It’s the Economy, stupid. (And Donald Tr ump should NEVER be P President again!)
By Bob Mister
The United States economy is the largest in the world. While the president can’t be credited solely with its success or failure, I think we can agree that the party in power, and the person who heads the party, makes a difference.
Here are some facts, something that the former Republican party, now the Trump Party hopes we forget.
Fact 1 Since 1929, when Republican Herbert Hoover presided over The Great Depression, the overall US economy has done significantly better under a Democratic administration than under Republican administrations, according to The Economic Policy Institute.
Fact 2 Under Donald Trump’s administration the United States had the largest budget deficit than any other administration in modern history.
Fact 3 In the last 60 years only Donald Trump left The White House with no net jobs created
Fact 4 Under the Biden/Harris administration there have been more net jobs created than in any 4 year period in history according to The US Labor Dept.
While the US economy is not exactly a business, there are 2,952,000 people who work for the government, including 2.25 million military personnel. If you look at the President as CEO of these people and his cabinet members as division heads, our government is the biggest corporation in the world.
Now here’s what is really troubling; Half of Trump’s former cabinet members or division heads say he is not competent to lead our government and economy again.
Lets look at Donald Trump, a great business man according to himself and his MAGA supporters.
1. He inherited $400 million from his father.
2. Here is what he has done with it. He owned 3 casinos and the number 1 hotel in the world in New York City, The Plaza Hotel. THEY ALL WENT BANKRUPT!
3. He started a for-profit college that failed and he had to pay $25 million to thousands of students who were cheated and lied to.
4. His Trump steak business failed after 2 months.
5. His Trump Airline couldn’t get off the ground and closed after 2 years.
6. He is currently selling watches for $100,000 and golden shoes and Bibles.
7. His Truth Social television network has lost 80% of its value since March.
The truth is he has only made money as a reality tv personality on “The Apprentice” where is favorite line was “You’re Fired!”
The bottom line is Trump is a Grifter and a Fraud who has left banks, investors, partners, workers and small business owners holding the bag for his failed businesses.
Why then do polls show that voters trust Donald Trump to lead the world’s biggest economy?
I’ll tell you. Because he and his MAGA Party have repeated his lies everyday for the last 8 years.
DONALD TRUMP IS A FAILED BUSINESSMAN, A LIAR AND
CHEAT. HE MUST NEVER BE
CEO OF THE US ECONOMY AGAIN. OVER 80 MILLION VOTERS FIRED HIM 4 YEARS AGO AND I PRAY THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN IN NOVEMBER.
Lights! Camera! Action! (cont.
BY CHRISTOPHER TRELA | NB INDY
A 25th anniversary is traditionally celebrated with silver, but the Newport Beach Film Festival has struck gold this year with the dazzling star power and movie premieres scheduled for the festival’s weeklong 25th anniversary run October 17-24.
Among the many recognizable names scheduled to attend the festival: Carol Burnett, Christoph Waltz, Nicolas Cage, Amy Poehler, Jane Lynch, Joan Chen, Ewan McGregor, Aubrey Plaza, Finneas O’Connell and Peter Sarsgaard.
More than 50,000 film fans are expected to attend the 25th annual Newport Beach Film Festival, which features more than 100 films from 19 countries including 16 World Premieres, 10 U.S. Premieres, 16 North American Premieres, 13 West Coast Premieres, and 10 Southern California Premieres.
Opening Night will be the World Premiere of Simon West’s “Old Guy” starring Christopher Waltz, followed by the traditional post party at Fashion Island with a record number of restaurants serving signature bites, hosted cocktails and live music. Closing Night will be a screening of Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain” starring Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin.
“Not only is this our 25th anniversary year, but it’s also one of the largest lineups we have had in our history,” stated Film Festival Co-Founder and CEO Gregg Schwenk. “It’s also one of our most diverse and the most celebratory in recognizing talent in front of and behind the camera. I am
The Balboa Peninsula Trolley, the free summer shuttle service presented by the City with grant funding from the Orange County Transportation Authority, will continue to serve Newport Beach residents and visitors through 2031, with improvements and potential local transit expansions over the next several years.
At a City Council study session on Tuesday, Sept. 24, the Council heard recommendations from an ad hoc committee that has been meeting for several months to discuss possible
from page 1)
really proud of what we have to offer the community.”
Schwenk noted that some people have joked that the festival’s overnight success was 25 years in the making, but the Festival has been building to this moment since the initial Newport Beach Film Festival in 1999, when Schwenk and Festival Co-Founder and VP of Marketing Todd Quartararo hoped audiences would show up to watch movies.
“This is a banner year for the Newport Beach Film Festival,” enthused Schwenk. “We have hit our stride. With all the talent and the
high-caliber films, it’s an amazing year, and we truly have something for everyone. We have a culinary series, architecture and design, action sports, shorts, international films. It’s a festival for the entire community.”
Schwenk said filmmakers are attending from Ireland, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Spain and Germany, among others.
“So much is happening every day,” said Schwenk. “We just added a special screening of ‘Dune’ with the editor Joe Walker. We added ‘The Last Showgirl’ with Pamela Anderson. We added ‘Music by John Williams’
improvements and expansions of the current service.
Following the presentation, Council members supported continuing trolley operations on summer weekends and holidays for seven more years, through 2031.
Council members also supported staff returning with a contract to purchase several new trolleys of a different type – more traditional, openair vehicles reminiscent of Orange County’s historic Pacific Electric red car trolleys. The new trolleys, fueled by compressed natural gas, are not available in 2025 but would be ready for operation in summer 2026. The
2025 season will continue to operate with the van shuttle buses that have been in use for the past seven years.
In addition, City staff will study options to potentially expand transit service to connect other areas of Newport Beach to the Peninsula trolley, specifically Balboa Island, Corona del Mar and Newport Center, in a citywide network to enhance mobility and accessibility for residents and visitors.
The Balboa Peninsula Trolley system, which includes 22 stops and free parking at the City’s Avon Street parking lot, served more than 20,000 riders between Memorial Day and
“Todd and I talk often about where we started, and we are very proud of what has been achieved and most proud and most thankful for all of those people from our community and beyond who have for 25 years come to support the festival,” added Schwenk. “That includes out past volunteers, our past staff, al the patrons and sponsors and supporters and ultimately filmmakers and our audience, and the team that has been here for 25 years to help build the foundation that we have. We are excited to celebrate our milestone.”
• see NBFF page 12
Labor Day this year. For the past seven years, about 80 percent of the cost has been supported by grants from OCTA Measure M2. OCTA grants may cover as much as 90 percent of the trolley service through 2031.
Discounted Flood Insurance
Newport Beach residents and business owners with properties in flood hazard zones are eligible for discounted flood insurance rates beginning this week.
Effective on Tuesday, October 1, the Federal Emergency Management documentary.”
• see CITY MANAGER page 14
NEWPORT BEACH CITY MANAGER UPDATE
BY GRACE LEUNG/ NEWPORT BEACH CITY MANAGER GRACE
Top Left: Christopher Waltz and Cooper Hoffman in the Newport Beach Film Festival’s opening night film “Old Guy.” Courtesy of The Avenue.; Top right: NBFF 3 / 4: Newport Beach Co-Founders Gregg Schwenk and Todd Quartararo.
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
BY ROBYN GRANT | SPECIAL TO THE NB INDY
Newport Beach Native Roy Woolsey Donates $500K to Friends of OASIS for Scholarship Endowment
Geriatric studies are making new friends thanks to Newport Beach native Roy B. Woolsey, who donated $500,000 to the Friends of OASIS to establish an endowment for scholarships for students seeking education in the field of aging.
Woolsey, working alongside lifelong “Newporter” Walt Howald, the 2001 Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year recipient, established the Louise and Roy Woolsey Memorial Scholarship Endowment for careers serving us as we grow older.
e Friends Senior Services Scholarship Committee will administer the Endowment. e Committee is already a pioneer in the geriatric education space as one of the first in the country to offer scholarships to support this pursuit.
Woolsey joins many Newport Beach families in our community giving back in a big way. e Beek family has been operating the historic Balboa Island Ferry for over 100 years, the Pickup family is providing immense support to Hoag Hospital, the Pyle family is working to preserve and enhance the landmark Fun Zone, and lots of other folks volunteer, contribute, and generally support charitable efforts each and every day.
Woolsey’s parents, Louise and Roy Woolsey, were longtime Newport
Beach residents. Both were highly supportive of local civic organizations and especially active in their Lido Isle neighborhood.
Roy, an attorney, was a senior partner at Woolsey, Angelo and atcher, commodore of the Lido Isle Yacht Club in 1969, and sailed his Lido 14 and Lasers in Newport Harbor. Roy and Louise both participated in OASIS Friends’ programs for many years. e senior over-50 population is the fastest growing demographic in our community, yet the slowest growing demographic in education is geriatric
HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL
District 1 Joe Stapleton (2026) Councilmember jstapleton@newportbeachca.gov
District 2 Brad Avery (2024) Councilmember BAvery@NewportBeachCa.gov
District 3 Eric Weigand (2026) Councilmember eweigand@newportbeachca.gov
District 4 Robyn Grant (2026) Councilmember rgrant@newportbeachca.gov
care. Woolsey and the Howald aim to change this with a new paradigm, crafting the Endowment to encourage more entrants into geriatric studies. Scholarships are available to both part-time and full-time students for training, internships, certificates, and degrees in gerontology, recreational and cognitive training, mental health, social services, caregiving, senior facilities administration, and related disciplines. In 2022, its first year offering financial assistance with seed donations from
• see WOOLSEY page 13
District 5 Noah Blom (2024) Mayor nblom@newportbeachca.gov
District 6 Lauren Kleiman (2026) Councilmember lkleiman@newportbeachca.gov
PUBLISHER
Steve T. Strickbine
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Nadine Johnson
EDITORIAL
EDITOR
Christopher Trela christopher@ rebrandmediainc.com
DESIGN
DESIGN DIRECTOR
Tracy Powell tracy@ rebrandmediainc.com
SALES
ADVERTISING SALES TEAM
Carol Josepher
Adrienne Kruse
Joe Rafael
Mara Hertel
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Tina Leydecker tina@ rebrandmediainc.com
ADVERTISING & CIRCULATION: Tel: 949 715-4100
MAILING ADDRESS: 900 Glenneyre St., Suite B Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Tel: 949-715-4100 Fax: 949 715-4106
www.newportbeachindy.com
District 7 Will O’Neill (2024) Mayor Pro Tem woneill@newportbeachca.gov
* indicates term limit BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION The Newport Beach Independent wants to hear from you about the issues a ecting us all. Send letters to:info@NewportBeachIndy.com
OUR LETTER POLICY
INDY LETTER POLICY Please limit topics to local concerns, and try to keep to 500 words or less. Letters may be edited for clarity, length, or appropriateness; we reserve the right to not run a letter. Please supply name and contact info, although only name and city will be printed. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Firebrand Media or its employees.
PUBLISHED BY FIREBRAND MEDIA A division of Times Media Group
PUBLISHER
Steve T. Strickbine
CREATIVE & MARKETING DIRECTOR
Tracy Powell
DIRECTOR OF SALES
Nick Oliveri
FIREBRAND MEDIA LLC FOUNDER
Steve Zepezauer
Members of the Friends of OASIS Senior Services Scholarship Committee: Walt Howald, Barbara Milbert, Kay Walker, Mike Zimmerman
As part of the Keck Medicine of USC Health System, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of only two university-based medical centers in Orange County. That means you have access to world-renowned specialists, leading-edge treatment options, and the nation’s most advanced clinical research.
More than 40 years of academic leadership is why USC Norris is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top cancer programs in the nation and one of the Best Specialty Hospitals for Cancer.
Our Orange County oncology experts have been putting you at the center of your care for years. Find out why we’re your best choice.
What do you get when three Hollywood-Wannabe friends (Jon Rudnitsky, Karan Soni and Cazzie David) team up with their kooky therapist (Jason Alexander) to plot a heist to steal Quentin Tarantino’s personal 35mm print of “Pulp Fiction” from his movie theater.
What else: “Stealing Pulp Fiction,”
BY SIMONE GOLDSTONE | SOUNDCHECK COLUMNIST
which screens on October 19 at the Lido Theater as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival. The film gets an encore screening October 24 at the Triangle 2 Theater in Costa Mesa.
This enjoyable heist comedy is a homage of sorts to the classic movie
“Pulp Fiction,” which in turn was a homage to other films and genres including arthouse cinema. In fact,
such a movie theater is one of the settings for “Stealing Pulp Fiction.”
The film starts in what appears to be a pseudo-swanky restaurant booth where the two main characters played by Jon Rudnitsky and Karan Soni are having a conversation about the possible next big business trend. This scene helps set the tone of the film—fun yet moody in a quirky sort of way. Turns out the
duo is imbibing cocktails before taking in a midnight screening of Tarantino’s personal print of “Pulp Fiction” in an arthouse owned by Tarantino.
After the screening, the selfprofessed Quentin fans wolf down burgers at a diner while discussing an idea that could be a plan, although one of the character’s notes “if the idea is good, you don’t need a plan.”
The idea/plan they concoct is to steal Tarantino’s 35mm print of “Pulp Fiction.”
“Why” asks Cazzie David’s character when the duo recruit her to help them. Their therapist (Jason Alexander) also joins the team.
There are subplots that help with character motivations, and zesty dialogue crisp and believable thanks to the realistic character portrayals. The pacing is energetic but not frantic, with a few throwaway lines that zip by almost before you realize they are funny.
Some scenes seemingly stretch credibility, but it’s all part of the movie’s tone. The silliness never gets out of hand and even incredulous moments seem plausible.
“Stealing Pulp Fiction” is a fastpaced comedic joyride and a satisfying cinematic treat.
For tickets and a complete film lineup, visit NewportBeachFilmFest. com.
Spotlight on Detroit Jazz in ‘The Best of the Best’ at Newport Beach Film Festival
The documentary “The Best of the Best: Jazz From Detroit” certainly lives up to its title as it celebrates Detroit’s jazz musicians.
What was once a thriving city that produced world-class musicians now often is overlooked. It’s past, along with a once vibrant mecca of factories and cars, often forgotten. That’s why this documentary is so important: so many corners and pockets of America helped shape our music and culture. Through interviews, footage and rare photos, “The Best of the Best” transports
you to an eclectic and electric Detroit, fraught with the most technically excellent jazz musicians who made Motown possible. There would be no Miles David or John Coltrane without the jazz musicians of Detroit. Industrialism, architecture, factories. These are the things you contemplate when you think of Detroit. But one of their best, lesser-known exports is jazz. Not built on an assembly line but nurtured and manufactured by the slick streets of the city, the resilience of working America, an industrial mecca of black musical excellence from the
modern jazz scene, in “The Best of the Best” documentary. Photo credit: Jim Gallert Collection
Scene from “Stealing Pulp Fiction.”
Influential tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson leading his quartet in 1958 at the Blue Bird Inn, the epicenter of Detroit’s
BY RICHARD SIMON | NB INDY
Set Your Sights on a True-Life Tale with ‘The Blind Sea’ at Newport Beach Film Festival
By age five, only a blurry and distorted three percent of Matt Formston’s vision remained.
Despite this Australian athlete’s near total blindness from Macular Dystrophy (a rare affliction that totally eliminates any central vision, leaving but a thin edge of light at the fringes of the eye), he possessed a clear vision: to surf the most feared waves on the planet at Nazare, Portugal—cliff steep waves that on legendary winter wave days soar higher than Fashion Island’s medical buildings.
In the award-winning documentary film, “The Blind Sea,” viewers are exposed to the amazing and inspirational life of three-time ParaSurf world champion Formston. Anyone depressed with their physical disabilities should experience this film, for its message is “you can do it!”
For the Film Festival audiences, the probable reaction may be a few tears of happiness followed by OMG!
Formston is a remarkable human being: a married father of two children and a superb overall athlete who also is a champion tandem bike racer. He
BY COLE CRONK | SPECIAL TO THE NB INDY
walks tall and confidently, his handicap revealed only by his telescoping walking stick, or when walking with a buddy in unfamiliar territory.
His parents originally thought that he’d be totally dependent, that he would or could never do sports. But, Formston recalls, “As a teenager, my drive was to prove to everyone else that I didn’t have a disability.”
Success.
Formston explains that he “tries all things to increase mobility.” For the average person, it’s almost impossible to understand how he “feels” the wave he’s riding. His explanation: “Through my feet.”
Surfing Nazare had been an ultimate dream; however it wasn’t without fear, the fear of raucous white water of a broken wave holding you under with no way to fight your way up.
To that end, the film follows his workouts, from swimming underwater for minutes to being towed behind Seadoos that will take him to the dropin spot and retrieve him – hopefully alive – after a ride.
It’s one thing if you’re able to see the
marching phalanxes of swells en route to terminating into towering waves. It’s another to imagine what they are, how tall they may be.
To that end, when in Nazare, he took advice from the living surf legends of the area. The build-up to “the” day” is evident in everyone’s faces as they wish him good luck. His mom philosophically says, “If he dies, he dies
doing what he wants to do.”
It is here that the cinematography comes alive. The size and power of these waves is unfathomable. You can understand Formston’s description of a “bomb” as the waves break “like an avalanche behind you.”
Most would be satisfied having successfully surfed a common 25-footer. Not Formston. As an onshore supporter/observer in the hills above exclaims with laughter of disbelief: “He wants the bomb!” And he got it.
You could almost hear gasps from his support team as they rushed to retrieve him from the froth after he fell under the white water and temporarily disappeared. The following cheers of congratulations were probably as deafening as the crashing waves themselves. But ya had to be there.
“The Blind Sea” embraces all the emotion and real-life drama necessary to make the perfect documentary film. After all, there is no finer scriptwriter than life itself.
“The Blind Sea” screens on October 20. For a complete lineup and tickets, visit NewportBeachFilmFest.com.
‘Séance’ is a Victorian Thriller at Newport Beach Fim Festival
“Séance,” directed by Vivian Kerr, has its world premiere at the 25th annual Newport Beach Film Festival. It’s a Victorian-era psychological thriller about a woman named Emma who must take shelter in her ex-husband’s mansion during a storm. However, the night takes a turn when her ex’s new wife claims that she is being haunted by their dead daughter.
“Séance” wastes no time in setting a tone; its first scene consists of creepy lullaby music while a doll is abandoned on the beach and covered in bugs. A little girl is shown struggling in the water but is not able to recover. A man carries her body up the beach, and the lullaby ends.
We are then introduced to Emma,
the film’s protagonist, sitting on what we later learn is the same beach eight months later. She’s with her new husband, Albert, when a couple approaches them. The man is George, Emma’s ex-husband, and the woman is his new wife, Lillian, who is played by Kerr. After exchanging some pleasantries, the couple invite Emma and Albert to have dinner at their mansion.
During an awkward feast, Lillian suggests that the dark and stormy night outside is perfect for a séance—a ritual where the living attempt to communicate with the dead. George reminds her that her doctor said it wasn’t a good idea, and this line presents us with the main question of
Poster for “The Blind Sea”
Playful Sand Sculptures Compete for Prizes in Corona Del Mar
Sandcastle contestant Curt Hayden said it best: “We’ve been here for 38 years. We were little boys then. Now our children are helping us.”
That kind of loyalty and enthusiasm was everywhere at the 62nd Annual Sandcastle Contest at Corona Del Mar State Beach on September 29, as piles of beach sand were sculpted into fantasies of cars, castles, palaces, smiling suns, McMansions, and even jack-o-lanterns.
“This is a long-running competition sponsored by the Commodores Club,” said Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating Officer Jeff Parker. “We had about 20 entries from families, groups, and organizations – all the way from children to senior citizens. They’re not necessarily the best builders; they just want to enjoy themselves and be creative.”
Parker went on to say, “This year, we had some new people coming out to win, and we’ve had people who’ve been with us for almost 40 years. We LOCAL FOCUS
have old-timers and new-timers. That’s what this is all about.”
The mechanics of the competition were simple: Having paid a $35 entry fee, each team had four hours to complete their entry, after which five
judges drove slowly down the beach in a lifeguard pickup, evaluating each project. “We also give out cash for the top awards,” added Jeff Parker, “not a lot of money, maybe $100 but since it only costs $35 to enter, it’s a good deal.” Contestants were free to interpret
• see SCULPTURES page 15
• ROOFING REPLACEMENTS/REPAIRS
• BALCONY DECK STRUCTURAL RECONSTRUCTION
• ROOFING WATERPROOFING
• EXTENSIVE DRY ROT/TERMITE REPAIRS
• SHEET METAL FOR HARSH COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS
• IN DEPTH SPECIFICATION/STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
• INTERIOR DAMAGE REPAIRS
• BALCONY RAIL SYSTEM DESIGNS/GLASS/CABLE
• PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES
• DOOR & WINDOW REPLACEMENT
• STUCCO/PLASTER RECONSTRUCTION
• RAIN GUTTERS/CHIMNEY CAPS
• SKYLIGHTS/ATTIC VENTING SYSTEMS
Debi Menard, far right, and the Busy Bees of Fullerton with their version of Hearst Castle. Photo by Spencer Grant.
B.C. and Friends win the Commodore award for Overall Best Creation. In yellow shirt: Colin Schworer. Left: Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce President Steve Rosansky. Photo by Spencer Grant.
CHRISTOPHER
Historic Lido Theater Reopens with a Community Open House
The word “iconic” is often overused, but it’s certainly an apt description of the Lido Theater, one of Orange County’s earliest movie houses when it opened in 1939.
The beautiful (some might say ornate) single-screen theater brought the Golden Age of Hollywood to Newport Beach with its Art Deco design.
The landmark theater closed for renovation five years ago. The project was prolonged due to the pandemic and the detailed work required to add air conditioning and heating without affecting the structure and interior of the building.
Meticulously restored to its original Art Deco design by owner Fritz Duda Company, The Lido hosted a community open house and concert by Sugar Ray to celebrate the re-opening on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The reopening came just in time for this year’s 25th annual Newport Beach Film Festival, which will be using the Lido Theater for many of its movie screenings from Oct. 17 through 24, including the Film Festival’s Closing Night film on Oct. 24 at 8:30 p.m.: “A Real Pain” with Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin.
Newport Beach native Joseph McGinty Nichol, known professionally as McG, and his company River Jetty Restaurant Group (operators of A Restaurant) have been named as the new operator of The Lido Theater. They will reportedly present a mix of live music, first run and classic movies,
engaging speakers, comedians, cinema and chorale groups, and other events with a wide appeal.
“I grew up in Newport Beach and have a lot of great memories of The Lido. It’s one of the coolest things about Newport and I love the idea of giving back to the community by bringing in eclectic new programming,” said McG. “I’m excited to help usher in a new era of entertainment at The Lido, especially now that it’s been restored and is more beautiful than ever.”
“We are fortunate to have McG and his team operating The Lido. He’s a lifelong Newporter who shares our vision for this special landmark,” said Duda. “Live performances will broaden the appeal and programming for the theater, and with Lido House next
door, we have created an entertainment and hospitality district that will serve Newport Beach and Orange County well.”
Lido
Theater Renovation
According to information from the Fritz Duda Company, The Lido has a new, state-of-the-art digital projection and sound system, a new exterior color palette, new seating, lighting, and carpet reminiscent of Hollywood’s Golden era, as well as a larger stage framed by a new red velvet waterfall curtain. The exterior color palette was uncovered as the original shade of the stucco when the theater was built.
The original box office, marquee, movie poster cases, lobby, concession stand, and restrooms have been restored, and new men’s and family/ ADA restrooms were built. Real brass and copper finishes were also added, as well as cream-colored paint with subtle silver sparkles that can be seen in the lobby and staircase.
The Catalina-style tile, admired at the time for its colorful hand-painted beauty, has been restored and can be seen in the lobby and restrooms. The Lido’s auditorium walls were also refreshed, with its murals depicting underwater ocean scenes that appear to glow from black lights illuminating the walls when the house lights dim. The classic balcony also remains a unique feature not found in modern theaters.
In addition to the renovations Fritz Duda Company has made to the theater, McG noted he will also bring
in 35mm film projectors to show classic movies and will occasionally show double features.
“My career started in Newport Beach as a music producer and video director, and while I now focus on producing movies, operating The Lido is the perfect intersection of my passions: movies, music, and hospitality,” said McG. “The Lido is now an elevated entertainment venue that will be the heartbeat of the community.”
“As a teenager, I saw ‘Midnight Run’ at The Lido five times in one week and it helped light the fuse of my love for entertainment,” he added. “This theater is a unique entertainment venue and close to my heart, so I’m excited to reopen it with a mix of live music and movies. We want to provide something for everyone.”
Lido Theater History
According to press material, The Lido Theater and Via Lido Plaza were originally owned and developed by The Griffith Company, a firm that made significant contributions to the development of Newport Beach. Designed by architect Clifford A. Balch, known for his Art Deco theater design, The Lido Theater was constructed in 1939 for $110,000. The theater opened on Friday, Oct. 27, 1939, with the movie “Hollywood Cavalcade” starring Don Ameche and Alice Faye. The first regular showing that weekend was the Pulitzer Prize-
City Formally Dedicates $15.5 Million Sunset Bridge
The City of Newport Beach formally dedicated the new Sunset Bridge and parking lot expansion project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
The new bridge, at Superior Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway, connects Sunset Ridge Park with a larger, more convenient parking lot. The project will support greater use of the park’s sports fields, picnic areas and playground spaces while creating a safer crossing for pedestrians and bicyclists at one of Newport Beach’s busiest intersections.
The new parking lot has 129 parking spaces, about double the previous number of spots. City recreation officials said the bridge and expanded parking lot will increase the use of Sunset Ridge Park’s baseball and soccer fields by about 40 percent and allow City summer camps to use the park for the first time.
Construction of the concrete thrustarch bridge cost $11.5 million. The entire project, including the bridge, new parking lot and improvements to Sunset Ridge Park and nearby Sunset
View Park, was $15.5 million. At 210 feet long and 12 feet wide, Sunset Bridge required about 100 truckloads of concrete to build. Construction took about 18 months. The project was first proposed about a decade ago, when the California Coastal Commission declined the City’s request to add a new parking lot near Sunset Ridge Park. As an alternative, Newport Beach proposed a connecting bridge and parking lot expansion, which was supported by the commission.
BY
TRELA | NB INDY
Lido Theater restored interior. Photo by Bob Hodson
Local Boys & Girls Club Expands Employment Resources for OC Youth
As part of National Workforce Development Month in September, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast – which includes the city of Newport Beach – celebrated the first anniversary of its rebranded Youth Employment Service (YES) initiative, following last year’s merger with the 53-year-old organization of the same name.
This enhanced program strengthens the Club’s workforce development efforts, which were launched in 2022, by equipping young adults ages 1624 with essential skills to secure and sustain meaningful employment.
The initiative also addresses the workforce gap affecting both Orange County’s youth and the local corporate community.
In the past year, the YES Workforce Development program served 1,770 members – a 110 percent increase from the previous year – across 11 participating educational institutions within the Newport-Mesa School District, Irvine Unified School District, Santa Ana Community, Santa Ana College, and the Achievement Institute of Scientific Studies group at Chapman University. Of the students who reported, more than 200 secured employment opportunities.
With a disparity in the skills and qualifications of the current and future workforces, the Club created two new programs: YES Workforce Development and YES Workforce Solutions.
YES Workforce Development is tailored to young adults to enhance their professional soft skills and career opportunities, while YES Workforce Solutions caters to Orange County employers seeking a pool of qualified entry-level candidates.
“The first job of a young person’s life is vital to ensuring they learn the skills they need to succeed in whatever career path they choose. In our merger with YES, we made an investment that has paid off tremendously as we connected youth to more in-depth curriculum and opportunity,” said Robert Santana, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast. “In the second year of our Workforce Development initiative, we have our sights set on expanding
our footprint across Orange County so that all youth can take the steps to build a prosperous career.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast is committed to ensuring that every young person it serves receives first-class mentorship and the support they need to succeed, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, or obstacles.
Aligned with this commitment, the Club is sharing what’s ahead for its YES Workforce Development initiative.
• Partnership with Estancia High School: The YES Workforce Development initiative will partner with Estancia High School on several workforce development programs. First, it will provide youth in the school’s Regional Occupation Program with practical work experience in their chosen industry by partnering with OC’s top employers. Through the support of YES Workforce Development, the initiative will also
coordinate workshops for Estancia’s first-ever senior project, including career workshops and career spotlight presentations where students will participate in a 6-month program that teaches them professional development
Letter to the Editor: Deception Starts Early This Campaign Season
Deception started early this campaign season from two people running for Newport Beach City Council.
Candidate Jeff Herdman put a picture of me in a mailer that he sent out to voters in Newport Beach. Let me set the record straight.
I have not and would not support Jeff Herdman for city council. I served four years on the city council with Jeff. During that time, he forwarded confidential litigation information to a lawyer suing the city. Every one of his colleagues on the city council issued a public statement condemning him for releasing separate confidential information. Using my photo on a campaign mailer, knowing that I endorsed his opponent, is deceitful.
I also received a mailer from his campaign teammate, Nancy Scarborough. That mailer did
something that I have never seen in all my time in politics: she blamed her opponent, Michelle Barto, for a vote that Nancy made.
Specifically, Nancy‘s campaign seems to revolve around a housing element that was passed two years ago by a unanimous city council that included Marshall “Duffy” Duffield and Joy Brenner. Nancy’s campaign also focuses on actions taken in the last two years by the city council and the General Plan Advisory Committee. Michele, though, serves on our local school board – which has nothing to do with our general plan – while Nancy serves on the General Plan Advisory Committee.
Why does that matter? Because Nancy voted for the general plan update that she is now condemning and blaming on Michelle. That is truly bizarre.
If that’s not enough, Nancy sent out
campaign mail complaining about the potential for new housing. But Nancy is also the person who bragged to the Orange County Register (this year!) that: “As a founding member of the Newport Beach Housing Trust, I am committed to enabling as many affordable homes or apartments as possible.”
“As many affordable homes or apartments as possible.” Let that one sink in.
So let me be clear: I have endorsed Noah Blom, Michelle Barto, and Sara Weber for the Newport Beach City Council. I hope that you will fill out your ballots for them this week and mail them in as quickly as you can. Because the faster you vote, the faster you get removed from mailing lists. Including those meant to deceive you. Will O’Neill / Currently serving his second term as Mayor of Newport Beach.
Mock Interviews at Estancia High, part of the YES Workshop Development program
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
BY NB INDY STAFF
Newport Beach-Based PIMCO Partners with Wooden Floor Charity to Help Students
The Wooden Floor, a charity whose mission is to inspire and transform the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education, partnered with PIMCO, an investment banking company located in Newport Beach, for an office tour, executive panel, and a networking activity with PIMCO employees.
PIMCO executives Richard LeBrun (Managing Director, Head of Alternatives Business Management), Michael Chandra (Managing Director, Head of U.S. Public Client Management),Michael Terry (Executive Vice President, Account Management – Financial Institutions Group), and Katy Stauffer (Vice President, Trader, Portfolio Management – High Yield Credit) shared their personal career start stories and gave insight on the importance of relationship building in a professional setting.
PIMCO employees generously
donated their time to simulate an actual networking event and played “networking bingo” with students.
The Wooden Floor students learned how to ask questions, how to keep people engaged in conversation, and how to be authentic when meeting someone for the first time.
The long-term vision of The Wooden Floor is to break the cycle of poverty through generational change by transforming the lives of youth in low-income communities through the power of dance and access to higher education. The organization’s goal is to teach young people what it takes to succeed in school and in life.
Since 2005, 100 percent of The Wooden Floor seniors have graduated from high school on time and immediately enrolled in higher education.
For more information, visit https:// thewoodenfloor.org.
PIZZERIA SAPORI NOW OPEN NEXT DOOR!
Famous authentic pizzas. We stay true to pizza’s Neapolitan roots and traditions, creating the most authentic pizza possible. Our ingredients are second to none. We use simple natural ingredients which are imported from the best sources in Italy.
We have been serving the flavors of Italy in Newport Beach since 1989. Our eclectic wine menu offers many great Italian and California choices to pair with your meal. A genuine Mediterranean setting coupled with experienced and knowledgeable waiters add to Sapori’s authenticity.
Students from The Wooden Floor listen to PIMCO executives talk about their careers.
• NBFF
Cont. from page 3
Festival Highlights
The opening night film on Thursday, Oct. 17 is the World Premiere of “Old Guy” starring two-time Academy Award winner Christoph Waltz and directed by Simon West, both of whom will walk the red carpet and attend the screening. Waltz will be presented with the 2024 Newport Beach Film Festival Icon Award.
“The Festival is thrilled to host the World Premiere of Simon West’s ‘Old Guy’ as the Opening Night Film to kick off the 25th anniversary of the Newport Beach Film Festival,” stated Schwenk. “To have Christoph Waltz in attendance to honor his iconic career will truly create an unforgettable event for our audience.”
Centerpiece Films
The Festival has selected multiple Centerpiece films including Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” an Apple Original Film starring Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson; the World Premiere of “Lost & Found In Cleveland” directed by Marisa Guterman and Keith Gerchak starring Martin Sheen, June Squibb, Liza Weil and Dennis Haysbert; “Nightbitch,” directed by Marielle Heller and starring Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Snowden, Emmett Snowden; Joshua Oppenheimer’s “The End” starring Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon & George MacKay; Tim Fehlbaum’s “September 5” with star Peter Sarsgaard in attendance; and “The Piano Lesson” directed by Malcolm Washington and starring John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler and Samuel L Jackson.
And then there’s “Stealing Pulp Fiction,” in which three HollywoodWannabe friends team up with their kooky therapist (Jason Alexander) to plot a heist to steal Quentin Tarantino’s personal 35mm print of “Pulp Fiction” from his movie theater. This World Premiere will be screened twice at this year’s Festival, and with good reason— it’s a clever concept that in many ways is a humorous homage to Quentin Tarantino. “Pulp Fiction” fans and newbies alike will enjoy this cinematic joyride.
Premieres
This year’s Festival will feature The World Premiere of “Pay Dirt: The Story of Supercross” directed by Paul
Taublieb and narrated by Josh Brolin; the West Coast Premiere of “Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue” directed by Jill Campbell and starring Elle Macpherson, Kathy Ireland, Christie Brinkley & Tyra Banks (including a post-screening Q&A with Cheryl Tiegs, Paulina Porizkova, Natalie Mariduena, Roshumba Williams and Stacey Williams); a screening of “Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion” directed by Matthew Miele with subject Bob Mackie in attendance; and a screening of “Sidelined: The QB and Me” with Siena Agudong and Noah Beck in attendance.
Films with a local focus include “Newport and Me: Seymour Beek,” a documentary about the life and times of longtime Newport Beach resident Seymour Beek. Learn about Seymour’s ancestry, how and where his parents met and the development of Balboa Island and Harbor Island.
Another local documentary is “The Wedge” which dives into the heartpounding world of one of California’s most treacherous surf spots at the end of the Balboa Peninsula.
Through the eyes of water photographers, surfers, and bodyboarders, “The Wedge” captures the raw beauty and peril of this iconic surf location.
Special Events
This year, the Festival will be holding a Series Spotlight featuring three of this season’s biggest shows.
On Friday, Oct. 18, David Alan Grier & Wendi McLendon Covey
the global box office in 2024.
“The Newport Beach Film Festival is honored to continue its partnership with Variety and host remarkable award tributes. We could not be more thrilled to be honoring Amy Poehler. Her distinguished career spans generations of audiences across both film and television” said Schwenk.
will be honored with the Outstanding Achievement in Comedy Award and participate in a Q&A following a screening of their new show, NBC’s “St. Denis Medical.”
On Tuesday, Oct. 22 Jane Lynch will attend a special screening of an episode from season four of Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.” She will also be presented with the Outstanding Achievement in Comedy Award and participate in a Q&A following the screening.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Festival will host a screening of the season five premiere episode of Paramount+ and CBS Studios’ “Star Trek: Lower Decks.” The screening will be followed by a discussion with creator and executive producer Mike McMahan and voice actors Noël Wells, Eugene Cordero, & Jerry O’Connell.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Peter Sarsgaard will be presented with the Performance of the Year Award (Actor) as part of a live recording for The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter Podcast with THR’s Executive Editor of Awards Scott Feinberg.
Honors
Variety will honor Amy Poehler with the Variety Legend & Groundbreaker Award at the Newport Beach Festival on Sunday, Oct. 20. The award is reserved for those who have broken barriers in the industry and withstood the test of time. Poehler will accept the honor for her career achievements, including reprising her role as the voice of Joy in the recent success of “Inside Out 2,” which grossed $1.6 billion at
The 2024 Festival Honors takes place on Sunday, Oct. 20 at Balboa Bay Resort in conjunction with Variety 10 Actors to Watch. This year’s honorees attending the Festival Honors event include Nicolas Cage (Icon Award), Joan Chen (Career Achievement Award), Colman Domingo (Maverick Award), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Artist of Distinction), and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Artist of Distinction), George MacKay (Spotlight Award, June Squibb (Lifetime Achievement Award), and Diane Warren (Lifetime Achievement in Music).
Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch honorees include Monica Barbaro, Zoë Chao, Ryan Destiny, Karla Sofía Gascón, Fred Hechinger, Ella Hunt, David Jonsson, Josh Rivera, Drew Starkey, and Toby Wallace.
On Monday, Oct. 21, Finneas O’Connell will be receiving the Outstanding Achievement in Music Award during a conversation about his career.
Also on October 21, Terry Crews will receive the Arts Champion Award at the Festival’s Sunset Series.
On Tuesday,Oct.22,Ewan McGregor will receive the TV Performance of the Year Award, recognizing him for his starring role in “A Gentleman in Moscow,” the adaptation of Amor Towles’ novel. McGregor will receive the award immediately following a live recording of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast moderated by Scott Feinberg, Executive Editor of Awards, in front of a festival audience. The event will be held at Pelican Hill Resort.
“The Newport Beach Film Festival could not be more honored to bestow this award to Ewan McGregor for his legendary career. He is a true powerhouse, who has left a mark not only on the audiences who enjoy his incredible array of projects, but on the industry as a whole.” said Schwenk.
Style Week OC Partnership
StyleWeekOC in partnership with
Top Left: Costume and fashion designer Bob Mackie participates in a conversation with Carol Burnett. Courtesy of Fashion Week OC.; Top right: Longtime Newport Beach resident Seymour Beek stars in a documentary about his life. Photo courtesy of Newport Beach Film Festival.
the Newport Beach Film Festival hosts a Keynote Double Feature at Fashion Island on Saturday, Oct. 19 with Arianne Phillips and Julianne Hough. At 1 p.m., Costume Designer Arianne Phillips will participate in a moderated Q&A at 1 p.m., followed by a moderated Q&A with Emmy Award winning Choreographer Julianne Hough at 1:30 p.m. Actress Aubrey Plaza will present Phillips with the Creative Visionary Award.
Three time Academy Award nominated Costume Designer, Arianne Phillips is one of the most unique creative forces in fashion and entertainment. Arianne’s cutting-edge designs earned her Oscar nominations for Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” James Mangold’s “Walk the Line” and Madonna’s “W.E.” Arianne has received one award and eight nominations from the Costume Designers Guild, two BAFTAS nominations, a Critics Choice Awards nomination, and a Tony Award nomination
Julianne Hough is an actress, singer, dancer, author, entrepreneur, Emmy Award-winning choreographer, host and judge. She became a household name as a two-time champion on ABC’s top-rated “Dancing with the Stars” before gaining global recognition for her award-winning film and music career. Julianne’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through Kinrgy, a groundbreaking fitness modality she founded in 2020 that emphasizes holistic wellness for the mind, body and soul. Most recently, she expanded her talents to writing, releasing her debut novel “Everything We Never Knew” in August.
On Sunday, Oct. 20, StyleWeekOC and Newport Beach Film Festival present An Afternoon with Bob Mackie and Friends from 5 to 6 p.m. at Fashion Island.
Moderated by TCM’s Drew Carver, Bob Mackie, Carol Burnett and others wil discuss his film “Bob Mackie: Naked Illusions” that screens on Saturday and Sunday as part of the Film Festival. The event will take place at the main stage in the Bloomingdale’s Courtyard at Fashion Island.
Costume and fashion designer Bob Mackie is a nine-time Emmy Award winner, Geoff rey Beene CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and has three Oscar nominations. He
received a 2019 Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award for his work on “The Cher Show.” His Broadway credits include “Moon Over Buffalo” and “Putting It Together” starring Carol Burnett, “Minnelli on Minnelli,” “Lorelei” with Carol Channing, and “On the Town” with Bernadette Peters and Phyllis Newman.
Bob’s inventive and memorable designs have helped raise entertainers like Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Cher, Elton John, Ann-Margret, Bernadette Peters, Miley Cyrus, Mitzi Gaynor, Carol Burnett, Bette Midler, Pink, Zendaya, and Cher to iconic status both onscreen and off.
Other Style Week OC/Film Festival events include a conversation and book signing on Oct. 19 with two-time New York Times Best Selling author Stassi Schroeder, whose new book is “You Can’t Have It All: The Basic B*tch Guide to Taking the Pressure Off.”
On Sunday, Oct. 20, Academy Award winning Costume Designer Colleen Atwood will be presented with the Career Achievement Award in Costume Design along with a Q&A discussion and costume display from the box office sensation Warner Bros’ “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and Apple TV+’s mini-series “Masters of the Air.”
For more information on Style Week OC events, visit fashionisland.com/ styleweekoc.
About the Newport Beach Fim Festival
The Newport Beach Film Festival is one of the largest luxury lifestyle film festivals in the United States. The event brings an internationally curated collection of films and vibrant cultural gatherings to the Southern California coast.
Committed to championing the work of original storytellers from around the globe, the Festival celebrates contemporary screen culture and cinematic excellence, engaging the community in compelling conversations with filmmakers and artists.
The Newport Beach Film Festival is sponsored in part by UCI Health, KIA, Los Angeles Times, GAMFF, Fashion Island, and Visit Newport Beach.
For more information on the complete film programming and to purchase tickets, please visit newportbeachfilmfest.com.
• JAZZ
Cont. from page 6
northern city.
“The Best of the Best” is a remarkable documentary that shines a spotlight on a corner of America that is often under looked for its contribution to jazz.
Chicago and New Orleans are the usual towns, but true musicians know that jazz excellence started in Detroit. Through moving stories, photographs, and interviews, “the Best of the Best” submerges the viewer in the streets of old Detroit, where music drifts from the streets and car windows, radios, and turntables through this city on the lake. Detroit jazz is more anguished; it’s expressive without words. The Detroit sound carries the feelings of factories, of ghettos, of the church. It’s soulful, inspiring, and patient, like the city itself.
Detroit made cars, and it also made jazz musicians. Everyone in Detroit had to work for it—they didn’t get by on their good looks. They got by on practice and hard work, creating the highest excellence of jazz music— musicians like Elvin Jones, a member of John Coltrane’s quartet, and Ron Carter.
The vibe of Detroit is blue collar. Everybody was working, which allowed people to educate their children, and in turn allowed musicians to flourish.
Grinnell Pianos, manufactured in Ann Arbor, were commonplace in the city. Having one in your home was a status symbol. Every block had a bar, and every bar had a piano in it. Perhaps the musical “Hairspray” should have taken place in Detroit and not Baltimore, as music seems to be in every corner of this city.
Blues singers who were troubadours from the south came north, and the dynamic city flourished.
This motor city made Motown possible through jazz. Detroit lit the flame for American music, yet is so underappreciated. Like all of life, those who work hard often work quietly, and this midwestern city labored to create the most influential jazz artists who were able to let the genre shine.
Modest, excellent, and technically superior, Detroit Jazz musicians shaped music history and “The Best of the Best: Jazz From Detroit” brings it all to light.
“The Best of the Best” screens on October 20. For a complete lineup and tickets, visit NewportBeachFilmFest. com.
• ‘SÉANCE’
Cont. from page 7
the film; is Hazel, their dead daughter, haunting the house, or is it in Lillian’s head?
The rest of the film bounces between spooky scenes and others that give us more backstory and develop the characters’ relationships. I appreciated that every character has a scene one on one with another character, as it helps to set the dynamics for larger scenes that include all four characters.
My favorite part of the film was the iridescent mansion. Since this is set in the Victorian era, there are no electric lights, so everything is illuminated by candlelight. It’s a simple detail, but one that quickly grounds the movie in both its genre and setting.
“Séance” screens on October 18 and 24. For tickets and a complete lineup, visit newportbeachfilmfest.com.
•
WOOLSEY
Cont. from page 4
several key community members, the Committee awarded 10 scholarships. In the second year, 2023, 15 students received a total of $23,500. In 2024 to date, 20 students received awards totaling $30,000.
All totaled, the Committee has awarded $71,000 to 48 applicants attending 34 different education institutions. They anticipate, with the Endowment and additional contributions from the community, another 36 awards totaling $60,000 in 2025. Thanks to the Woolsey Endowment, the scholarships are sure to continue indefinitely.
According to Howald, “The plan is for the Woolsey Endowment to inspire additional gifts and for the Friends of OASIS to be the catalyst for many other institutions, nonprofits, and government entities to provide opportunity in senior healthcare services. We hope more people will participate and grow the scholarships to meaningfully impact geriatric education in the future.”
For more information contact Walt Howald, Chair of the Friends of OASIS Senior Services Scholarship Committee, at walt@howald.us or (949) 922-9926.
Robyn Grant is a member of the Newport Beach City Council. First elected in 2022, she represents District 4. Robyn can be reached at rgrant@ newportbeachca.gov or @robynbgrant.
• CITY MANAGER
Cont. from page 3
Agency (FEMA) has upgraded Newport Beach’s flood insurance classification under the Community Rating System (CRS) from a Class 7 to a Class 6. The upgraded class rating translates to an additional 5% reduction in flood insurance premiums, for a total reduction of 20%.
All policies issued or renewed on or after October 1 will qualify for the additional discounts on flood insurance premiums. This applies to all homes and businesses with governmentbacked mortgages in special flood hazard areas that are required to have flood insurance. Other homes and businesses in lower-risk areas are eligible for a 10% discount on flood insurance premiums.
The CRS is an incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. By implementing measures that go above and beyond the baseline standards, communities like Newport Beach are better prepared for flood events and can qualify for lower flood insurance rates for residents and businesses.
This achievement is a testament to Newport Beach’s ongoing efforts to mitigate flood risk and create a more sustainable, resilient community. I’d like to recognize our Community Development Department staff for this milestone in the City’s proactive floodplain management efforts.
Residents and business owners are encouraged to check their premium statements or call their insurance companies to ask about the discounts.
If you have questions about how floodplain management impacts your planned remodel, addition, or new building, please visit our Permit Center at City Hall (100 Civic Center Dr., Bay 1C) or call (949) 644-3200.
NBPD Presents ‘911 for Kids’ at Newport Heights
The Newport Beach Police Department recently presented the “911 for Kids” program at Newport Heights Elementary.
The program helps children to understand how and when to dial 911, and empowers them with vital knowledge and skills that could save lives. NBPD officers engaged students with interactive activities that made learning about emergency situations both fun and informative.
The children learned to recognize emergencies, understand what information to share when they call 911, and other ways to feel more confident in critical situations.
Free Financial Planning Begin
The Newport Beach Public Library Foundation presents “It’s Your Money!,” a free series of six financial workshops. The sessions will be on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. from September 30 through November 4 at the Central Library, Friends Meeting Room, 1000 Avocado Ave.
Community members are invited to attend all sessions or select sessions in this free series The instructors are local, fee only financial advisors; none of the speakers are licensed to sell any financial products.
For more information and schedule details visit the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation website: nbplf. foundation/programs.
Free Oct. 13 Concert to Feature Jazz, Swing Tribute Band at Marina Park
The City of Newport Beach Arts Commission will presents its annual Autumn Concert featuring the Gotham City Swingers, a jazz and swing tribute band, on October 13 from
4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Marina Park, 1600 W. Balboa Blvd.
Bring your low-slung beach chairs and blankets and enjoy an evening in a fun atmosphere. Pack a picnic dinner or purchase from on-site gourmet food trucks. Alcohol is not permitted. Admission and parking are free.
McFadden Square Beautification Project Now Underway
After a busy summer season, the City’s Public Works Department is actively refreshing and beautifying the McFadden Square area.
Staff members have been busy implementing a variety of projects, including landscaping and turf renovation; planter wall and bench repairs; brick and concrete ribbon repairs; new paint for bollards, bike racks, sign struts and striping; power washing; and detailing of monuments and plaques.
This work will help improve and preserve this historic location as a community attraction and gathering place for residents and visitors.
Free Mulch Giveaway, Document Shredding and E-Waste Disposal
Newport Beach residents are invited to bring documents and household electronic waste for free shredding and disposal on Saturday, October 19 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Newport Beach Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave. Free bags of mulch will be available for pickup (up to five 30-lb. bags per car).
The entrance to the event will be via Superior Avenue only. Residency will be verified; please bring identification.
Residents can bring up to 10 standard file boxes for shredding and household e-waste for disposal. No other household hazardous waste will be accepted. No batteries or medical waste please.
For more information visit newportbeachca.gov/shred.
• OC YOUTH
Cont. from page 10
skills, financial literacy, and careerfocused skills for students to use upon entering the workforce. Students will complete six workshops throughout the program to fulfill their graduation requirements.
• New Programs: The YES Workforce Development initiative is developing a new program to help all seniors receive the State Seal of Civic Engagement, an award for California students who demonstrate excellence in civics education and participation.
Cont. from page 9
winning adaptation of “The Old Maid,” starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins.
A Corona del Mar resident at the time, Davis is said to have traveled by the site daily while the theater was under construction. She also requested a sitting parlor in the ladies’ room which was built and remains today. Restored to its original splendor, the lounge now bears the name of the Oscar-winning actress.
Via Lido Plaza, including The Lido Theater, was purchased by Fritz Duda Company in 1986 and the company has continued the stewardship of the legendary entertainment venue.
River Jetty Restaurant Group is a collaboration between partners Joseph “McG” Nichol and another Newport Beach native, Jordan Otterbein. RJRG brings extensive expertise and a depth of resources to each of its hospitality concepts: A Restaurant, A Market, A Crystal Cove, and The Lido Theater in Newport Beach; CdM Restaurant in Corona del Mar, and A PCH in Long Beach.
Dedicated to supporting the communities it serves, RJRG supports local schools and charities as it continues to build strong local culture.
The Lido Theater is located in Via Lido Plaza at 3459 Via Lido, in Newport Beach. A schedule of live music, movies, and other performances will be available at www.thelidotheater.com.
At Woodbridge High School, YES Workforce Development is planning a robust Career and Technical Education program, including expanding its job readiness core program and adding bimonthly career panel events, field trips to corporate partners, and a Spring 2025 job fair to help students obtain summer work. Career panels and the spring hiring fair will be available to students at other IUSD schools. The program is working on plans to partner with Newport Harbor and Corona Del Mar High School to deliver this workforce readiness curriculum.
Partnerships with new schools have been established, allowing the YES Workforce Development Initiative to expand into Orange and Anaheim, further deepening the Club’s impact within its local communities.
For more on YES Workforce Development, visit www. boysandgirlsclub.com/yesworkforcedevelopment.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast: Since its founding, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast has been a cornerstone of the Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach, Orange, and Santa Ana communities. The Clubs have provided strategic programming, safe space, and quality mentoring to more than 100,000 youth since the first Club in Costa Mesa opened in 1941.
The Club works to build a foundation for members to live meaningful, productive lives by equipping them with the skills they need to graduate high school, pursue higher education, and join the workforce. It has been recognized by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America as one of the most innovative in the nation, particularly with its IMPACT Model. While there are many youth-serving organizations in Orange County, none provide youth with the breadth of academic, fitness, and enrichment activities as Boys &
• LIDO
Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast.
The Clubs are very proactive in fostering relationships with similarlyminded nonprofits to serve youth and their families best. All its activities, whether at the Club, a school, or out in the community, are designed to empower youth and build up the protective family and community factors that reduce risks and increase the likelihood of positive outcomes. Its mission is to ensure every child has mentors and champions in life.
For more information, visit www. boysandgirlsclub.com.
he was inspired by “Nessie,” the Loch Ness Monster.
Skylor Gaymon and his friends didn’t bother with the theme; they just wanted to have fun, so they created a Tiki face. Why? “I recently returned from Maui, and I liked the idea.”
Scott McMillan got seasonal. “The final instruction was for something coastal, so since we’re coming up on Halloween, why not put a jack-olantern on a surfboard?”
Janes Lee and Dolly Kiosea sculpted what looked like a car, a palm tree, a freeway, and a friendly sea creature.
10/11 HENRY KAPONO 10/12 PABLO CRUISE 10/13 JIMMY WEBB 10/15 MARIA MULDAUR - W ay P ast M idnight 10/16 JIMMIE VAUGHAN 10/17 GROUNDATION
• SCULPTURES
Cont. from page 8
the competition’s theme, “Cruzin’ the Coast,” and they often did so eclectically. For example, Mark Simon’s team from Sea Scout Troop 90 at the Newport Sea Base created it as a collection of familiar objects that coast cruisers might see.
“We have a McMansion, a freeway and even an airplane,” he said, adding that he’s also a longtime competitor. “I’ve been here for 21 years.”
On the other hand, Curt Hayden saw “cruise “ differently.
“We decided on Tom Cruse,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
A smiling sun wound up with the title Cruisin’ Canines.
Ken Rhodes developed stylized cars with seaweed-hair drivers, “Newport Ned Meets Newport Nessie,” adding
Others went straight for the castle theme. Debi Menard and the Busy Bees from Redlands came up with a somewhat squat version of the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, while the nonpro group B.C. and Friends worked till the last minute on a soaring edifice, blowing through straws to finetune decorative filigrees in sand.
As 2 p.m. came around, the judges, including City Councilwoman Robyn Grant and Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, retired to a convenient RV to make their decisions. After a plethora of first, second, and third prizes for categories such as Most Humorous Creation and Best Creation, the Commodore grand prize for Overall Best Creation went to newcomers B.C. And Friends, who had already won the People’s Choice award. With hugs and kisses, they went away happy.
With the contest over, what happens to the sandy creations?
“They live on for days until humans intervene or the tide and wind take them away.” said City Councilmember Robyn Grant.
10/12 PABLO CRUISE
10/18 GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP 10/19 BRETT DENNEN - g olden s ate of M ind t our 10/20 THE YOUNG DUBLINERS 10/24 WAYWARD SONS 10/25 MIRAGE ( f leet W ood M ac t ribute ) 10/26 STRYPER 40th Anniversary Tour 10/27 FREDDY JONES BAND 10/30 THE MUSICAL BOX 10/31 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS 11/1 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS 11/2 VENICE 11/3 THE WINEHOUSE EXPERIENCE 11/7 MATTHEW SWEET ( a coustic t rio ) 11/8 COMMON SENSE 11/9 TYRONE WELLS 11/13 JOHN HIATT
11/14 THE SWEET
11/15 RONSTADT REVIVAL 11/16 JOSHUA RADIN & RON POPE
11/21 JEREMY PIVEN
10/13 JIMMY WEBB 10/17 GROUNDATION 10/20 YOUNG DUBLINERS COMING SOON
11/22 SPACE ODDITY ( d avid b o W ie t ribute )
11/23 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
11/24 CTRL + Z ft M arc b onilla , t ho M as l ang , r ic f ierabracci , a lex M achacek & J onathan s indel M an 11/26 LEONID & FRIENDS ( c hicago t ribute ) 11/27 LEONID & FRIENDS ( c hicago t ribute )
11/29 THE PLATTERS
11/30 LEE ROCKER of the Stray Cats 12/4 LIVINGSTON TAYLOR and LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III
12/6 WHICH ONE’S PINK? (P ink f loyd t ribute ) 12/7 WHICH ONE’S PINK? (P ink f loyd t ribute )
12/8 SANDRA BERNHARD
12/11 DAVID BENOIT (XMAS TRIBUTE) 12/12 KY-MANI MARLEY 12/13 ABBA Holly Jolly Christmas 12/14 THE HIGHWAYMAN SHOW 12/15 GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA 12/18 SAMANTHA FISH, JON SPENCER, CEDRIC BURNSIDE
12/19 A VERY WHITNEY CHRISTMAS 12/20 FLOCK OF SEAGULLS 12/21 AMBROSIA (HOLIDAY SHOW) 12/22 GARY HO-HO-HOEY 12/27 BEATLES VS STONES 12/28 DRAMARAMA 12/29 L.A. GUNS 12/31 THE ENGLISH BEAT 1/10 TOMMY CASTRO & THE PAINKILLERS 1/1 1 AC/DC vs OZZY 1/12 BURTON CUMMINGS
1/17 DADA 1/18 DSB (J ourney t ribute ) 1/23
Colin Schworer, Iain Foshy and Raisa Deutch of B.C. and Friends work on their castle.
