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Community Members:
Today (Friday, September 13) I would like to recognize the late Assemblymember and Senator Marian Bergeson as the Upper Newport Bay Bridge is dedicated in her memory.
Bergeson (1925-2016) was a trailblazing leader whose career in public office has served as an inspiration for many women in politics.
Dedicating the bridge in Bergeson's name was an idea championed by Assemblymember and former Newport Beach City Councilmember Diane Dixon, supported by both houses of the California Legislature as Assembly Concurrent Resolution 93. Today's dedication ceremony was attended by many former and current elected officials, longtime colleagues, staff members, family, friends and community members.
Bergeson (1925-2016) was the first woman to serve in both the California State Assembly and California State Senate. She served in the State Legislature from 1978 to 1995, was a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 1995 to 1996, and was the California State Secretary of Education from 1996 to 1999.
She served two terms on the California Transportation Commission from 2004 to 2012. She began her political career when she was elected to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education in 1964, where she served for 12 years.
The bridge dedication is a fitting tribute that will serve as a visible reminder of Bergeson’s remarkable legacy of public service to Newport Beach, Orange County and the State of California.
City Manager, Grace K. Leung
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Police Chief Joe Cartwright to Retire in December
Joe Cartwright, a 23-year veteran of the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) who has served as its chief since 2022, will retire at the end of the 2024 calendar year, he announced this week.
The City will begin a nationwide recruitment shortly for Cartwright’s successor. This thorough process may necessitate the appointment of an interim chief during the search.
Cartwright is Newport Beach’s 11th police chief. He began his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1999 and joined the NBPD in 2002, holding a variety of field and executive management positions.
As NBPD chief, Cartwright oversaw the development of a new technology program now being implemented, which includes Flock camera license plate readers, surveillance camera integration software, a crime information center data hub and a drone program. He also implemented the use of virtual-reality simulation training for police officers.
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Santa Ana Heights Residents Invited to Neighborhood Town Hall Meeting Oct. 1
Residents of Newport Beach's Santa Ana Heights community are invited to attend a town hall meeting hosted by District 3 Councilmember Erik Weigand at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1 at Fire Station 7, 20401 Acacia St.
The meeting will include issues and topics related to the Santa Ana Heights neighborhood, such as public safety, traffic, infrastructure projects and development. Speakers will include City staff from the police, public works and community development departments.
For more information please call 949-644-3001.
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Early Voting to Begin Oct. 7
A vote-by-mail ballot will be mailed to all Orange County voters starting October 7, marking the start of the voting period. On that same day, 123 ballot drop boxes will open throughout Orange County and will remain open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5.
Make sure to check your registration status and visit ocvote.gov/registration to make any necessary updates before October 21.
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For the past six months, the City has worked with the General Plan Advisory Committee and General Plan Update Steering Committee to conduct community outreach and engagement toward development of a comprehensive update of the City's General Plan.
This initial effort is documented in a report, the phase one outreach summary, now available for public review. Nearly 6,000 community members stopped by one of the pop-up event booths or engaged through visiting and navigating the website.
The City is now preparing for phase two of the outreach effort. In the coming months, the City will be asking residents for additional participation and input in person and online through www.newportbeachca.gov/gpupdate. To stay informed, community members are invited to subscribe to the Newport Beach General Plan update email list by clicking here.
Any questions or feedback can also be submitted to GPUpdate@newportbeachca.gov.
What will Newport Beach look like in 2050? Your participation is critical to guiding and shaping the General Plan update.
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As wildfires continue to spread across Southern California, the Newport Beach Fire Department (NBFD) has deployed resources to assist in battling these fires. Our crews remain active on multiple fronts while ensuring that all Newport Beach fire stations are fully staffed and ready to respond to local emergencies.
Here are a few updates on the ongoing fires:
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Airport Fire: The NBFD has deployed several resources to the Airport Fire in Orange County, including our wildland engine, an Office of Emergency Services (OES) engine and two battalion chiefs. OES engines are part of the State's firefighting mutual aid fleet, and NBFD is proud to staff them during this critical time. Ten NBFD firefighters are engaged in combating the Airport Fire. As of Thursday, September 12, the fire has burned 23,412 acres and is 5% contained. A total of 629 personnel have been assigned to the Airport Fire, working around the clock to control the blaze and protect nearby communities.
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Line Fire: NBFD has deployed a battalion chief to assist with the Line Fire in San Bernardino County. As of Thursday, September 12, the Line Fire has burned 37,207 acres and is 18% contained. A total of 3,158 personnel are actively working to contain this fire and safeguard affected areas.
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Bridge Fire: NBFD personnel are closely monitoring the Bridge Fire now burning in Southern California. As of Thursday, September 12, the Bridge Fire has grown to 51,167 acres and is 0% contained. No NBFD resources have yet been deployed to this fire; however we remain vigilant and ready to provide assistance if needed.
All NBFD stations remain fully staffed and prepared to respond to any emergencies in Newport Beach or neighboring communities. The NBFD continues to prioritize the safety of our community and the region during this challenging wildfire season.
We encourage residents to follow the Ready, Set, GO! Program for wildfires. Please visit the website here for more information on wildfire preparedness.
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The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted the Annual Newport Beach Fire and Lifeguard Appreciation Dinner on September 11 at the VEA Hotel. The event highlighted stories of courage, heroism and the lifesaving work performed by the Newport Beach Fire Department and other first responders over the past year.
The evening celebrated the exceptional actions of our firefighters and lifeguards who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our community. From water rescues to emergency medical responses and wildfire support, these first responders play an invaluable role in keeping Newport Beach safe.
The Newport Beach Fire Department would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce for hosting the event and the community for its support.
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The recent earthquakes in Southern California and the landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes serve as reminders that disasters can strike at any time. During the month of September, which has been designated as National Preparedness Month by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Newport Beach Police and Fire departments encourage community members to "start a conversation" to become better prepared for all disasters and emergencies.
If you are new to emergency planning or could use a refresher, a great place to start is the "Newport Beach Ready" Emergency Preparedness Guide. The guide contains critical information on water and food storage, building an emergency kit, evacuation checklists, basic first aid, animal preparedness and tips on what to do in specific events. The guide is in PDF form to allow for easier printing (we recommend residents print copies as references in the event of a power outage).
The City's Disaster Preparedness website has additional information and videos on how to prepare for a variety of natural and man-made emergencies, such as earthquakes, fires, tsunamis, storm flooding, power outages and acts of terrorism. It also includes a list of partner agencies, such as FEMA and ReadyOC, along with links.
If you haven't done so already, we encourage you to sign-up for emergency notifications.
- For Newport Beach emergencies, significant traffic impacts and police activities, you can subscribe to the Police Department's Newport Notified system to receive direct communication. You can configure your Newport Notified account as desired to receive text messages, emails and voicemails to cell phones and landlines.
- Major Newport Beach and countywide emergency alerts will be broadcast through the AlertOC mass notification system, operated by the County of Orange in collaboration with local cities. Through AlertOC, time-sensitive voice messages from the County of Orange or Newport Beach can be sent to your home, cell, or business phone. Text messages can be sent to cell phones. AlertOC can also send messages to email accounts and TTY devices.
- Please note that during a serious emergency, with a need to communicate life-saving information quickly, the City will utilize the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system. The WEA system sends text message alerts to all cell phones within a designated geographic area, with no sign-up or subscription required. Because it reaches all cell phones, residents and visitors alike, WEA is a critical component of the City's emergency alert systems.
If you would like in-depth training on emergency preparedness, along with hands-on first aid and rescue techniques, consider joining Newport Beach's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, taught by City firefighters and lifeguards. CERT training is designed to help residents assist themselves, their families and neighbors in the event of a major disaster where first responders may not be immediately available. You can go here for more information on CERT, and here to apply for the program. Classes start September 17.
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Whether you're heading out for a long weekend, an extended vacation trip, or just a quick getaway, the Newport Beach Police Department is here to help ensure your home and valuables stay safe while you’re away.
Did you know you can request a vacation check from the NBPD? Simply visit the website and fill out a vacation check request form. Volunteers and officers will regularly check your property for any signs of suspicious activity.
Vacation check is a free service, part of our commitment to providing excellent community policing and keeping Newport Beach safe.
As you plan your vacations for this fall, winter and beyond, don’t forget to take advantage of this valuable service. With the NBPD keeping eyes on your home, you can relax and enjoy your time away.
Safe travels, Newport Beach!
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 Bring your family and friends to Buffalo Hills Park, 1891 Port Provence Place, and enjoy a screening of the movie "Wonka" tonight (Friday, September 13). The event begins at 6 p.m.; showtime is at sunset.
There will be fun activities, free popcorn, and food available for purchase. Remember to bring a chair and blanket for comfortable seating during the movie.
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The public is invited to join the International Coastal Cleanup Day Celebration on Saturday, September 21 from noon to 5 p.m. at Marina Park, 1600 W. Balboa Blvd.
The event, hosted by the Newport Harbor Underwater Cleanup in partnership with the City, will include live music, food trucks, vendors and a variety of environmental exhibits.
Newport Beach Mayor Will O'Neill is scheduled at 2 p.m. to recognize the efforts of environmental groups and participants in the underwater cleanup taking place earlier that day. On Saturday morning, nearly 200 certified scuba divers will be diving at various locations in the harbor to remove sunken trash.
The last harbor underwater cleanup event removed about 5,000 pounds of debris from Newport Harbor.
Visit the Newport Harbor Underwater Cleanup website to learn more.
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 Join us for the last Summer Concert on the Green! AbSOULute (R&B, funk, soul and classic rock tribute band) will be performing on Sunday, September 22 at the Newport Beach Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Dr. Concert will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Bring blankets, low-slung beach chairs, and a picnic dinner, or purchase from food trucks on-site.
Admission and parking are free; alcohol is not permitted.
Click here for more information.
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 Author Bonnie Garmus will talk about her journey from copywriter and creative director to writing and publishing her own bestselling novel on Friday, October 4 at 6 p.m. at the Civic Center Green, 100 Civic Center Dr.
Garmus will describe the process of creating her subversive protagonist Elizabeth Zott and how real-life experience fueled and inspired her to write "Lessons in Chemistry," a number-one global bestseller.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit nbplf.foundation.
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The public is invited on Sunday, September 15 at the Central Library, Friends Room, 1000 Avocado Ave., for a concert with an exceptional saxophone and piano duo.
This program is free. Seating is first come, first served. Funding is generously provided by the Friends of the Library.
Click here for more information.
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Join us at the Central Library for a captivating evening with author Chris Epting as he presents his latest book, “Where One Hears the Rain: Finding Your Voice and Crafting Your Story, from Inspiration to Publication” on Tuesday, September 17, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Friends Room at the Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.
Registration is recommended for this free program. The first 25 guests to arrive will receive a free copy of "Where One Hears the Rain." For more information visit the Newport Beach Library web page.
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Join us at the Central Library, 100 Avocado Ave., on Wednesday, September 18 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a college prep workshop focusing on the Common App.
The Common App gives you a lot of opportunities to tell your story in a way that admissions directors will find compelling, and this seminar will show you how.
College admissions experts will review each part of the Common App and show you where you can inject your personality and protect your shortcomings. You'll leave knowing how colleges evaluate you and your application, which will give you the information you need to make the most out of your application.
Registration is required.
Funding for this workshop is generously provided by the Friends of the Library.
For more information visit the Library's web site.
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 This week, the City’s homeless outreach and response teams:
- Placed an older disabled adult into assisted living after a stay at the Yale Navigation Center.
- Continued to shelter people: 24 people who had been experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach are sheltered in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
Click here to view the latest homeless dashboard, which includes key monthly and yearly data on the City's homeless response.
Click here for information on the City's Good Giving program.
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@cityofnewportbeach
WWW.NEWPORTBEACHCA.GOV | 949-644-3309 | 100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660
© 2024 City of Newport Beach, All Rights Reserved
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