Dawn Mones, will be on hand to assist guests with their selections. 

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Photos courtesy of Sherman Library & Gardens

Stefanie Kristiansen, a previous Garden Party Hat contestant, shows off her millinery creation

–Garden Party Hat Contest: Guests are invited to enter the Garden Party Hat Contest upon arrival. Winners for Best Garden-Themed Hat, Best DIY/Handmade Hat and Best Hat & Garden Ensemble will be chosen by three impartial judges from Orange Coast Magazine, Recycled Rags in Corona del Mar and South Coast Plaza’s Stylist Program. 

–greenHOUSE: Attendees will enjoy Sherman Gardens’ interactive summer exhibit greenHOUSE: A collection of lavish “living” rooms with a botanical twist, on display throughout the Gardens. 

–Posey Frame: Pose for photos behind an elaborate frame of flowers created by Sherman Library & Gardens’ horticulturists. The Posey Frame will be located in the Succulent Garden.

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A special silent auction item is the “Table for 12” dining experience, a four-course dinner with wine pairings, created by Cultivar Executive Chef Jessica Roy

–Silent Auction & Raffle: Win unique gifts and experiences donated by local merchants and restaurants. A special silent auction item is the “Table for 12” dining experience. The winning bidder and 11 friends will experience a four-course dinner with wine pairings, created by Cultivar Executive Chef Jessica Roy. Dinner will be served on the long table in “The Formal Dining Room” – part of Sherman Library & Gardens’ greenHOUSE summer exhibit. “Table for 12” promises to be a unique, one-of-a-kind experience.

In addition, enjoy live music, delicious food, a no-host bar and much, much more.

Tickets to the “Summer Garden Party” are $50 for members and $60 for non-members. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.thesherman.org or call 949.673.2261, ext. 300. 

Proceeds from the “Summer Garden Party” support children’s education programs. Sherman Library & Gardens is located at 2647 E. Coast Highway in Corona del Mar.

Regattas and Races…

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Photo by Bronny Daniels | Joysailing.com

The BYC 2021 Twilights did not race this week due to the Gov Cup races taking place. They will return next week.

ALYC

2021 Sundowner Series

Monday Nights

July 26

Harbor 20 B (11 races scored)

1 Jubilee – Patrick Kincaid/Bob Yates, BCYC 

2 Tiki – Gregg Kelly/Devon Kelly, NHYC

Harbor 20 C (11 races scored)

1 Whim – Hubie Laugharn, NHYC

2 Ping – Anne Wiese, NHYC

3 Whit’s End – Kim Whitney/John Whitney, NHYC

4 Shazam – Stephen Alfano, ALYC

5 Emoji – Andrew Tosh, SBYC

6 FREEDOM – Ralph Simmons/Rick McGrath, NHYC

7 Safe Harbor – Kevin Hampton/Sean Hampton, NHYC

8 Independence – Eric Jones/Heiko & Tyler or Cole Pomeroy, NHYC

9 Dragon Lady – Kathy Sangster, LIYC

PHRF A (11 races scored)

1 Kaizen – David Camerini/Don Logan, UCISA/TPYC

2 Violetta – Jane Hartley/Tomidan Jordan, BCYC

3 Buena Vista II – Berkeley Green, ALYC

4 Healer – Larry Kliger, BCYC

5 Man-O-War – James Malm, NHYC

PHRF B (11 races scored)

1 Whisper – Bob Dodds, ALYC

2 Holokai – Ross McElfresh/Bonnie McElfresh, ALYC

3 Bravura – William Miller, OCC

4 Stanley’s Cup – Stanley Tutton, ALYC

5 Lady Barbara – Theodore Barry, NHYC

6 Rag Jag – David Ranville, ALYC/BYC

PHRF C (11 races scored)

1 Jack – Chris Hill, BCYC/Oasis

2 CELIA – Jim O’Connor/Ron Costabile, ALYC

3 Carioca – Bob Wine, ALYC

4 Red Stripe – Bill Cohen, ALYC

5 Bella Rose – Rose Henigman, ALYC

6 Lapworth Camel – Odin Braathen, NHYC

7 Skirmish – Ian Wolcott/Jackson Halphide, NHYC

8 Jenda – Robert Bents, OCCSA

9 Iconoclast – Min Choi, Oasis

10 Hobo Flats – Gary Miltimore/Mac Chappelear/TYC

PHRF D (11 races scored)

1 Mystery II – Any Club Member, ALYC

2 Mystery – Any Club Member, ALYC

3 No Ka Oi – Lorin Romano,WSA OC

4 FAIRWIND – Tim Bercovitz, ALYC

5 Catatonic – Mickey Bennett, ALYC

6 Chill – John Fuller, n/a

Beercans – Pilsner (July) Series

July 22

Race #4 – PHRF 1 Division

1 It’s OK – Andrews 49.9 - Andy Rose/Tom Purcell, BYC

2 TNT – 1D48 – Wes Selby, BYC

Race #4 – PHRF 2 Division

1 Amante – Choate 48 - Richley Family, NHYC/LIYC

2 Red Bull – Open 6.50 - Tracey Kennedy, BYC

3 Heartbeat 4 –J124 - Charles Brewer, NHYC

4 Marisol – J124 - Seth Hall, CRA

5 Adios – J120 - Matt Campbell/Tim Martin, BYC

Race #4 – PHRF 3 Division

1 Violetta – Davidson34 - Jane Hartley, BCYC

2 Kaizen – Santana 35 - Don Logan, CRA

3 Buena Vista II – RS21 - Berkley Green, ALYC

Race #4 – PHRF 4 Division

1 Hayden’s Havoc – Ericson - Michael Hayden, ALYC

2 Iconoclast – J22 - Min Choi/Don Gordon, OSC

3 Catatonic – Cat30 - Charles Ullman, BYC

4 Silk – Harbor 25 - John Hanscom, SSYC

News relating to racing in or around the Harbor should be forwarded to Tom Johnson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Tourism looks and feels good, but is it really? Probably not until meetings come back

By GARY SHERWIN

You would think that tourism people like me would be over the moon, ecstatic, joyous and fantastically happy this summer.

After all, people are back on the road spending lavishly, hotel rates are crazy high, airlines have largely rebounded and it looks as if the good times are back. Popular destinations like Newport Beach must be racking in the cash.

Yeah, I’m thrilled. Sort of.

I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but what is really happening out there is an artificial sugar high after an epically devastating year.

At the Mayor’s Reception last week, I had several council members come up to me to celebrate our Great Tourism Comeback. Surely this is what we have been waiting for, they said.

Yes, visitation is up, but I compare this period to an athlete on steroids. It is a wonderful performance and terrific to see, but it isn’t normal or sustainable. And probably not very healthy either.

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Courtesy of Visit Newport Beach

Gary Sherwin

If you look at the citywide metrics, you’d think we’ve returned to the Good Ole Days and then some. Occupancy is often 80 percent on weekends and Average Daily Rate is more than $400 a night, considerably higher than pre pandemic. Restaurants are seeing strong traffic and beaches are busy. Hotel occupancy tax, the third highest revenue generator in the city, is rebounding nicely.

After the year we’ve all had, I’m hesitant to rain on any parade, but beneath the numbers there are significant challenges. 

First, the most obvious. Fashion Island Hotel remains closed for over a year and will likely stay that way for a while. While the Irvine Company looks for a high-end brand to operate the facility after deciding to scale back its own hotel management portfolio, whatever company takes it over isn’t likely to immediately reopen it. When a luxury brand gets attached to it, they will likely have what are called PIPs, or a product improvement plan, to make sure it conforms to brand standards. Whatever company comes in, the property will likely go through several months of renovations to get it ready. 

If you’ve driven by the Newport Beach Marriott & Spa lately, you’ll see it is well underway with its massive $60 million transformation. When completed later this year, it will have about 100 fewer rooms, but will offer them at a higher rate. In the meantime, only about 300 of the 515 rooms are available this summer.

That puts about 500 rooms in the city offline for a while. Luckily, the rates at the other hotels are considerably higher now, which has temporarily offset some of the loss.

The Good News/Bad News is that our tourism recovery is heavily reliant on the current leisure drive market. With a huge population base surrounding us, Newport Beach is capitalizing on Californians staying in state along with people escaping the heat from Arizona and Nevada.

A successful city can’t sustain itself long term with that strategy. Most people in town assume hotels pay their bills with people coming to town for a long weekend with the family. Not so.

While there are many hotels, especially small ones or even Pelican Hill, that rely on this approach, most hotels need meetings to survive. And those are in very limited supply right now.

The meetings market usually accounts for 60 percent of the profitability of larger hotels. Meetings bring not only large numbers of room nights but also food and beverage revenue. A hotel will always gauge its success on how many groups are on the books for a given year. While leisure guests are highly unpredictable and fickle to the economy and the weather, meetings are stable, contracted pieces of business.

After a year of boring Zoom calls, people want to get together in person again. But hybrid meetings, coupling both online and in person, are here to stay for a while. Meetings that are booked will be smaller as people navigate between the two models for the next year.

The other big variable in all of this is the international market. Newport Beach made serious inroads into countries like the United Kingdom, China, the United Arab Emirates and Canada before the pandemic. While the overall number of visitors from these countries weren’t large, they were very profitable since they stayed longer and spent more than people visiting from, say, the Inland Empire.

Between border closings, mandated quarantines, limited flight availability and virus surges, most experts predict international traffic won’t be back to normal until 2024. 

Hey, I’m generally an optimist. The positive news is that when all is done, the re-envisioned Marriott and the rebranded Fashion Island Hotel will no doubt be spectacular. As the pandemic hopefully fades in the years ahead, we will bounce back with both meetings and international guests.

We’re Newport Beach after all. We’re resilient. 

But all that will take time. Perhaps another year. And rebuilding a solid foundation won’t be easy.

But in the meantime, the sugar high sure tastes sweet.

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

Good Morning CdM! features Councilman Noah Blom addressing airport issues

The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce will present its “Good Morning CdM!” monthly meeting on Thursday, Aug. 12 from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. 

The free meeting, with complimentary coffee and pastries, will feature Newport Beach Councilmember Noah Blom who is a member of the Aviation Committee.

Courtesy of the City of Newport Beach

Newport Beach Councilmember Noah Blom

The topic to be addressed is Newport Beach aviation updates, highlighting quieter technologies for air travel, air traffic post pandemic, forecasting travel demand recovery, goals and priorities and more.

The gathering will also provide updates from the local legislative office representatives, including Newport Beach City Councilwoman Joy Brenner, from District 6; Congresswoman Michelle Steel, 48th District; State Senator Dave Min, 37th District; Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, 74th District; and Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley from the 2nd District.

The meeting is open to the community at large, and no RSVP is necessary.

The Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club is located at 1601 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar. 

For more information, visit www.cdmchamber.com.

Strolling along Balboa Island

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Photo by Stacia Stabler

Our beloved island rose from the surf through the combined forces of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ana River between 1825 and 1865 (Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach)

Letter to the Editor

Board of Supervisors accused of Brown Act violations regarding Buck Johns’ property discussion

(The following letter was sent to Orange County Board of Supervisor Chairman Andrew Do and the other members of the Board of Supervisors. The letter is in reference to County property that abuts Buck Johns’ property in the Upper Back Bay.)

This letter is to call your attention to multiple Brown Act violations that occurred during the Orange County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on July 13, 2021.

It appears that during this meeting, the Board voted on action regarding pending litigation threatened by Mr. Buck Johns regarding parcel APN 439-051-14. Mr. Johns’ attorney had demanded that the illegal fence he had erected surrounding this public property be allowed to stay or he would initiate litigation. In a letter addressed to Mr. Johns on July 14, 2021, OC Chief Real Estate Officer Thomas Miller states that “county staff has had the opportunity to discuss the Subject Property with the Board of Supervisors and has received direction with regard to this matter.” Since this is a decision by the Board of Supervisors, one must conclude that this was discussed during the July 13, 2021, board meeting, although nothing is stated regarding this on the agenda.

Working on the assumption that this was discussed by the Board (since making a decision that is NOT discussed at a Board meeting is a major violation of the Brown Act), the only item on the agenda that might refer to this is item SCS6, “CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION - SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2). Number of Cases: One Case.” County Counsel may have mistakenly assumed that notice, which provides no indication of what anticipated litigation might be discussed, complied with the “safe harbor” provisions of Govt Code Sec. 54954.5(c). It does not.

Assuming that this was regarding the Buck Johns threat of litigation, the correct code would have been Govt Code section 54956.9(d)(2)(e)(5). As Govt Code Sec. 54954.5(c) explains, the safe harbor description in that case requires additional information, and as the California Court of Appeals has recently decided, it requires the letter threatening litigation to be included in the agenda packet posted for public review. 

Govt Code section 54956.9(e)(5) describes a subclass of anticipated litigation defined in pertinent part as:

“(5) A statement threatening litigation made by a person outside an open and public meeting on a specific matter within the responsibility of the legislative body so long as the official or employee of the local agency receiving knowledge of the threat makes a contemporaneous or other record of the statement prior to the meeting, which record shall be available for public inspection pursuant to Section 54957.5.” [emphasis added]

I also refer the county to Fowler v. City of Lafayette, 46 Cal. App. 5th 360, which includes an extensive discussion of closed sessions addressing threatened litigation. According to Fowler v. City of Lafayette: 

“On its face, section 54956.9, subdivision (e)(2) appears to apply to events that might themselves give rise to litigation, such as “an accident” or “disaster,” or a “transactional occurrence that might result in litigation.” But even assuming this language could be stretched to include a threat of litigation based on a pending application, we must bear in mind the well-established rule of statutory construction that “‘“[a] specific provision relating to a particular subject will govern in respect to that subject, as against a general provision, although the latter, standing alone, would be broad enough to include the subject to which the more particular provision relates.”’”(Miller v. Superior Court (1999) 21 Cal.4th 883, 895 [89 Cal.Rptr.2d 834, 986 P.2d 170]; accord, Elliott v. Workers’ Comp. Appeals Bd. (2010) 182 Cal.App.4th 355, 365 [105 Cal.Rptr.3d 760].) Subdivision (e)(5) of section 54956.9 specifically addresses a public agency’s obligations when a person has threatened litigation outside a public meeting.”

In other words, the general provision cannot be used if a more specific code provision exists. Clearly, the correct code section is (e)(5), but this is not what was used for the closed session. Fowler v. City of Lafayette also goes on to address the need to make the record of the statement threatening litigation available for public inspection. The court found [emphasis added]: 

“Where litigation has been threatened outside a public meeting, it may be discussed in closed session under section 54956.9, subdivision (e)(5) only if a record of the threat is made before the meeting, which record must be made available for public inspection pursuant to section 54957.5. (§ 54956.9, subd. (e)(5).) The clear import of section 54957.5 is that agendas and other writings that the legislative body receives in connection with a meeting should be available to the public upon request. Mostly, these are documents relating to agenda items for the open session of the meeting (e.g., § 54957.5, subd. (b)(1)), but section 54956.9, subdivision (e)(5) requires the same for documented threats associated with an agenda item for the closed session as well. The only reasonable inference is that a record of a litigation threat to be discussed in closed session must be included in the agenda packet made available upon request before a meeting. (See Citizens for a Green San Mateo v. San Mateo County Community College Dist. (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 1572, 1596 & fn. 5[173 Cal.Rptr.3d 47] [ § 54957.5 requires agenda packet to be made available to the public].)’

“We reiterate that the Brown Act is intended to “facilitate public participation in all phases of local government decision making” (Golightly v. Molina, supra. 229 Cal.App.4th at p. 1511), and that we must construe it liberally to accomplish its purpose (Olson. Supra. 33 Cal.App.5th at p. 525). Members of the public are entitled to rely on the agenda and packet made available upon request (see § 54957.5, subd. (a))”

The Board of Supervisors’ agenda packet for July 13, 2021, failed to provide the public with a copy of the letter threatening litigation that was be discussed in closed session, in violation of the Brown Act as construed by the California Court of Appeals in the Fowler decision, let alone disclose that a specific letter had even been received. The failure to provide proper notice in advance of a regularly scheduled meeting is a violation of Govt Code Sec. 54954.2.

The failure to provide any of the additional information required in this instance by Sec. 54954.5 prevents the County from claiming “substantial compliance” with the “safe harbor” noticing option. 

Additionally, the Board is required to report the results of any vote or decision, including who voted for and against the decision. This did not occur, another violation of the Brown Act, in this case Sec. 54953(c). 

Through these failures, the County deprived the public of its California Constitutional right (Article I, Sec. 3) to present views to the Board that may differ from those of the County Counsel with whom the Board was about to meet in private.

That seems particularly important in this case, since at a previous meeting the Board was presented with 1,321 signed paper petitions requesting Mr. Johns’ private fence be removed from public park land. The failure to properly agendize the Board’s discussion of the letter from Mr. Johns’ attorney denied those petitioners their opportunity to respond to the letter prior to the Board making a decision about it. 

It should be noted that a letter from one of us (Susan Skinner) regarding the threatened litigation was emailed to the Clerk of the Board, County Counsel and individual supervisors two days prior to the Board of Supervisors meeting. This letter should have been included in the comments regarding this item but was not. Had the item been noticed properly, the letter would have been specifically identified as being associated with that agenda item and thus included in the board packet. Since the letter contained a rebuttal to Mr. Johns’ legally ridiculous arguments, the outcome of the subsequent vote might have been different had this letter been included in the board deliberations.

Not only was the public denied their chance to comment, but the absence of a proper announcement deprived the press of an opportunity to properly cover an evolving story. Paragraph 11 of a July 23, 2021, article by Stu News reporter Sara Hall recounts this frustration:

“An added closed session item on the board’s Tuesday agenda noted a conference with legal counsel regarding anticipated or significant exposure to litigation, but the county representatives did not disclose any information on whether the matter could possibly be related to the Upper Newport Bay property. Stu News Newport could not confirm what the anticipated litigation was related to prior to publication.” 

Note that ten days after the closed session the press could not verify if the “direction” from the Board referred to in Mr. Miller’s July 14 letter was given at the July 13 closed session, let alone which Supervisors voted for or against giving him the direction he describes.

This is not the open government contemplated by the Brown Act and the California Constitution.

I therefore request that this action be considered void and this agenda item be reconsidered using the correct Govt Code subsections, that the letter threatening litigation be included in the agenda, that a safe harbor description of the item be included in the agenda and that a full report out of any vote taken occur at the end of the closed session. 

As provided by Govt Code section 54960.1, you have 30 days from the receipt of this demand to cure and correct the challenged action or inform me of your decision not to do so. 

I will add that this entire episode reeks of special privilege, which is another way of saying political corruption. I will be submitting a complaint about this issue to the Orange County Grand Jury and advise County Counsel to retain records regarding the potential sale to Mr. Johns and subsequent county actions. 

Susan Skinner MD

Newport Beach

Jim Mosher

Newport Beach

CC:  Leon Page, County Council

School Notes

Dean’s list honors locals at Tufts University 

Tufts University recently announced the dean’s list for the Spring 2021 semester.

Among those students are Nathan Solomon of Newport Coast, class of 2024; Lucas Levine of Newport Beach, class of 2022; Wells Drayton of Newport Beach, class of 2021; and Declan Landau of Newport Beach, class of 2023.

The dean’s list honors at Tufts University require a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater.

In addition, Drayton graduated from the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology.

Tufts University, located on campuses in Boston, Medford/Somerville and Grafton, Mass., and in Talloires, France, is recognized among the premier research universities in the U.S. Tufts enjoys a global reputation for academic excellence and for the preparation of students as leaders in a wide range of professions. A growing number of innovative teaching and research initiatives span all Tufts campuses, and collaboration among the faculty and students in the undergraduate, graduate and professional programs across the university’s schools is widely encouraged.

Have your son or daughter register at their respective school so the information can be forwarded to Stu News Newport at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

It’s Christmas in July at the Assistance League

Join Assistance League of Newport-Mesa for its annual Christmas in July Thrift Shop sale on Friday, July 30 and Saturday, July 31 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Garden Room at the Assistance League, located at 2220 Fairview Road, Ste. 3, Costa Mesa.

This event offers thousands of unique Christmas items at great prices. Shop for the holidays early while giving back to the community.

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Thousands of unique items will be available for purchase at the Christmas in July sale

“As a member of Assistance League and resident of Newport Beach, I am proud to be part of an organization that gives back to our community. All the proceeds from the Thrift Shop go toward funding community programs including the Cheri Harris Dental Center, The Kids on the Block, Operation School Bell which provides clothing, books and essentials at no cost for Newport-Mesa Unified Elementary students and scholarship programs,” said Assistance League board member Jill Taylor.

For more information, you can follow the Assistance League Thrift Shop on Instagram @thriftnewportmesa. There you can take a sneak peek of all the Christmas items available for purchase. 

To find out more about the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa, visit www.assistanceleague.org.

Fun Zone festivities

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Photo by Photo by Kevin Pellon (Instagram @socalsnapz)

Burgers, hot dogs, Ferris wheel rides and smiles at the Balboa Fun Zone this summer

WAKE UP! Newport returns to in-person with guest speaker Sheriff Don Barnes

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce will feature Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes at the next WAKE UP! Newport on Thursday, Aug. 5. A complimentary continental breakfast will be served at the “back in person” meeting that takes place in the Friends Room of the Newport Beach Public Library.

The sheriff will talk about national threats including terrorism, trafficking and cybercrimes; the sheriff’s Behavioral Health Bureau; police reform proposals and the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities.

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Courtesy of OCSD

Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes

Sheriff Barnes was elected the 13th Sheriff-Coroner for the OC in November 2018. He began his service with the department in 1989. He leads initiatives aimed at reducing the prevalence of drugs, enhancing school safety, mitigating the impacts of homelessness and advocating for the restoration of accountability to our criminal justice system.

WAKE UP! Newport is a free event that also features the opportunity to meet one-on-one with legislative and government officials and to stay current on local, state and federal issues.

To attend, registrations are required and can be made here. The breakfast begins at 7:15 a.m. with the program taking place from 7:45-8:30 a.m.

The Newport Beach Public Library is located at 1000 Avocado Ave.

City’s Concerts on the Green and at Marina Park keep the sounds coming this summer and fall

The City of Newport Beach Arts Commission’s summer and fall Concerts on the Green and at Marina Park continue pumping out the tunes.

DSB (Don’t Stop Believin’) comes to the Civic Center Green on Sunday, Aug. 22 from 6-7:30 p.m.

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Photos courtesy of the City of Newport Beach

DSB (Don’t Stop Believin’), highly revered as one of the world’s greatest tributes to Journey, takes the stage August 22

DSB (Don’t Stop Believin’) has been highly revered as one of the world’s greatest tributes to Journey. They have captured the signature sound of renowned vocalist Steve Perry and Journey in their prime. Complete with a band of world-class musicians, DSB remains true to Journey’s musical legacy and delivers a nostalgic concert experience.”

Then, on Sunday, Sept. 26 from 6-7:30 p.m., don’t miss SantanaWays on stage at the Civic Center Green.

SantanaWays brings its Latin and blues rock to Concerts on the Green on September 26

“SantanaWays is an electrifying Latin and blues rock band that has inspired audiences in Southern California since its formation in 2012. SantanaWays pays homage to the music of Santana in the purest manner by bringing out the heart and soul of the music.”

Knyght Ryder, a favorite 80s tribute band, comes to Marina Park on September 26

Down on the Peninsula on Sunday, Sept. 26, Knyght Ryder kicks off the 2021 Concert at Marina Park series. Catch this favorite 80s tribute band from 4-6 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of fun with rock, R&B and pop sounds, complete with bay views.

Vocalist/pianist Shelley Rusk will perform some of Broadway’s greatest musicals in Marina Park on October 17

Finally, Shelley Rusk will culminate the Marina Park concerts on Sunday, Oct. 17 from 4-5:30 p.m. She will be performing songs from some of Broadway’s greatest musicals of all time. As a professional singer, Rusk has worked for music artists such as Johnny Mathis, Dolly Parton, Donna Summer, Sandi Patty, Ray Boltz and Bill Gaither both in the recording studio and in concert. 

All concerts offer free admission and free parking. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, low beach chairs and a picnic dinner, or perhaps purchase from food trucks on-site. No alcohol is allowed.

Participating food trucks include Barcelona OntheGo on August 22, SOHO TACO on September 26 and The Coconut Truck on October 17.

Local favorite Sugar ‘n Spice, the Original Frozen Banana since 1945, will be on hand for all performances.

For more information, visit www.newportbeachca.gov/culturalarts.

COVID-19: 85 new cases and no new deaths reported in Newport Beach this past week

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

This week, July 21-27, there have been 85 new cases in Newport Beach and no new deaths, bringing the overall totals to 4,169 cases reported to date and 76 deaths. 

During the past week, the county reported a total of 2,829 new cases, raising the total to 262,524 to date. The death totals for the county were four for the week, bringing the overall total number of deaths to 5,140.

As of Tuesday, July 27, Orange County has performed a cumulative of 4,290,726 tests to date. There are 212 current cases of hospitalized patients in Orange County, of which 48 are in ICU.

For questions about the data presented by the county, call 714.834.2000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To view the county’s data dashboard, click here.

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

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Data courtesy of OC Health Care Agency

This summer, get out and explore Buck Gully

Taking a hike in the Buck Gully Reserve, which connects Corona del Mar and Newport Coast, is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the upcoming warmer 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

Enjoy panoramic views as you take in the canyon’s natural beauty

–Buck Gully Loop Hikes: Come and explore the entire Buck Gully Reserve trail system on Tuesdays, Aug. 10 and 17 and Sept. 7 and 28 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 six miles; the duration is 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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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, Aug. 3 and 24 and Sept. 14 from 3:30-6 p.m. The stream is running, and the rich plant and animal life are enjoying the cool, shady canyon, making for a memorable 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 three miles per hour. The distance is four miles; the duration is 2.5 hours with moderate difficulty. This hike is open to those 8 years and older. The hike is free, but registration is required. The staging area is the Newport Coast Community Center at 6401 San Joaquin Hills Road. Register at www.letsgooutside.org.

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Several bridges provide unique vantages and viewing platforms

–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 Tuesdays, Aug. 31 and Sept. 21 and Saturdays, Aug. 14 and Sept. 11 from 8-11:30 a.m. These bridges facilitate exploration of the Buck Gully Reserve, and also provide unique vantages and 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. This hike is open to those 12 years and older. This activity is conducted at a walking pace at approximately three miles per hour. The distance is five miles; the 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.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Argyros Plaza

continues tonight with summer outdoor performances

Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA) is closing out its Summer Sounds series at the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza when Dengue Fever hits the stage tonight, Friday, July 30 from 7-8:30 p.m. Famous for their one-of-a-kind cross pollination of Khmer rock, garage rock, psychedelic rock and British Invasion sound, Dengue Fever is set to electrify the Argyros Stage. Tickets start at $15.

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Photo © Marc Walker

Dengue Fever

The Center’s first ever Family Outdoor Concert Series showcases The Lucky Band on Saturday, Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. Formerly known as Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, The Lucky Band has won multiple Grammy and Emmy awards for their smart crafty lyrics with irresistibly fresh pop beats. They’ve been called “bilingual pop joy” by NPR, “THE face of kindie music” by the Washington Post and “the children’s Beatles” by Entertainment Weekly. Led by married couple Lucky Diaz and Alisha Gaddis and based in Los Angeles, their songs in both Spanish and English are rooted in their whimsical child-friendly imaginations and offer a musical and topical range aimed at exploring all of the wonder and joy of a young person’s life. After 11 years and 11 albums, they’re fresher than ever with a new name and new album, Paseo Lunar. Tickets start at $15, and activities and food trucks are available from 12-3 p.m. 

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Courtesy of SCFTA.org

The Lucky Band

To celebrate the end of summer, Argyros Plaza gets its groove back with Silent Disco. Come dance the night away on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 7-10 p.m. Silent DJs will return to the outdoor stage with everyone’s favorite tunes, times three. With three channels to choose from on your light up headphones, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you love party classics, or EDM, the Silent DJs will have you up and moving on the dance floor. Tickets start at $25.

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Photo by Stan Sholik

Silent Disco on Argyros Plaza

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.scfta.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, or by calling 714.556-.2787. For inquiries about group ticket savings of 10 or more, call the Group Services office at 714.755.0236.

Pacific Symphony to perform Toy Story in Concert on August 21

Live music is back in Orange County! Pacific Symphony returns to Pacific Amphitheatre at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa for the West Coast premiere of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story in Concert – Live with Orchestra on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 8 p.m.

Two rival toys – a lanky, likable cowboy named Woody and Buzz Lightyear, the fearless space ranger – vie for a place in the heart of their owner, Andy. The toys plot against each other, but when they’re separated from their human, they find a way to work together as friends to be reunited with Andy again.

Considered by many to be one of the best animated films ever made, Toy Story received three Academy Award nominations, including one for “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman. Pacific Symphony musicians will perform Newman’s memorable, touching score live-to-screen at the outdoor Orange County venue, led by guest conductor Sarah Hicks. 

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Courtesy of Pacific Symphony

The West Coast premiere of “Toy Story in Concert” takes place at Pacific Amphitheatre at the OC Fair on August 21

Single tickets for Toy Story in Concert are on sale now through Ticketmaster, starting at just $25. For more information, visit the Pacific Symphony website at www.PacificSymphony.org. 

Summerfest 2021 season sponsors include PBS SoCal, K-Earth 101, KPCC 89.3 FM and Classical KUSC 91.5. Avenue of the Arts Hotel in Costa Mesa is the official hotel of Pacific Symphony. Toy Story in Concert is co-presented with the OC Fair & Event Center. The presentation licensed by Disney Concerts. ^©All rights are reserved.

 COVID-19 safety protocols continue to evolve at a rapid pace and audience safety is Pacific Symphony’s priority. In partnership with the OC Fair & Event team, they will be using current CDC recommendations to create reopening policies and procedures. For the most up-to-date safety information, go to www.PacificSymphony.org/Safety.

National Night Out scheduled for August 3

The Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) invites you to join in celebrating National Night Out scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 3 from 4-7 p.m. at Bonita Canyon Sports Park.

There will be information on crime and drug prevention, home security, child safety, the Citizens’ Police Academy and Volunteers In Policing. The event will have displays from CSI, SWAT, their K-9 Officers, Animal Control, Horse Mounted Unit, CERT and more.

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Courtesy of NBPD

There will also be games, balloon animals and plenty of activities for the kids. McGruff “The Crime Fighting Dog” will be in attendance. There will be photo opportunities and food, so don’t forget to bring your camera and your appetite. 

Bring your family and friends to spend the evening with the NBPD as together we “Give Crime & Drugs A Going Away Party!” The event is suitable for all ages.

Bonita Canyon Sports Park is located at 1990 Ford Road, Newport Beach. The park is located east of MacArthur Boulevard between Bonita Canyon Drive and Ford Road.

For more information, visit www.nbpd.org/community/crimeprevention/nno.asp or call the Crime Prevention Unit at 949.644.3699.

Team discounts offered at 39th Corona del Mar Scenic 5K and 2-Mile Fun Walk

The 39th Annual Corona del Mar Scenic 5K, presented by the Corona de Mar Chamber of Commerce, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 2. This highly anticipated and attended race/walk takes place throughout the charming streets of Corona del Mar.

The chamber is once again offering team discounts for 10 or more participants for the upcoming Corona del Mar Scenic 5K & Celebration Fun Walk. Begin planning your morning of healthy team building and camaraderie for your associates, friends, or neighbors by registering a team today. Participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt, race bid, team awards and breakfast at the famous Restaurant Row. Interesting team names and attire can be a fun addition to the day of smiles.

Enjoy pristine ocean views and activities for all ages. Register for the 5K Run, 2-Mile Youth Race, 1K Dolphin Dash for the kids and the popular 2-Mile Celebration Walk. 

Don’t miss the festive post-event party complete with live entertainment, unique sponsor and vendors, the awards presentation ceremony and more.

Courtesy of Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce

Runners at the START line at a previous CdM Scenic 5K 

–6 a.m. Event Day Registration Begins

–7:30 a.m. Warm-up

–7:55 a.m. Men’s 5K Race

–8:20 a.m. Women’s 5K Race

–8:45 a.m. 2-Mile Fun Walk/Youth Run

–9 a.m. 1K Kid’s Dolphin Dash

The supporters of the CdM 5K this year include:

–Presenting Sponsor: Casey Lesher, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury

–Corporate Sponsor: Hoag 

–Contributing Sponsor: Mariners Escrow Corporation

–Supporting Sponsor: Priestley Family Chiropractic

–Supporting Sponsor & Race Warm-Up: Rooted Soul Movement

–Official Pace Car Sponsor: Porsche Newport Beach

–Supporting Sponsor: Kurvana

–Supporting Sponsor: CR&R

–City Support Sponsor: City of Newport Beach

Stu News Newport is once again proud to be a Media Sponsor for this year’s CdM Scenic 5K.

To register, visit www.cdmchamber.com/events/39th-annual-corona-del-mar-scenic-5k.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, whereby your logo will be featured throughout the community in print media, online marketing, social media and at the event day showcase, go to www.cdmchamber.com/scenic-5k-sponsorship. To view and print the sponsorship packet, go here.

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.”

Oh my…what a cute boy! Meet Reese, an approximately 1-year-old terrier mix. He is full of energy and loves soft pets. A totally gorgeous dog that just wants to be part of the group. 

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Courtesy of Newport Beach Animal Shelter

Meet Reese

The shelter is actively taking appointments to do meet and greets, so feel free to reach out on their landline at 949.718.3454. They do require completed application forms for their animals, so simply print one up from their nonprofit’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 after review, they’ll call you to schedule an appointment. They truly look forward to meeting you and introducing you to rock star Reese, who wants to be part of your family.

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.

Capturing iconic Newport Beach and beyond: Point Bonita Lighthouse

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Artwork by Don Krotee

The Point Bonita Lighthouse is north of San Francisco, and part of a U.S. National Recreation Area protecting more than 82,000 acres, known as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The Lighthouse point can be accessed by a long bridge and walk from a remote parking area accessed from the Sausalito peninsula. This work is categorized as a fully transparent, impressionistic watercolor. The work is painted on 16” x 20” sheet of 140# Fabriano cotton paper.

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Artist Don Krotee is a 36-year resident of Newport Beach, a member of the 2000 General Plan Advisory Committee, a Corona del Mar Residents Association member, the founder of the Newport Heights Improvement Association, a Board Member of SPON and lives in Corona del Mar. He is an architect, a sailor and a fine artist who has been drawing and painting from an early age. He provides Stu News color prints of his original drawings and paintings from iconic Newport Beach and around the world. Find more art by Don Krotee on Instagram @donkrotee.art.

David Foster | Hitman Tour to kick off Pacific Symphony’s Pop series 

Pacific Symphony announces its highly anticipated 2021-22 Pops series underwritten by the Sharon J. and Thomas E. Malloy Family, featuring seven not-to-be-missed concerts that include romance, Broadway, nostalgia, festive holiday cheer and classic rock – all enhanced by the “Hollywood” sound of the orchestra. The season opens with “An Intimate Evening with David Foster | Hitman Tour” on November 5-6 at 8 p.m. with the “Midtown Men Holiday” taking place on December 17-18 at 8 p.m.

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Photos courtesy of Pacific Symphony

David Foster at the piano

Back by popular demand, 16-time Grammy Award winner David Foster returns to Pacific Symphony to perform songs from his unparalleled catalog. Popular hits – written for artists including Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Olivia Newton-John, Barbra Streisand and many others – include “You’re the Inspiration,” “The Prayer,” “The Glory of Love” and “St. Elmo’s Fire.”

Then to transport you to the holiday season, the “Midtown Men Holiday” brightens the stage on December 17-18 at 8 p.m. From the Four Seasons to the yuletide, the Midtown Men, reuniting stars from the Broadway smash-hit Jersey Boys, deck the halls with festive cheer, timeless tunes, top-shelf choreography and incredible vocal performances. This evening of songs and stories will feature iconic classics such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as their signature renditions of the greatest rock ‘n roll hits of the 1960s.

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Pacific Symphony led by conductor Carl St.Clair

In the New Year, mark your calendar for these Pop presentations: “An Evening with Katherine Jenkins” (February 11-12, 2022); “Boz Scaggs” (March 18-19, 2022); “Cirque de la Symphonie” (April 22-23, 2022); “ABBA the Concert: A Tribute to ABBA” (May 13-14, 2022); and culminating in a grand finale, “Blockbuster Broadway!” (June 3-4, 2022). 

All concerts take place in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Hall, Costa Mesa. Available for purchase at this time are seven-concert Pops subscriptions starting at $245 and a Pops Choose Your Own four-concert package beginning at $140. Single tickets go on sale August 16.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 714.755.5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org/Pops.

Join Lido Paddle Project fundraiser at ALYC on August 28

On Saturday, Aug. 28, Lido Paddle Project (LLP) is having its first Newport Beach fundraiser at the American Legion Yacht Club (ALYC), against the backdrop of beautiful Newport Harbor. Guests can walk, drive, or bring their boats to the dock by 15th Street. The event will run from 4-9 p.m. with limited ticket sales for this in-person fundraiser. Tickets per person are $150 (early bird pricing before August 12).

Guests are invited to wear red, white, blue and cruise attire as they join this festive celebration in support of our veterans and first responders.

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Photo by Tony Lattimore

(L-R) Lisa Berman, Carol Lee, Michelle Highberg, Lena Milinovic and Kim Klohe came together during a past LLP fundraiser

There will be an outdoor cocktail hour with fun raffle items and some surprise entertainment, followed by a seated four-course dinner with a magic show during dessert featuring Magic Castle Magician John Guastaferro. Chris Amodeo and The Modern Minds will be playing tunes after dinner for dancing and camaraderie. Both performers were well received at the nonprofit’s first sold-out event earlier this year at The Ranch at Laguna Beach on March 27. 

Since its inception in September 2020, Lido Paddle Project has been serving veterans and first responders out of Newport Beach. The organization promotes mental wellness to our protectors by offering respite, recreation and mindfulness in an organically social distanced event, Stand Up Paddle. In addition to providing complimentary paddling and kayaking to clients and families, Lido Paddle Project has three levels of programming: PLAY, DEEPER and TRANSCEND to customize to each individual based upon their needs.

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Photo by Evelina Pentcheva

Chris Amodeo and The Modern Minds will provide lively 60s and 70s music following dinner 

To learn more about Lido Paddle Project and to purchase tickets for the upcoming fundraiser, visit www.lidopaddleproject.org. There are many ways for the community to get involved, as a guest, in-kind donor, underwriter, volunteer, or sponsor. For more information or business partnership opportunities, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The American Legion Yacht Club is located at 215 15th St., Newport Beach.

Kids…there is still lots of summertime left to enjoy Camp Newport

Kids…there’s still lots of summer left before school starts, so don’t miss your chance to enjoy the best of Newport Beach in one of the Camp Newport summer camps!

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Courtesy of the City of Newport Beach Recreation & Senior Services Dept.

Bask in the sun while learning to surf, sail and play soccer, or cool off indoors with science, LEGOs, stop motion videos, or one of Camp Newport’s new Esports virtual camps. They’ve also added another week of Pateadores soccer and Beach Elite Volleyball to extend your summer fun through August.

Visit www.campnewport.com to register now.

Calling all student artists…

The Newport Beach City Arts Commission is presenting the Student Art Exhibition, a new month-long program celebrating the creativity and artistic expression of young artists that is open to all students in grades pre-K through 12. 

Applicants may submit one original work of art, two-dimensional format only, to be displayed on the second floor of the Central Library from August 2-28. The call for entries continues through August 21. There are no entry fees for participation. For entry guidelines and prize information, visit the Cultural Arts section of the City website at www.newportbeachca.gov/culturalarts. 

Courtesy of Newport Beach Arts Commission

The city’s Student Art Exhibition is open to all students in grades pre-K through 12

The Newport Beach City Arts Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the City Council on all matters pertaining to artistic, aesthetic and cultural aspects of the city. It recommends to the City Council the adoption of such ordinances, rules and regulations as it may deem necessary for the administration and preservation of fine arts, performing arts, historical, aesthetic and cultural aspects of the community. On behalf of the city, it actively encourages programs for the cultural enrichment of the community, including visual and performing arts activities as well as arts education programs.

More information about cultural arts programs in the City of Newport Beach can be found on the city’s Cultural Arts webpage by visiting www.newportbeachca.gov/culturalarts.

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