Fair Game
By TOM JOHNSON
Paul Salata, Mr. One of a Kind and totally relevant, dies at 94
My friend…oh, who am I kidding…EVERYONE’S friend, Paul Salata, passed away Saturday, Oct. 16, one day shy of his 95th birthday. Being the legend he was, word spread quickly across social media and many national outlets.
I was warned by those close to him that he was in his final days.
As far as his life, I was lucky, I not only knew Paul, I was fortunate to gain access into his inner circle. And boy, what a ride! He allowed me to tag along on adventures that any sports nut would give his right arm for.
One great memory was in the early 2000s, it was on a Saturday. My phone rang and it was Paul asking me to meet him early the next day at the private charter area of John Wayne Airport.
When I arrived, I found out that Paul had arranged for a private charter to the 49ers-Redskins game a few hours later in San Francisco. Moments later, Paul Tagliabue and his wife Chan, joined us for the trip.
Tagliabue, if you don’t recognize the name, was then the NFL Commissioner. Yup, the top of the heap.
For the next hour aboard the plane, I was in heaven, talking about everything football with the Commish.
When we arrived at SFO, two limos were waiting on the tarmac. The Tagliabues jumped in one, Paulie and I into the other. We were off to Candlestick for a little football. A police escort picked us up shortly up the freeway allowing us to skirt around all the traffic into the stadium.
Unbelievable.
Once inside, the Yorks (49er owners) greeted us at our limos and we were escorted up to their private box for some lunch and a wine tasting.
Paul though, always sort of an antsy one and not a drinker, told me to follow him and we ducked out, and headed to the field.
Once there, we walked out to where the teams, coaches and former players were. Paul introduced me to so many 49er legends: Bill Walsh, John Brodie, Y.A. Tittle, Terry Donahue and others. While standing there, I suddenly noticed Paul heading right out on the field because some of his “player friends” were doing calisthenics as the 49ers warmed-up. Paul, of course, was never stopped. Me, on the other hand, tried to follow and was grabbed by security and ushered off.
Fortunately, Paul came to find me and we headed up to the press box to watch the game, before later that evening returning back to JWA.
Other excursions together included Paul taking me to 49er Reunion Weekends where all the old players were, NFL Alumni Golf Tournaments across several states, games around the country where we traveled to watch his “Mr. Irrelevants” attempt to make their teams, exclusive NFL recognition dinners and more.
And, everywhere we went, Paul was legendary and commanded the room. Those audiences included Raiders’ owner Al Davis, Commissioner Roger Goodell, Dick Enberg, John Wooden, Howie Long, Peter Ueberroth, Tommy Lasorda and many, many others.
And before all of that, in Paul’s younger days, he was the greatest emcee around! If you ever attended one of those dinners, you know what I’m talking about. As he aged, and his memory started slowing down, he allowed me to “co-emcee” many events with him.
We did dinners for Pete Carroll, Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, Mike Scoscia, Tim Salmon, Jim Nantz, Bob Baffert and many others.
The daises that joined Paul to honor celebrities included many, many luminaries from all fields of sport, each who then became immediate targets for Paul’s relentless humor.
And to cap things off, attending a USC game with Paul was like going to the dance with the belle of the ball.
As we moseyed outside the perimeter of the Coliseum prior to kickoff, shouts of “hello Paul” and waves came from everywhere. He was loved.
Inside the stadium, it was no different. His seats were on the 50-yard line. Next to and slightly above one of the stadium exits. Sitting there, it was truly like Paul was holding court each and every game. Everyone entering and exiting seemed to pay homage to Paul.
1950 Bowman Paul Salata football card
He was celebrated for so much, as an NFL player for the Baltimore Colts, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers; north of the border he played for the Calgary Stampeders and the Ottawa Rough Riders; he starred for USC catching touchdowns in two separate Rose Bowls; lettered in baseball at USC and signed a professional contract; became a successful businessman and philanthropist; founder of Irrelevant Week, honoring the last draft choice of the NFL; family man; and actor, whose movie credentials included Angels in the Outfield (1951), Stalag 17 (1953), The Egyptian (1954), The Joker Is Wild (1957) and The Ten Commandments (1956).
Boy, was it all fun! Thank you, Paul, for allowing me to be your friend and treating me and everyone else around you with such kindness. It is something I’m so thankful for.
I will miss you, my friend.
• • •
Some of the latest oil spill facts & figures from the City of Newport Beach:
–1,800 people from around the country aided in the local spill response, including 116 local volunteers.
–The Coast Guard has now “with a high degree of certainty” acknowledged that the spill was approximately 25,000 gallons, versus the original estimate of 126,000-144,000 gallons.
–Crews remain cleaning up as far south as San Diego.
–The skimmers and booms employed for cleanup gathered 5,544 gallons. There is no longer a visible oil slick, as it has been disbursed and diffused.
–13.6 barrels of tar balls have been picked up from the beaches.
–To date, 32 birds have been captured, 24 cleaned, with eight being rehabilitated and released.
–There are boat contamination sites in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Long Beach.
–Fishing and the collection of shellfish is still prohibited by order of the state Dept. of Fish & Wildlife.
Following a difficult situation, we can say, “We were lucky!”
• • •
A new exhibit has opened at Heroes Hall on the campus of the Orange County Fairgrounds. Through Their Eyes: Artwork by Active Military and Veterans features artwork showcasing 24 local veterans and active U.S. service members now through January 20, 2022.
Heroes Hall is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays.
• • •
It’s still a month out, but everyone needs to start making plans for the upcoming Newport Beach Citizen of the Year celebration coming up Friday, Nov. 19 at the Balboa Bay Resort.
This year, because of changes forced by COVID, Newport Beach will honor both their 2020 and 2021 Citizens of the Year, Joe Stapleton and Walt Howald.
For tickets and more information, go to www.newportbeach.com/events/honors/.
Coastal Commission approves short-term rental restrictions for Newport Island and citywide
By SARA HALL
A state agency last week approved several new regulations for short-term lodging rentals, including some neighborhood-specific rules for Newport Island.
A majority of the California Coastal Commission (CCC) voted to approve the City of Newport Beach’s request to amend the Implementing Plan of the certified Local Coastal Program that would add and/or revise existing regulations regarding short-term lodgings in the coastal zone.
For the amendment related to citywide regulations, the vote was 9-2 with commissioners Mike Wilson and Linda Escalante dissenting. The vote was 10-1 on the Newport Island specific amendment, with Commission Vice Chair Zahirah Mann voting no.
Citywide, the approved amendments include a maximum cap of 1,550 short-term lodging permits and a two-night minimum STL stay. For Newport Island, the new rules include a maximum of 20 STL permits and that units are required to be located on an owner-occupied parcel.
This STL policy, with the CCC staff modifications, is very reasonable and has gone through significant vetting at the local level, Commissioner Donne Brownsey said.
Restricting the owner-occupied regulation to one island is a tiny percentage of the overall STL rentals in the city, Brownsey added, and it seems to be appropriate for that community.
Details, including the owner-occupied rule or other non-access related policies, really need to be hammered out at the local level, several commissioners agreed.
Previously approved by City Council and not modified further by the CCC, other regulations or standards include to set up a wait list for new permits, make revisions clarifying the transferability of permits and establishing when a permit is deemed abandoned, prohibit the rental to the user that is under the age of 25, and make an allowance for the owner of the short-term rental unit to be cited if a user receives a parking ticket while utilizing a short-term lodging unit.
While the proposed amendment tried to strike a reasonable balance between ensuring availability of STLs for visitors and preserving neighborhood character and long-term housing for local residents, it does not adequately protect STLs as a valuable visitor-serving accommodation (that can often be lower-cost than other accommodations) within the city’s coastal zone, explained Coastal Program Analyst Liliana Roman. Nor does it adequately protect public recreational and access opportunities, particularly in relation to the role that overnight accommodations play in providing such opportunities.
“The proposed three-night minimum stay restriction would result in reduced lodging options for the people who most need the economies of scale that short-term longings offer to groups and families on more affordable short weekend vacations throughout the year and not just the longer summer vacation along the coast,” Roman said.
Therefore, CCC staff suggested to modify the proposed three-night minimum stay to a less prohibitive two-night, which was ultimately approved by commissioners.
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Photo by Sara Hall
Citywide short-term lodging regulations were approved by the California Coastal Commission this week
A second suggested modification is necessary to ensure that availability of long-term housing for local residents is also protected, Roman said.
It adds the language “To avoid wholesale conversion of existing and new housing complexes into short-term lodgings, multi-unit developments with five or fewer units may only permit a maximum of one unit for short-term lodging use. Multi-unit developments with more than five units may permit a maximum of 20% of the total number of units into short-term lodgings (rounded down to the nearest whole number).”
Specific to Newport Island, the approved regulations cap the number of permits at 20, require owner-occupancy and owner-management, maintain a maximum one rental booking per week, an overnight occupancy limit, a daytime occupancy limit and a minimum parking requirement.
The first modification clarifies that the parking requirement for a short-term lodging unit refers to existing on-site parking availability and does not require creation of new on-site parking. Unless there is no existing parking on-site, in which case at least one new covered or uncovered parking space would need to be created in order to continue the STL use, Roman explained.
The second modification clarifies that the commission’s action on the other LCP amendment regarding short-term lodging is also applicable to Newport Island.
Regulations must be focused enough to provide lower-cost overnight visitor accommodations, while continuing to prevent conditions leading to increased demands for city services, prevent adverse impacts in residential areas, prevent adverse impacts to coastal resources, and ensure that the rentals will not interfere with public access and enjoyment of coastal resources, Roman explained.
Newport’s history with short-term lodging goes back decades, explained Newport Beach Community Development Director Seimone Jurjis.
“It’s part of our history, it’s part of our culture,” he said.
It’s evolved over time, he said, and with the internet and online platforms for vacation rentals, it’s become a huge industry in recent years.
“We’ve seen an explosion in the number of short-term lodging units that are permitted in the city of Newport Beach,” Jurjis said. “And I hate to say it, but the city didn’t keep up with changing our code, and addressing and adding regulations to do better enforcement and better quality control and preserving our neighborhoods. And that’s really what our struggle has been in the last couple of years.”
In 2017, when the LCP Implementing Plan was certified, Newport Beach had 1,070 active permits.
As of October 5, there are 1,536 active permits for STLs.
Newport Island currently has 18 STL permits and five are owner occupied.
City Council approved the regulations specific to Newport Island on April 13.
The demand for parking is exacerbated on Newport Island, where there are small lots, narrow streets and limited alley access, said Newport Beach Principal Planner Jaime Murillo. He shared photos of vehicles blocking driveways, sidewalks and red curbs.
Councilmember Diane Dixon, whose district covers the Balboa Peninsula and Newport Island, also spoke on behalf of the city. She noted that the recent proliferation of STLs has resulted in increased problems for both residents and visitors, including loud and unruly noise in late evening hours, disorderly conduct, traffic/congestion impacts and excessive trash.
During public comment, some local Newport Island residents complained about many of the same issues that Dixon noted.
Code enforcement has been reactive and not very successful, said local resident Gary Cruz. These regulations will provide proactive relief for residents, he added.
“Until you’ve had an STR next door to you, you can’t appreciate the adverse effects they have on you,” Cruz said.
These regulations aren’t denying anyone coastal access, infringing on anybody’s property rights, or efforts to generate revenue, he said.
“We are only asking that owners respect the property rights and wishes of many residents on Newport Island,” said Cruz, who has lived on the island since 1986.
About 85% of Newport Island residents signed a petition for the owner-occupied and owner-managed, Cruz noted.
While others said the owner-occupied rule is unfairly penalizing the responsible operators.
Lori Bowman owns a home on Newport Island that has been in the family for more than 80 years, she said. They rent the house throughout the year to family and friends, and rely on the income to help with the cost of home maintenance and other property expenses.
She is aware of the issues caused by short-term tenants and understands the need to establish and enforce rules, Bowman said.
“We are responsible renters. We do not rent to parties who cause disturbances or damage property,” she said. “We follow the city rules related to short-term lodging and renew our licenses on a timely basis.”
But they would not be considered owner occupied and it would cause a financial hardship to maintain the property without the STL income.
The rules should penalize the owners who rent to the “bad seeds,” she said.
“We don’t believe that as responsible property owners we should be penalized because of those other owners who don’t follow the rules,” Bowman said. “As longtime property owners on Newport Island, we’re proud to be a part of this community and we just ask to be treated fairly and equitably.”
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Photo by Sara Hall
Houses in Newport Beach
Some of the commissioners also had concerns about the owner-occupied requirement for Newport Island.
Mann, who ultimately voted against the item, said it restricts the ability to access these spaces. Considering the current STL permits on the island, only five are owner occupied, she noted, so the others who haven’t adopted that type of business model would lose out. There are probably also a number of people who don’t want to share the same space with people outside their household right now during the pandemic, Mann pointed out.
Overall, it limits visitor access, Mann said, and it’s problematic to focus that requirement on only one neighborhood in the entire city.
Although there was some concern, most commissioners tended to disagree that it was an issue considering the overall number of STLs in the city.
Wilson said he’s generally in support of the owner-occupied rule, as it’s less impactful on the housing stock, while also allowing owners to generate supplemental income and holds the owner accountable to the neighbors.
But he had other concerns. Another possible negative result from short-term rentals is population loss, and it’s not isolated to Newport Beach, Wilson said.
“There is a loss of population all along our coastline in small communities and impacting (those communities) in significant ways,” Wilson said, and by approving this they’re codifying that impact, he added. “The impact is on the character of these communities…Our viewpoint and our vision of accommodations and providing accommodations to this level of impact is really hard for me to consider.”
The impact is concentrated on multi-family zoned areas, Wilson added, and they need to consider who lives in multi-family versus single-family areas. So many STLs could exacerbate issues like noise, parking and trash issues in those areas, he said.
It’s particularly difficult when cities are avoiding constructing affordable housing as required by the state, yet hundreds of short-term lodging units have been created over the last few years.
“In our quest for visitor serving infrastructure…I think we’ve gone too far,” Wilson said, and not just in Newport Beach, but overall, he added.
Other concerns raised in the wider conversation about short-term rentals, commissioners mentioned fair housing laws, anti-discrimination policies, unintended consequences down the road caused by these regulations, and the need for affordable housing and how that connects to the areas that have had an explosion of STLs.
ENC’s Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch, a day of family fun, raised $50,000+
On Sunday, Oct. 17, the Environmental Nature Center (ENC) presented the 46th Annual ENC Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch, which proved to be a day of fun, with more than 4,000 in attendance, which is average for the Fall Faire.
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Photos courtesy of ENC
Children petting the gentle animals in the petting zoo
ENC raised more than $50,000 to provide opportunities to connect the Newport Beach community to nature.
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Wishing this pony ride would last all day
The Savor OC restaurant showcase included Indarra Indian Cuisine, SOHO Taco, Fork, Knife + Spoon Catering, Bluewater Grill, The Alley, Shirley’s Bagels, The Pizza Bakery, Kean Coffee, Muldoon’s Irish Pub and Al’s New York Café.
Performances at the Fire Circle Stage included Author Diane Lang, who gave a live reading of her book Fur, Feather, Fin – All of Us Are Kin, raptors from the OC Bird of Prey Center, Nature Joe’s Nature Jokes and more
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A family chooses their favorite soon-to-be jack-o’-lanterns in the Pumpkin Patch
Youngsters played nature games and enjoyed a “Craft Crawl” throughout the center as well as the ever-popular petting zoo and pony rides. The most frequented spot was undoubtedly the pumpkin patch, where attendees shopped for pumpkins, while dancing along to the tunes performed live by the Sweetwater Creek Band.
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The Sweetwater Creek Band shares some foot-stomping tunes
Proceeds from the Fall Faire & Pumpkin Patch support environmental education in the community.
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Fork, Knife & Spoon at the Savor OC restaurant showcase
Environmental Nature Center is located at 1601 E. 16th St., Newport Beach. For more information on upcoming events, visit www.encenter.org.
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Tickets for the Craft Crawl…only $5
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Making crafts amid the ENC woods
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Three kids in their ENC Nature Preschool T-shirts
Huge dolphin pod stampedes off Newport Beach
How are our ocean waters these days? Well, according to this video from Newport Landing & Davey’s Locker Whale Watching, life is good for this large pod of dolphins.
According to Jessica Roame, the education manager for Newport Landing and Davey’s Whale Watching, last Thursday off Newport Beach they witnessed hundreds of common dolphins as they began to stampede right next to one of their catamarans, the Catallac. It was one of the largest aggregations of common dolphins their captains have seen in years, at least 1.5 miles wide.
Video courtesy of Newport Whales
@NewportWhales
City Manager’s Updates
From the desk of Grace Leung
Courtesy of City of Newport Beach
Newport Beach City Manager Grace Leung
Community Members:
Newport Harbor and our city beaches fully reopened this week following the October 2 oil spill closures. Fortunately, the amount of oil and tar washing ashore is diminishing day-by-day.
Newport Harbor reopened October 8 after it was determined that the oil slick was unlikely to pose a threat to harbor waters. On order of the U.S. Coast Guard, the containment booms protecting the harbor were removed and vessel traffic resumed.
That same day, city staff collected water samples at 10 locations along the ocean-facing beaches, from the Santa Ana River to Corona del Mar. We received the results on Monday, Oct. 11 and were able to reopen beaches based on those test results. The tests did not show unhealthful levels of petroleum-related toxins at any of the testing locations. Only two locations, the Wedge and Balboa Pier, showed some remaining oil at low, non-toxic levels. The water quality report is available on the city’s website at this link.
Cleanup crews will continue to survey the beaches and clean any additional oil and tar that washes up on the shoreline.
While most oil has been removed or dissipated in the open ocean, you may still see oiled materials and tar balls continue to wash up on the beach. Please use care in the tidal zone to avoid stepping in residual tar.
Please do not handle or collect any oiled materials. If you do see oil or tar balls on the beach, contact the beach clean-up teams at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The numbers of injured wildlife, thankfully, have been minimal. But if you do see any oiled wildlife, please call 1.877.823.6926.
We will continue to monitor the water quality of ocean beaches on a regular basis for the next several weeks. For more information and updates, visit Newport Beach’s website at www.newportbeachca.gov/oilspill and the official incident response website at www.socalspillresponse.com.
COVID-19 Cases in Newport Beach
As of October 14, the total cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Newport Beach was 5,008, an increase of 28 cases from October 7. The total number of cases in Orange County as of October 14 was 300,944, an increase of 1,610 cases from October 7. The number of recovered COVID-19 patients countywide as of October 14 was 288,961. These figures are provided to Orange County by the California Department of Public Health. The county’s daily, weekday update of COVID-19 case information is available at this link. Those seeking vaccination options can visit the HCA page at this link by the California Department of Public Health.
Community Meeting on Group Residential Facilities
The city hosted a community meeting on sober living homes, group homes and state-licensed residential care facilities on Monday, Oct. 11. The meeting was attended by residents from different Newport Beach neighborhoods and the Santa Ana Heights/Upper Newport Bay area was the most well represented.
The residents expressed concerns about the number of facilities in their neighborhood and the way in which certain facilities are being operated.
The meeting brought together residents and elected officials from the city, county and state to discuss current laws and regulations pertaining to the different types of group residential facilities. The discussion largely focused on two categories of facilities: those that are licensed and regulated by the state and those that the city can permit and regulate under an ordinance passed in 2008. The residents and elected officials discussed other jurisdictions’ ordinances, as well as code enforcement, regulatory and legislative needs and proposals designed to help address the community’s concerns. All agreed more discussion and collective work is needed.
To that end, at its October 26 meeting, the Newport Beach City Council will consider forming an Ad Hoc committee, comprised of several councilmembers supported by city staff to focus on this issue. The city will continue to communicate and work closely with the community members and our state, county and federal representatives on identifying and implementing solutions. More information about group residential uses can be found on the city website.
Cleanup Projects Begin with Trellis International
Last month, city council awarded a grant to Trellis International, a non-profit organization based in Costa Mesa, to provide clean up services within the City of Newport Beach. Trellis, through their Community Impact Team (CIT), works with volunteers who are currently, or at risk of experiencing homelessness, to develop the job skills necessary to successfully re-enter the job market. CIT has already completed three projects over the past two weeks. Volunteers filled a total of 16 50-gallon trash bags with trash and debris. Each project included a four-person volunteer team working for four hours. This is a great start to the program and it is already making a difference in addressing areas within the city not serviced by city staff or contractors. The three project locations included MacArthur Boulevard between Pacific Coast Highway and Bison Avenue, along with the Dog Park and Civic Center Park; Arroyo Park and trail; and Jamboree Road between Ford Road and Bristol Street. CIT focused their efforts along the sidewalks, landscape areas and trails. Items collected include dog waste, bottles, cans, containers, broken parts and signage.
Homelessness Update
–Eighteen people who had been experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach are now sheltered in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
–City Net, the city’s contract homeless services agency, ordered Social Security award letters for several clients matched to Emergency Housing Vouchers. The first person from Newport Beach has been matched to a voucher and has started touring apartments. Emergency Housing Vouchers are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and allow people to pay affordable rent based on their fixed incomes. Nine people experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach have been awarded vouchers so far and are working with a housing navigator to locate apartments. The voucher program is being administered by the Orange County Housing Authority.
–City Net facilitated an intake at a women’s shelter. The staff coordinated the phone interview and transported the client to the shelter.
–City Net assisted a couple with obtaining EBT cards and re-enrolling them into a sober living home.
–City Net ordered identifying documents (including a photo ID, birth certificate and Social Security card) for several people enrolled in their services.
–City Net enrolled a client into Telecare to continue her mental health treatment plan.
To donate to those experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach, visit our Good Giving Program web page.
Editor’s Note: City Manager’s Updates was received Friday, Oct. 15 and is subject to editing.
Police Files
Newport Pier altercation leads to one man’s death
At approximately 12:03 a.m. last Saturday morning, Newport Beach Police received a call regarding a male subject unconscious in the area of the Newport Pier.
Upon arrival, responding officers provided life-saving measures to the adult victim, but he was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. It was determined the victim was involved in an altercation with another male adult suspect that was subsequently located in the area.
Ezekial Izaiah Person, 22, of Tustin, was arrested for voluntary manslaughter and on a felony probation violation. Person, whose occupation is listed as a security guard, was held without bail.
Police determined this was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
NBPD Detectives and Crime Scene Investigation personnel are conducting an active homicide investigation. The identification of the deceased is still ongoing and will be released by the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office.
The NBPD is seeking the public’s assistance in locating witnesses to this incident as well as the activities leading up to the altercation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Kyle Markwald at 949.644.3762 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Anyone wishing to provide information anonymously may call our tip line at 1.800.550.NBPD.
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.
Pet of the Week 
Stu News Newport is delighted to be working with the Newport Beach Animal Shelter to help get the word out in search of loving homes for pets that deserve a warm, nurturing environment and a place to call “home.
The Shelter has an absolutely stunning domestic long hair kitty named Keke. She’s totally loving and easily gets along with other cats. She’s at the wonderful adult age of 4 1/2 years and will do well in any caring, indoor home situation. Keke kitty is an amazing representative for the feline species and if she was in a kitty contest she’d receive all 10s
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Courtesy of Newport Beach Animal Shelter
Meet Keke
If you’ve been looking for an affectionate, beautiful, good-natured, mellow, personable, playful, best friend cat, then Keke is definitely not the kind of fluffy heart that you want to miss. Feel free to contact the Newport Beach Animal Shelter at 949.718.3454. They’ll be happy to answer any and all questions that you may have.
They do require completed application forms for their animals, so simply print one up from their non-profit’s webpage at www.FONBAS.org. After it is completed, you can email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and upon review, they’ll call you to schedule an appointment.
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.
Always a Sea King!
A Celebration of Corona del Mar Baseball Coach John Emme will take place Sunday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m. on the CdM baseball field. Coach Emme unfortunately died last month following an electric bicycle accident.
Those attending are encouraged to park in the CdM Middle School lot along Mar Vista Drive or the main CdM High School pool lot along Eastbluff Drive. Corona del Mar High School is located at 2101 Eastbluff Drive.
Crystal Cove’s Fire Ecology Internship Program seeks high school students
High school students – join Crystal Cove’s Fire Ecology Internship Program. Help Crystal Cove Conservancy, Crystal Cove State Park and Irvine Ranch Conservancy study the impacts of fire in Orange County by joining Crystal Cove’s internship program for the 2021-2022 school year.
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Courtesy of Crystal Cove Conservancy
Over the course of the Fire Ecology Internship, high school volunteers will collaborate with land managers and researchers to study the impact of fire on our ecosystems in open spaces across Orange County. Student interns will gain valuable experience working in the field of restoration, fire ecology, and land management and help local land managers address real conservation challenges.
Ninth through 12th grade students attending high school in Orange County are eligible to apply. Internship meetings will be a combination of in-person field days on Saturdays and some weekday evenings on Zoom. Visit the Fire Ecology Internship page here for more info and to apply. Applications will be accepted until Monday, Oct. 25. Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule a short interview over Zoom during the first two weeks of November.
You Must Remember This: when gambling was “important”
By NANCY GARDNER
I don’t know if people are aware of just how prevalent gambling was in the early days of the town – and how important.
Although gambling was illegal by state law, it flourished in Balboa. You could actually buy – in fact were required to purchase – a license giving you the city’s blessing as to gambling on your premises. There were always at least four gambling joints, usually centered on Main Street and these establishments featured a Balboa version of roulette. The Balboa version was set up to be even more stringently in favor of the house than in most other places, and if a person actually managed to win, he or she was paid not in cash but in cigarettes – peachy if you were a smoker, but if you weren’t, or if you needed the money, you would toddle down the street to Johnny Vogel’s who would cash them in at a very large discount. Balboa games, Balboa rules.
It wasn’t just gambling joints, though. In those days, almost every store in Balboa – with the proper license, of course – featured either a slot machine, a punchboard or both. Balboa rules applied here as well with few winning combinations on the slots and, according to my father, zero payoffs for the punchboards.
This was all quite jolly, but all those city-issued licenses couldn’t change the fact that gambling was illegal in the state, and from time to time there would come to certain Balboa telephones a series of quiet calls. For some reason, at almost the same time, the gambling joints were closed with “for sale” signs stuck in the window. In various stores, certain items usually on the front counter were shifted to the back of the storage area. And then, in an amazing coincidence, the next morning the sheriff arrived and just like our friend from Casablanca, and with the same amount of sincerity, said he was shocked, shocked to have heard there was gambling in Balboa. Up one side of Main Street he would walk, then down the other, noting the “for sale” signs. He would step into any number of businesses and look around. Having completed his tour, he would nod to the city official accompanying him and tell him that he was pleased to have established, by his own personal investigation, that the report he had received was false. He’d get back in his car and drive back to Santa Ana, and before his car cleared 9th Street, the “for sale” signs would be down, the doors unlocked, the slots and punchboards reinstated and everyone would get back to the city business of fleecing the suckers.
I said at the beginning, gambling was not only prevalent but important. Why the latter? Ka-ching! Ka-ching! In the depths of the Depression, when cities right and left were going bankrupt, revenues from gambling, along with certain other illicit activities such as bootleg liquor, kept the city afloat. As those running the city might have said, they might not have been as pure as the driven snow, but they knew how to balance the books.
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Nancy Gardner, former Mayor of Newport Beach, long-time resident and daughter of Judge Robert Gardner, is a regular contributor to Stu News Newport.
Letters to the Editor
New mayor initiative “would have stricter term limits,” just read between the lines
I’ll say it up front: I want to be able to Elect Our Mayor. I also like term limits. So, when people dissenting from the initiative claimed that the term limits were going to be changed, I took another look.
The proposed initiative doesn’t change city council term limits. In fact, the proposal says specifically: “This section is not intended to change the limit on consecutive terms for a member of the city council enacted by voters in November 1992.”
Subsequently, in the “Implementation” language, it says: “The enactment of this measure shall not be interpreted or applied to reset or extend the limit on consecutive terms applicable to any person holding office as a member of the city council at the time this measure is approved by voters.”
Any fair reading of the Elect Our Mayor initiative would conclude that 1) the city council term limits remain the same and 2) the current city councilmembers aren’t gaming the system with this change.
The proposed new position of a directly elected mayor would have stricter term limits than city council. The proposed new position would have lifetime term limits, which the city council positions don’t have.
I encourage people to read the language for themselves. It’s amazing what a little education can do to counter false narratives.
Barbara Eusey
Balboa Island
What should be done with our pier area? Here are some ideas
My first question is: How is the pier structure holding up? Has an engineer given it a physical and, if not, should this be done to determine this structure’s viability? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. It doesn’t make sense or dollars to destroy something that still has plenty of life left.
Should the building at the end be torn down? Probably. Should it be replaced? If so, why? Aren’t there enough restaurants and stores already?
Also, what is wrong with the Plaza? As a resident who frequents it regularly, I like the design. Could it use a little refurbishing? Yes, and so could the public bathrooms.
Would all this work cost $20 million? Not even close. This area, as pointed out by resident George Leslie, is already brimming with visitors, so there will probably be minimal financial gain for our city.
If you are planning long term, how about investing in electric police and lifeguard vehicles? We all know this area has abundant sunlight. How about installing solar on city property where feasible?
We all love the look of green grass, but it uses so much water to maintain it and this area is often in a drought. Today, there are pleasing options that require no water.
I believe that Newport Beach can be a leader in these areas as it has in the past, rather than behind the curve.
Victor Paglia
Newport Beach
We know who trusts the voters
On Tuesday [tonight], the Newport Beach City Council gets to decide whether voters will have a choice. It’s a vote to let the people choose whether we want to directly Elect Our Mayor or leave it in the hands of the City Council to choose this important decision.
This is, of course, the same City Council comprised of people who ran for election and trusted us to make decisions whether they would be good at their current positions.
It’s the same City Council that voted to place a Charter amendment to add the Harbor Commission to the charter in 2020, which passed by 11%.
It’s the same City Council that voted to place a Charter amendment to require voter approval prior to certain debt obligations in 2018, which passed by 60 percentage points.
It’s the same City Council that voted to place a Charter amendment to require five of seven votes of the City Council to propose taxes in 2016, which was passed by 62%.
When voters ask to be trusted – to be involved in the process – we mean it. The only city councilmember who opposed two of the last three charter amendments lost a re-election bid by 20 percentage points. Voters clearly reward those who trust the voters.
Let’s move forward together here. Let’s Elect Our Mayor.
Nanette Vodra
Newport Beach
Hoag is first in OC to enroll patients in NK Cell Therapy Clinical Trial for triple-negative breast cancer
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian announced that it has enrolled its first two patients in a clinical study evaluating “Natural Killer,” or NK, cell therapy in women with triple-negative breast cancer. Hoag is the first and only site in Orange County enrolling patients in the study.
The phase1/b2 open-label study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a combination of chemo-immunotherapy with “Trodelvy,” a low dose chemotherapy, in combination with Culver City, Calif.-based ImmunityBio’s Anktiva receptor agonist and NK cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy. Participants are triple-negative breast cancer patients who have at least two prior treatments for metastatic disease. Treatment will continue for up to one year.
Cell therapy involves modifying immune cells to recognize – and kill – cancer. Hoag is involved in a variety of cell therapy trials evaluating “natural killer,” or NK cell therapy, which has proven to be beneficial in treating solid tumors.
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Courtesy of Hoag
Hoag Cancer Center
“Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients often have a poor prognosis and high cancer recurrence rates and short duration of responses with current therapy at an unacceptable high level of toxicity,” said Chaitali Nangia, M.D., co-director, NK Cell Therapy Research at Hoag Family Cancer Institute and principal investigator for the trial. “We are at the frontier of these novel combinatorial approaches with the use of ‘Natural Killer’ cells, which have the potential to work together with other agents to give durable and deep responses while maintaining patients’ quality of life.”
Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for about 10-15% of all breast cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. Triple-negative breast cancer is more common among women under the age of 40, black women and those with the BRCA1 mutation. Triple-negative breast cancers are a more aggressive form of breast cancer and until recently have lacked specific targets for personalized therapy. Combinatorial chemo immunotherapeutics have started to fill those gaps and are now the backbone of a number of clinical trials designed to target these pathways.
“Hoag is committed to leading the way in advancing treatment options and improving health care by exploring the safety and efficacy of new drugs and therapies, including the promising area of immunotherapy and, in particular, evaluating the efficacy of NK cells in treating several types of challenging cancer,” said Burton Eisenberg, M.D., Grace E. Hoag Executive Medical Director Endowed Chair, Hoag Family Cancer Institute.
Hoag’s clinical trials are heavily supported by philanthropy, which provides the infrastructure to attract and support these advanced trials, including research nurses, data and trial coordinators, variant scientists and more.
Hoag Family Cancer Institute offers comprehensive clinical trials for all solid tumor cancers.
For more information, visit www.hoag.org/cancer.
School Notes
District seeking input on emergency plan
Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) is seeking input on their Proposed Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Expenditure Plan. They are gathering input from students, families, staff and community members. This plan is based on required prompts from the state and adheres to guidance from county, state and federal agencies.
The district will be using your thoughts to affirm and adjust their plan. They are using Thoughtexchange so everyone has a chance to share their perspectives and understand what’s most important to the group.
Visit this link to participate: https://tejoin.com/scroll/380238955. Share your thoughts and then rate at least 20-30 of the thoughts that others have shared. Your participation is confidential, so no one will know who shared or rated which thoughts.
You may come back as often as you wish until Wednesday, Oct. 20 to rate new ideas.
Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Sherman Library & Gardens features Teresa Sabankaya at November Lunch & Lecture Series
Sherman Library & Gardens presents its monthly Lunch & Lecture Series with Teresa Sabankaya on Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The Lunch & Lecture Series, presented by South Coast Plaza, in partnership with Cultivar restaurant, features a horticulture speaker combined with a delicious lunch.
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Courtesy of Sherman Library & Gardens
Teresa Sabankaya
Sabankaya is one of the most innovative floral designers in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Area, and has exhibited her floral art at numerous museums and flower shows including the Bouquets to Art exhibition at the DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park, the Monterey Museum of Art and Filoli Mansion and Gardens, a National Trust Historic Site, where she is a regular instructor. Her love of, or rather obsession with, the language of flowers spawned her creation of the modern-day posy. The posy is her favorite design in florals; a modern spin on a historic nosegay, these “little garden bouquets that tell a story” have a permanent place in her heart.
Sabankaya will be selling and signing copies of her book titled, “The Posy Book” following her lecture. Fee: $35 Member; $45 Non-Member. Register at www.thesherman.org.
Sherman Library & Gardens is located at 2647 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar.
Veronica Swift graces the Samueli Theater stage for two performances
Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents jazz vocalist Veronica Swift for two shows on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 7 and 9 p.m. in Samueli Theater as part of its Jazz Series this season. Swift makes her Center debut with these performances.
With a repertoire running the gamut from swing to bebop to the Great American Songbook, Swift is a young but fully fledged star on the international jazz scene. Boasting a clear and lilting tone and radiant stage presence, she is also a master of rigorous vocal techniques like vocalese and scat.
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Courtesy of scfta.org
Veronica Swift
Having first gained widespread attention in high-profile collaborations with the likes of Wynton Marsalis and Chris Botti, she has developed a devoted following among audiences. On stage, Swift will be performing selections from her 2021 album, This Bitter Earth, along with additional jazz standards, rock classics and more.
As Swift remarked recently, “This show at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts is not only a comeback after a year-long hiatus of no gigs, but it is a rebirth…The songs I’ve picked for this show encompass some of This Bitter Earth’s message, but also we have included new songs that mix classical with rock and roll and funk as well as jazz. I now know, my purpose as an artist is to break down these genre barriers and fully immerse the audience in what to me is just simply: music.”
Accompanying Swift are Mathis Picard, piano; Alex Heffron, guitar; Philip Norris, bass; and Dylan Elise, drums.
Tickets start at $59 and are available for purchase 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.
Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.
Regattas and Races…
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Photo by Bronny Daniels | Joysailing.com
BCYC
2021 Fall Sabot/CFJ Corinthian Cup
(October 16-17)
CFJ
(9 Races)
1 Kennedy & Tester, NHYC/BCYC, Total 17, Net 13
2 Sighiartau & Khanna, BYC/LMVYC, Total 29, Net 24
3 Hilgeman & Stone, BYC, Total 32, Net 26
4 Roe & Chapman, BYC, Total 32, Net 26
5 Sweeney & Sweeney, BYC Total 35, Net 29
6 Daher & Mottl-Long, BYC, Total 44, Net 38
7 Maximus Suh, BYC, Total 72, Net 64
Sabot A/B
1 Caleb Everett, BCYC, Total 29, Net 16
2 Maddie Nichols, BYC, Total 43, Net 28
3 Zarrin Harvey, BCYC, Total 46, Net 36
4 Hannah Crompton, LBYC/BCYC, Total 51, Net 37
5 Kingston Keyoung, BCYC, Total 58, Net 43
6 Julia Getter, NHYC/BYC, Total 60, Net 49
7 Katherine Stone, BYC Total 82, Net 62
8 Nevin Kennedy, NHYC, Total 101, Net 77
9 Michael C. Sentovich, NHYC, Total 104, Net 87
10 Wilbur Smith, NHYC, Total 108, Net 87
11 Landon Stahl, BCYC, Total 118, Net 98
12 Jack McGhie, LBYC, Total 124, Net 100
13 Charlotte Carmichael, NHYC, Total 120, Net 103
14 Katie Cannon, NHYC, Total 128, Net 107
15 Eddie Kliem, BYC Total 127, Net 108
16 Mesa Uliasz, BCYC, Total 134, Net 114
17 Olivia Norton, NHYC, Total 148, Net 123
18 Siena Nichols, BYC Total 150, Net 125
19 Vance Khamsi, BCYC/LIYC, Total 149, Net 127
20 Reid White, BCYC, Total 161, Net 137
21 Preston Decker, BCYC/LIYC, Total 180, Net 155
22 Piercen Giordani, NHYC, Total 199, Net 173
23 Theo Goodman, BCYC, Total 206, Net 182
24 Cassady Jane Lorentzen, BCYC, Total 214, Net 188
Sabot C1
1 Peyton Homer, BCYC, Total 28, Net 17
2 Will Ramsay, NHYC, Total 26, Net 19
3 Kyren Shirar, BCYC Total 31, Net 25
4 Jack Condon, NHYC, Total 33, Net 26
5 Camryn Homer, BCYC, Total 41, Net 29
6 Caroline Eadie, NHYC, Total 50, Net 38
7 Clare Eadie, NHYC, Total 54, Net 46
8 Chloe Curtin, BCYC, Total 57, Net 47
9 Liam Flanagan, LIYC, Total 62, Net 52
10 Jack Swartzbaugh, BYC, Total 71, Net 59
11 Abel Berge, BCYC, Total 80, Net 68
Sabot C2
1 William Metzger, BCYC, Total 23, Net 16
2 Madilyn McKinlay, NHYC, Total 32, Net 26
3 Curran Fullerton, NHYC, Total 44, Net 36
4 Mira Burke-Wilding, BCYC, Total 50, Net 40
5 Molly Torres, BCYC, Total 54, Net 41
6 Liam Benjamin, NHYC Total 51, Net 41
7 Augie Wise, LBYC, Total 60, Net 49
8 Elliott Jensen, BCYC, Total 69, Net 57
9 Jack Davis, BYC, Total 71, Net 59
10 Nico Rousset, LIYC, Total 85, Net 72
11 Jewel Garcia, BCYC, Total 89, Net 76
12 Skylar Ullman, NHYC, Total 93, Net 80
Sabot C3
1 Allison Schock, BCYC, Total 16, Net 12
2 Stella Wilson, BCYC, Total 29, Net 23
3 Jack Brodsky, LBYC, Total 38, Net 29
4 Taj Lewis, LBYC Total 54, Net 39
5 Jill Davis, BYC, Total 50, Net 40
6 August Jensen, BCYC, Total 56, Net 46
7 Ruckus Choate, LIYC, Total 66, Net 51
8 Chloe Uisprapassorn, LIYC, Total 71, Net 56
9 Jaron Dobkin, LIYC, Total 72, Net 57
10 Heidi Swartzbaugh, BYC, Total 69, Net 59
11 Sloane Uisprapassorn, LIYC, Total 106, Net 91
12 Simon Rousset, LIYC, Total 113, Net 98
13 Cammie Suplizio, LIYC, Total 116, Net 101
14 Brady Kosich, LIYC, Total 133, Net 18
BYC
Super Sabot Saturday
(October 16)
(3 Races)
Adult Sabot A Fleet
1 Lanny Coon, MBYC, 2-2-1, Total 5
2 Molly Lynch, BYC, 4-3-2, Total 9
3 Diane Kent, BYC, 3-4-5, Total 12
4 Karen Luttrell, BYC, 1-7-8, Total 16
5 Dennis Allison, BYC, 6-6-4, Total 16
6 Scott Finkboner, MBYC, 8-1-9, Total 18
7 Gail Kalscheur, BYC, 7-10-3, Total
8 Susan K. Jennings, BYC/NHYC, 9-5-6, Total 20
9 Lynn Acosta, DPYC, 5-8-7, Total 20
10 Bob Reilly, BYC, 10-9-11 (DNF), Total 30
Adult Sabot B Fleet
1 Carol Harmon, BYC, 1-1-1, Total 3
2 Sandra Lindsey, BYC, 2-2-2, Total 6
3 Eva Evans, BYC, 3-4 (DNF) -4 (DNS), Total 11
News relating to racing in or around Newport Harbor should be forwarded to Tom Johnson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Capturing iconic Newport Beach and beyond: Huntington Beach Pier
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Artwork by Don Krotee
The Huntington Beach Pier is one of the longest piers on the West Coast. The landmark in “Surf City” quickly was placed on the California Register of Historical Resources. First built in 1902, the pier has been reconstructed and extended throughout the ‘90s and is an inspiration for any artist. This piece was accepted in a San Diego Watercolor Society exhibition and later purchased from the artist’s gallery. Since then, renditions of the pier have been commissioned often. This particular piece is painted on a 16 x 20 Fabriano rough finish watercolor paper.
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Don Krotee is a 35-year resident of Newport Beach, a Corona del Mar Residents Association member and the founder of the Newport Heights Improvement Association, a board member of SPON and lives in Corona del Mar. He is an architect and a fine artist who has been drawing and painting from an early age. He provides Stu News drawings and paintings from iconic Newport Beach and the world. Follow @donkrotee.art for more from this artist.
Obituary
David Edward Niederhaus
March 25, 1941 – October 15, 2021
Former City of Newport Beach General Services Director Dave Niederhaus, 80, passed away last Friday following an extended illness. Niederhaus worked for the city for 18 years and was perhaps best known for enforcing the city’s controversial tree policy.
He came to the city following a 23-year prior career as a decorated pilot and administrator in the Marine Corps.
Dave was the city employee that made the difficult decision advising the Newport Beach City Council to remove 25 ficus trees in town. That decision was subsequently followed by a lawsuit brought by the Balboa Arbor Society attempting to protect them.
His department at the city oversaw sidewalk repair, beach cleanup and building maintenance.
He retired from the city in 2005.
A viewing will be held Saturday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. at Pacific View Mortuary & Memorial Park. A chapel service will occur Sunday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m., also at Pacific View, followed by a graveside service.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pacificviewcalifornia.com for the Niederhaus family.
Newport Beach – A Look Back
Photo series courtesy of Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach
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126 Amethyst Avenue, taken in April 1939. The home was owned by Howell Baker at the time.
Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach and the Museum Store are located at 210 B Marine Ave., Balboa Island. They are open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free general admission on all days. Two-hour parking is available on Marine Avenue. For more information, call 949.675.3952, visit www.balboaislandmuseum.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Newport Beach Foundation soiree up on Lido House rooftop
The Newport Beach Foundation is holding its 2nd Annual Rooftop Soiree “with a view” up on the Lido House Topside Roof Deck. On Wednesday, Nov. 3 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., come connect, network and hang out with other young professionals for a beautiful evening and a great time.
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Courtesy of Lido House
Lido House Topside Roof Deck
Tickets, which are $65, can be purchased here. Each ticket includes food and one drink. The attire is business casual. This event is going to sell out quickly! Their charitable partner is the Marine 1/1 Foundation.
The Newport Beach Foundation is a non-profit philanthropic organization strengthening the current and future community leadership through education, research and advocacy thereby enhancing the quality of life for all residents and visitors. For more information and to get involved, visit www.nb-foundation.org.
Lido House, Autograph Collection is located at 3300 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach.
Harbor Holiday Market coming to NHHS on November 7
On Sunday, Nov. 7, Newport Harbor High School (NHHS) is holding a Harbor Holiday Market from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the NHHS small gym and courtyard.
Open to the public, come shop an artfully curated collective of home goods, locally crafted jewelry, hostess gifts, on-trend clothing & accessories, holiday gifts and gourmet treats from vendors including BackHouse Fragrances, Crew Quarters, Bird + Shop, Style Society Boutique, Glitter for Breakfast, Strap Lab, Heather Pullis Designs, along with talented crafters.
Admission is $3 and a percentage of all purchases goes back to the Newport Harbor PTA.
For more information, visit www.harborholidaymarket.com.
Abba the Concert comes to Segerstrom Hall for one night only
Come dance, come sing for one night only at the ultimate tribute celebration, Abba The Concert “Mamma mia, here I go again…my, my, how can I resist you?”
It might be impossible to resist attending ABBA the Concert one night only at Segerstrom Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Back by popular demand, their performance celebrates such fan-favorites as “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S.,” “Money, Money, Money,” “The Winner Takes All,” “Waterloo,” “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme” and “Dancing Queen.”
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Courtesy of scfta.org
“Abba the Concert” takes the stage at Segerstrom Hall on November 2
21st Century Artists, Inc. has presented its ABBA tribute show throughout North America for well over a decade, bringing one of the greatest pop phenomena back to life. According to Senior Director of Music Programming at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Aaron Egigian, “More than anything we need to feel good right now and ABBA the Concert will do exactly that for our audiences.”
Tickets for ABBA the Concert start at $39 and 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.
Segerstrom Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.
Holiday Gift Faire & volunteer cookbook launch at Sherman Library & Gardens
On Thursday, Nov. 4 from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m., start your holiday shopping early with free admission that day to the Holiday Gift Faire at Sherman Library & Gardens.
“The Holiday Gift Faire rings in the holiday season and raises money for our beloved Library and Gardens. In addition to the seasonal plants and holiday merchandise that is for sale, we’re debuting the Volunteer Association’s First Monday Coffee cookbook,” said Karin Zenk, chairman of the Cookbook Committee. The cookbook is a collection of recipes compiled by the Volunteer Association of Sherman Library & Gardens. Volunteers meet on the first Monday of each month at 9 a.m., before the Gardens open to the public and sign-up to bring main dishes, pastries, fruit or cookies. There are 123 delicious recipes shared in the pages of the cookbook, so come and sample some of the cookbook’s tasty treats, and purchase copies for your friends and family.
Volunteer and artist Carol Kreider has created whimsical watercolors for the cover and divider pages of the cookbook. Shermie, the otter mascot of Sherman Library & Gardens, adorns the cover holding a wooden spoon and cupcake. The cookbook retails for $24 and is available for pre-sale.
Members receive a 15% discount on all Garden Shop purchases of seasonal plants, one-of-a-kind handmade items, unique holiday gifts and the new cookbook. Proceeds from the cookbook sales support children’s education programs in the Gardens.
Sherman Library & Gardens is located at 2647 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. Visit www.thesherman.org.
Heroes Hall exhibition Through Their Eyes features work by local military artists
A new exhibition at Heroes Hall Museum, Through Their Eyes: Artwork by Active Military and Veterans showcasing the artwork of 24 local veterans and active U.S. service members, is on display now through January 20, 2022.
In this juried show, the artists have expressed their individual experiences through a variety of mediums including sculpture, photography, painting, carving and woodworking. Their subjects are as unique as the artists themselves and range from combat scenes to flowers, from landscapes to surreal portraits. Though their artwork varies by subject and individual perspective, one thing unifies them: They have all served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Among the artists, the top winners were: First Place - Unlikely Path by David Vargo; Second Place - Hope by Giovanni Berdejo; and Third Place -Entrenchment by Ed Bowen from Corona del Mar.
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Photos courtesy of Orange County Fair & Event Center
“Unlikely Path” by David Vargo
–First Place: David Vargo for Unlikely Path. Vargo is an art professor at Laguna College of Art and Design, and has painted illustrations for companies like Blizzard Entertainment, Arch Enemy Comics, Lucasfilm and Wizards of the Coast. “My love of the mysterious combined with my passion for the figure has led to a long-term art affair with imaginative realism,” Vargo said.
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“Hope” by Giovanni Berdejo
–Second Place: Giovanni Berdejo for Hope. Berdejo is a photographer and author, and has taught photography workshops for student veterans at Chapman University.
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“Entrenchment” by Ed Bowen
–Third Place: Ed Bowen for Entrenchment. Bowen is a Vietnam War veteran whose art is part of the Army’s war art collection and is displayed in various government facilities including the Pentagon and the Smithsonian.
Heroes Hall Museum is dedicated to honoring Orange County’s service members and providing a place where they can tell their stories. For this new exhibition, military service members have expressed their individual experiences through a variety of mediums including sculpture, photography, painting, carving and woodworking.
“It has been such a pleasure meeting the artists and hearing the stories behind their artwork,” said Carol Singleton, Heroes Hall Museum supervisor. “Several of the veterans in this show turned to art as a means to heal both emotional and physical wounds. We are privileged and honored to bring this extraordinary exhibit to the community.”
To learn more about the artists, go here.
Through Their Eyes was underwritten by the Heroes Hall Veterans Foundation. The judges were Dave Barton, Fatemeh Burnes and Denton Knapp.
Heroes Hall is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. It is located at the Orange County Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.
Balboa Island Classical Concerts presents “Fall Romance”
Balboa Island Classical Concerts presents “Fall Romance” on Tuesday, Oct. 19 from 7-8 p.m. The performance features The Aviara Trio: Erin Breene, cello; Ines Irawati, piano; and Robert Schumitzky, violin.
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Courtesy of TheAviaraTrio.com
(L-R) Erin Breene, cello; Ines Irawati, piano; and Robert Schumitzky, violin
The concert takes place at St. John Vianney Chapel, 314 Marine Ave., Balboa Island. Limited tickets are $15 per person and available at Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach, 210 B Marine, Ave., Balboa Island and online at www.balboaislandnb.org.
Newport Beach Film Festival seeks volunteers
The Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) seeks enthusiastic film lovers to volunteer for Orange County’s celebration of cinema – the 22nd Annual Newport Beach Film Festival, which runs October 21-28.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in several aspects of the festival. Volunteer positions include guest relations, merchandise sales, theater ushering and office reception.
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Courtesy of NBFF
Prior to the festival, volunteers must attend at least one mandatory orientation meeting. The meeting provides an overview of festival activities, as well as updated information on positions and volunteer responsibilities. Volunteers will have the opportunity to sign up for specific shifts at the meeting.
Volunteers under 18 years old must submit a signed parental consent form. A parent/guardian must accompany volunteers, under the age of 16.
All volunteers are required to attend ONE of the following Newport Beach Film Festival orientation sessions:
–Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m.
–Saturday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m.
–Saturday, Oct. 16 at 12 p.m.
–Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on volunteering and to RSVP and select an orientation date, visit https://newportbeachfilmfest.com/volunteer/.
For any questions, contact Paul LaVigne, director of volunteers at 949.873.6602, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Orange County Organic Gardening Club to meet in person on Tuesday, Nov. 9
The Orange County Organic Gardening Club will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Their first in-person event since March 2020 will feature Lucie Galvin, a Corona del Mar resident and local sustainable gardening teacher and gardener who initially trained with the National Trust for Scotland. She will be speaking about strawberries and their origins, characteristics, and needs and uses including fun, organic, creative ways to successfully grow them at home.
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Photos courtesy of the Orange County Organic Gardening Club
Lucie Galvin
The meeting, which is free and open to the public, will take place at the Orange County Fairgrounds’ Centennial Farm located at 88 Fair Drive, Coast Mesa. Drive through the main gate of the fairgrounds off Fair Drive, turn left and park near the Silo Building.
For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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A strawberry pot is visually appealing in a container garden
22nd Annual Newport Beach Film Festival announces Opening, Closing Night films
The 2021 Newport Beach Film Festival (NBFF) announces its Opening and Closing Night films. Set to take place in person from October 21-28, the festival’s 22nd edition will showcase more than 300 films from around the world. The festival will host nightly special events, world premieres, awards contenders, red carpet galas and compelling conversations with filmmakers. Highlights include the 2021 Festival Honors program celebrating “Variety’s ‘10 Actors to Watch,’” International Spotlights (U.K., Ireland, Mexico, French, Swedish, Italian, German, Czech, Spain, Japan, Korea, China, Australia, Vietnam) and Special Programs (Action Sports, Art, Architecture + Design, Culinary, Environmental, Music Film Series). Films will screen at THE LOT (Fashion Island in Newport Beach), The New Port Theater (Corona del Mar), Edwards Big Newport (Newport Beach), Starlight Triangle Cinemas (Costa Mesa) and Regency South Coast Village (Santa Ana).
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Photos courtesy of NBFF
A scene from Opening Night’s World Premiere of “Never Catch Pigeons: And Eleven More Hard Lessons From Mr. Paul Van Doren” at Edwards Big Newport
Opening & Closing Night
On Thursday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., the festival will kick off its eight-day run with the World Premiere of Never Catch Pigeons: And Eleven More Hard Lessons From Mr. Paul Van Doren at Edwards Big Newport (300 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach). The film tells the remarkable and honest story of the late Paul Van Doren, a self-made innovator who started Vans, the iconic shoe and lifestyle brand that inspired a global skateboarding revolution. Directed by NBFF alumni Doug Pray, the film features Paul Van Doren; legendary skateboarders Tony Alva, Christian Hosoi and Ray Barbee; action sports pros Brighton Zeuner, Hana Beaman and Dylan Graves; and Paul’s family: Steve Van Doren, Cheryl Van Doren, Kathy Van Doren, Paul Jr. Van Doren and Janie Van Doren. Following the screening, the festival will host a Street Party presented by Vans at 9 p.m. outdoors under the stars in the parking lot behind Edwards Big Newport. The event will feature a hosted bar by Tito’s Handmade Vodka and live entertainment.
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A scene from Closing Night’s “War on the Diamond” at The New Port Theater
On Thursday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m., the festival will close with the West Coast Premiere of War on the Diamond at The New Port Theater (2905 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar). Directed by Emmy and Peabody Award winner Andy Billman and based on the award-winning book The Pitch That Killed by Mike Sowell, War on the Diamond tells the story of Ray Chapman – the only MLB player killed by a pitch – and the 100-year rivalry between two baseball teams and two cities: Cleveland and New York. A Closing Night reception will follow the screening at the The New Port Theater.
“The Newport Beach Film Festival is extremely excited to be back on the big screen. We are proud to bring outstanding global cinema to our local theaters. This year’s incredible line up of narrative features, non-fiction films and curated shorts programs reflects the incredible storytelling talents of our filmmakers. We are thrilled to open and close the festival with documentary films that have strong Orange County connections,” said Gregg Schwenk, CEO/executive director of NBFF.
Tickets to Opening Night and Closing Night are $95. The events are open to attendees 21 and older.
For festival passes, tickets and COVID-19 safety information, visit www.NewportBeachFilmFest.com.
Pacific Chorale launches 2021-22 season with Rachmaninoff’s Vespers (All-Night Vigil)
Pacific Chorale, considered one of the nation’s leading choirs, launches its 2021-22 season with a luminous program anchored by Rachmaninoff’s a cappella masterwork Vespers (All-Night Vigil) conducted by Artistic Director Robert Istad on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Istad also leads the Pacific Chorale-commissioned world premiere of The Stillness Chained by Grammy-nominated former Composer-in-Residence Tarik O’Regan, set to the poetry of Yone Noguchi.
Additionally, the chorus performs the West Coast premiere of Damien Geter’s profound Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow, featuring celebrated soprano Aundi Marie Moore, hailed for “her vivid, rich voice” (Washington Classical Review) and Pacific Symphony Principal Cellist Warren Hagerty, a “thoughtful, impressive” artist (Singapore’s The Straits Times), which offers a message of hope refracted through the lens of Bach’s musical legacy interwoven with African-American spirituals. The program – and the Chorale’s 54th Season – opens with Hyo-Won Woo’s dramatic Me-Na-Ri (Space Music), a work sung in Korean that stretches the boundaries of choral music. The concert, featuring 80 chorus members, marks the first live performance in more than 19 months by Pacific Chorale. Audience members must show proof of vaccination and wear masks inside the venue.
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Photo by Drew Kelley
Artistic Director Robert Istad leads the Pacific Chorale
“I can’t wait to welcome audience members and Pacific Chorale’s singers back inside the concert hall with this significant program so we can all, once again, enjoy the visceral experience of a live performance,” said Istad. “The repertoire showcases the choir’s remarkable technical and sonic malleability. Rachmaninoff’s Vespers (All-Night Vigil) is a work we’ve performed numerous times that’s beloved by our singers and audiences alike. Pairing it with Tarik O’Regan’s world premiere adds a wonderful sonorous dimension to the program as does the West Coast premiere of Damien Geter’s Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow, a new work that I was completely taken with when I first heard it – it’s concurrently emotionally raw, tragic and optimistic. I am particularly excited to have soprano Aundi Marie Moore join us to reprise her solo role from the work’s digital premiere with the Washington Chorus in November 2020.”
Pacific Chorale’s 2021-22 Season is made possible by generous support from Platinum Season Sponsor Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons, and Silver Season Sponsor Charles and Ling Zhang.
Single tickets range from $25 to $70. The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.
For tickets and information, visit www.pacificchorale.org, or call 714.662.2345. For view the COVID protocols, go here.
Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach presents Fun Zone Festival
On Friday, Nov. 12, the Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach will present the Fun Zone Festival, where “It’s Good to Be a Kid Again.” The event celebrating the Pyle family takes place from 6-10 p.m. on Balboa Peninsula, 600 E. Bay Ave., Newport Beach.
Festivities include food & drinks, carnival games, a patio concert, shopping vendors and photo opportunities.
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Courtesy of Patrick Moore
Fun Zone Ferris Wheel
Admission is $150 with proceeds benefiting the museum. You must be 21 years of age or older to attend. Tickets are available at www.BIMNBFunZoneFestival.com.
The mission of the Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach is to collect, preserve and promote the culture and history of Balboa Island and Newport Beach.
Endless ocean views
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Photo by Joel Goldstein
View from the Corona del Mar bluffs
For A Good Cause
From Golf to Galas: Supporting Our Community
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Photo by KLK Photography
28th Annual BE GREAT Gala to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast | Saturday, Oct. 23 from 5:30-10 p.m. The BE GREAT Gala is a premier annual fundraising event that supports the Clubs in their ability to deliver the strategic programs which seek to break the cycle of poverty and provide youth with the tools and resources they need to graduate high school on time, with a plan for their future. Through their focus on structured academic support, encouraging physical fitness and healthy lifestyles, and strategic academic enrichment programs, their mentor professionals build lifelong relationships that ensure kids have the resources to BE GREAT. RSVP by Friday, Oct. 8. This year, the gala honors and recognizes Dr. Mark Colon, a pediatrician, as the 2021 DreamMaker, who has made a significant impact in the lives of youth, inspiring them to pursue greatness and helping make dreams come true. In addition, the 2021 Corporate Champion Award will be bestowed upon loanDepot.
Cost: Individual tickets are $300. Sponsorships range from $3,750-$50,000. Register at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/bgcococ/event/834402/.
Takes place at the Marriott Irvine Spectrum, 7905 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine.
Mission: To ensure every child has mentors and champions in life.
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Photo by KLK Photography
Orange County Chapter of Childhelp’s Beach Ball Gala | Saturday, Oct. 23 from 6-11 p.m. Event chairs Linda Burns and Kelly Haugen will lead the committee to transform the main ballroom and patio into a Riviera-style beach club. Festivities include cocktails, and dinner and dancing to live music by Woody and the Longboards, silent and live auctions and casino-style gambling, all to raise money toward stopping child abuse and neglect and to support the children under Childhelp’s care. LA prosecutor Jonathan Hatami will be honored with the Benevolent Heart Award.
Cost: Tickets are $250.
Takes place the Paséa Hotel & Spa, 21080 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach.
Contact: For tickets, sponsorships, donations and underwriting, visit www.bipal.net/childhelpocgala2019, or contact Linda Burns at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Mission: Childhelp is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Founded in 1959 as International Orphans, Inc. by Sara O’Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, Childhelp is one of the largest nonprofit child abuse prevention and treatment organizations in the nation.
Seneca Family of Agencies Forever Families Gala | Saturday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. This 4th annual gala – An Evening in the Orange Grove – celebrates Seneca Family of Agencies’ foster care and permanency work in Southern California. Seneca’s programs work to build and sustain families for the children who need them, and to prevent disruption at all costs by providing critical mental health support. The evening honors Geoff Le Plastrier and Susan Laird with the Seneca Leadership Award, and Wylie and Bette Aiken with the Community Impact Award. Tickets ranging from $500-$50,000 can be purchased at https://aesbid.co/ELP/FF21/Tickets.
Takes place at the Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.
Contact: www.senecafoa.org
Mission: The national average of adoptions remaining permanent is roughly 75 percent, which means 25 percent of children are returned to foster care due to a failed adoption. With Seneca’s commitment to unconditional care – doing whatever it takes to support the success of kids and families – 100 percent of their adoptions in Orange County remain permanent.
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Courtesy of scfta.org © RMA Photography Inc.
Segerstrom Hall
Segerstrom Center for the Arts Candlelight Concert | Friday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. One of the most treasured and celebrated fundraising galas in Orange County, it brings together the luminaries of the community to raise critically needed funds for the arts. Through the magic of theater, Segerstrom Hall’s stage is transformed into a breathtaking ballroom, where guests dine and dance the night away. This historically sold-out event raises more than $2 million each year to support the Center’s artistic, education and community engagement programs. Britt Meyer will serve as the event chair.
Takes place at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.
Contact: www.scfta.org
Mission: Segerstrom Center for the Arts believes in the power of performing arts to transform lives and that the shared experience and exploration of the arts will help unite Orange County, creating a more culturally connected and vital community. They will help shape the Orange County of the future through meaningful collaborations with diverse communities, embracing creativity in all its forms and enabling a more inclusive, vibrant performing arts scene at the Center and across the region.
Editor’s Note: If you represent a philanthropic organization located in Newport Beach with an upcoming event or know of a charitable organization choosing Newport Beach as its event venue, please email the information and a hi-res photo for consideration in our “For a Good Cause” calendar to help you publicize the event. Email pertinent information and images to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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
