2+ week, 2+ day ago (1159+ words) I read in disbelief the statement by a member of the Newport Beach City Council, upon approving a surf lagoon with resort-style amenities that the council's actions "saves golf." ("Controversial wave park in coastal Newport Beach greenlit by City Council," Oct. 30.) The project will be developed on what is considered the center portion of the Newport Beach Golf Course, where there currently exist three holes of golf, a putting green, a driving range and pro shop that will all be eliminated. All of the foregoing are replaced with a surf lagoon as well as " 20 hotel/hospitality units"." (emphasis added). To claim that the actions taken save golf is perhaps the most incredulous of statements. The actions on the project in addition to not saving golf appear to have ignored the city's own municipal code which clearly states that the purpose…...

1+ week, 2+ day ago (1161+ words) The recent letter titled "Surf's up' replaced with Turn on the machine," mischaracterizes both my comments and the real situation at the Newport Beach Golf Course. To have an honest conversation, we must start with the facts " not nostalgia or selective interpretations of the municipal code. The landowner made it clear that the existing golf course could not continue in its current form. The municipal code requires the site to be used for high-quality recreation, and independent experts as well as city staff confirmed that the Snug Harbor Surf Park meets that requirement. Nothing in the code mandates that the property remains an outdated three-hole practice range forever. What critics overlook are the significant community benefits residents voiced at public hearings. The project provides a safe, controlled environment for our fire department, lifeguards and junior lifeguards to train year-round, strengthening…...

14+ hour, 29+ min ago (542+ words) Visit Newport Beach wants locals and travelers to know that when it comes to the holidays, the city has them covered. Its third annual "50 Days of Festive Fun" holiday campaign started Nov. 14 and runs through Jan. 2, with daily holiday events ranging from light displays and dining experiences to shopping and seasonal activities. "We are the most festive city in America, based on the sheer number of things happening throughout the community," said Gary Sherwin, president of Visit Newport Beach. "We thought, we need to celebrate that and also give people a reason to come here beyond the boat parade." A clickable 50DaysOfFestiveFun.com calendar neatly corrals all the events happening in Newport Beach during the holidays into one spot. "We wanted to pull it all together, make it easy for people to experience it and access them, rather than trying to…...

5+ day, 6+ hour ago (282+ words) Unionized Starbucks baristas rallied Monday outside the Newport-Beach office of the Seattle-based company's chief executive to demand better pay, staffing and scheduling " continuing a "Red Cup Rebellion" unfair labor practice strike that includes stores in Orange County. Carrying picket signs that read "Now Brewing: Corporate Greed" and chanting, "No Contract, No Coffee" rallying workers accused the coffee retailer of refusing to respond to employees' demands after an offer by company negotiators was rejected by bargaining delegates in April, according to a union news release Monday. The Newport Beach turnout is part of an unfair labor practices strike that has grown to 2,000 workers from 95 stores in 65 cities nationwide, including Seal Beach and Anaheim. Organizers Monday drew attention to the fact that Starbucks Chief Executive Brian Niccol was reportedly compensated $95.8 million in 2024, roughly 6,666 times the median worker's salary, according to a CEO…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (1014+ words) Big hair was in, "The Simpsons" made their first appearance on television and people wanted their MTV. The last time that the Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar high school boys" water polo teams met in a CIF Southern Section championship match was in 1987. That will change Saturday night. The Sailors and Sea Kings set course for an epic Battle of the Bay match after each notched Open Division semifinal victories Wednesday at Irvine"s Woollett Aquatics Center. First, top-seeded defending champion Newport Harbor blasted Mira Costa 19-11. Then, No. 3-seeded Corona del Mar locked down and got past Oaks Christian 10-6. The Sailors (29-1) and Sea Kings (26-6) will meet for the Open Division crown at 5 p.m. Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College. Rain is in the forecast. "There"s an extra fire behind us in that game," Sailors senior Connor Ohl said. "I…...

6+ day, 21+ hour ago (225+ words) Glaser Weil has announced that Sarah G. Hartman has joined the firm as a litigation partner in its Newport Beach office. Hartman is a skilled litigator with a strong track record representing clients in complex commercial disputes, intellectual property litigation, entertainment and emerging industries, such as HealthTech and FemTech. With significant experience in intellectual property litigation, Hartman has handled patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret disputes in federal courts nationwide before the U.S. International Trade Commission and in appeals to the Federal Circuit. Her work covers technologies ranging from computer networking and LED lighting to mobile applications and automotive audio systems. Before joining Glaser Weil, Hartman practiced at leading national and international law firms, advancing from associate to partner while managing complex litigation across multiple jurisdictions. "Sarah brings an extraordinary combination of experience to our litigation team," said Peter Weil, managing partner…...

1+ week, 2+ day ago (724+ words) Three Newport Beach sports moms have had a fever for more than a year now. And he only prescription is more PomBell " a cross between a pom-pom and a cowbell they created that's become a burgeoning business. The birth of the PomBell happened organically, at a Corona del Mar High freshman football game last fall. Jessica Susolik and Lara Srinivasan were sitting in the stands watching their teenagers compete in the Battle of the Bay against rival Newport Harbor. "Jessica handed me a cowbell and a pom-pom," Srinivasan said. "I guess I'm just not coordinated enough, but it seemed like a lot going on. I said, "I kind of wish these were together, so I could use my other hand.' And Jessica said, "Well, it could be!' She started tying the pom-pom to the cowbell, jerry-rigging it together." They called…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago (518+ words) Newport Harbor heads into CIF Southern Section water polo semifinals with a comprehensive take down of fourth-seeded Oaks Christian, riding a steady attack and defensive dominance for a 12-6 home victory Wednesday evening in a finale to Pool A play in the Open Division. Connor Ohl, Kai Kaneko, Sean Anderson and Dash D'Ambosia scored two goals each for the top-seeded Sailors (28-1), the No. 1 team in the country, which secured its final-four berth in last weekend's second romp this season over recent nemesis JSerra. A victory next Wednesday at Woollett Aquatics Center against JSerra or Mira Costa, which meet in a "crossover" clash Saturday, would send the defending champions to a record 29th Southern Section title game on Nov. 15 at Mt. San Antonio College. A win in that game, against Pool B winner Corona del Mar, second-seeded Santa Margarita or Oaks Christian, would…...