A strong winter storm blew through Newport Beach today. The storm caused widespread flooding, downed trees and cut electricity to many of the city's residents. No major damage or serious injuries to people were reported across the city.
In the Newport Heights area of the city, three large trees were toppled by strong winds and heavy rain. A localized power outage was caused in the area when a falling tree snapped power-lines on 15th Street near Tustin Avenue.
On Newport's picturesque Balboa Island flooding inundated the streets around the city's car ferry. Ferry service was not interrupted.
Pictures from around the city show some of the damage, flooding, and aftermath.
No, I'm not talking about the post-Thanksgiving diets, or the pre-Christmas shopping binges. What I'm talking about is the only thing that matters to die-hard snow skiers and snowboarders.
It's a tradition that has been taking place for over six decades. Most consider it the official start of winter and ski-season. The Warren Miller ski movie.
This year's edition is called "Ticket to Ride" and it's screening at Newport Beach's Lido Theatre this Thursday night December 5th.
The show starts at 7:30PM.
If last year and previous years are any indication of what to expect, you'll need to get there early to avoid the line to get in!
I've been watching ski movies since I was a kid. Every year, I rarely miss the Warren Miller ski flick. If I do I feel just a little less motivated to get out on the slopes as fast as I can.
This week's screening in Newport is your only chance to catch the film on the big-screen in Orange County during the film's national tour this year.
If you're new to watching a Warren Miller ski movie, let me give you an idea of what to expect.
You're in for an night of fun. In addition to the movie, the screening takes on an "event" like atmosphere, that includes ski industry related prize giveaways, a riled up crowd of young, old and everything in-between snow seeking fans.
The crowd can usually barely sit still long enough for the lights of the theater to drop. Once they do, you'll see some of the best skiers and boarders on the planet travel to explore and ski the world's most amazing locations and descend slopes mere mortals only dream about.
I could continue to tell you all about what it feels like to attend and see a Warren Miller ski movie in person, but it's much better to show you. Here's a sneak peak:
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Movies are meant to inspire, make you think. or even on occasion you and the audience might just learn something new. A Warren Miller ski movie does all that and more. It's a winter feast for your eyes and ears.
It's one night of bringing the best of winter to the beach in Newport!
Mexican 'Panga' boat grounded at Crystal Cove State Beach (Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
By Eric Longabardi
A small Mexican fishing boat known as a "panga" came ashore in the early morning hours yesterday at Crystal Cove State Beach. The beach is at the southern most tip of Newport Beach. On board the boat were 24 people according to the U.S. Border Patrol.
Here is the U.S. border patrol's media press release in regards to this specific incident in its entirely and unedited. The landing by sea was one of two incidents the U.S. Border Patrol was involved with yesterday.
United States Customs and Border Protection (Press Release)
Now forgive me for my 'cultural insensitivity' and some might even say outright racism, (only biased ethnic-racist zealots would say that) but when a small fishing boat from Mexico (or anywhere else) comes ashore in the United States illegally with nothing but people and according to the U.S. law enforcement agency that polices the U.S./Mexican border the people on board are trying to enter the United States illegally, I for one am going to call them "illegal aliens". Keep in mind also that this is the Obama administration setting the word rules here for this U.S. agency. The current administration is not exactly known for their hard-line anti-political correctness views!
This boat load of "illegal aliens" came ashore in an attempted smuggling operation. Of course that's only "according to" the U.S. Border Patrol. Some might say these people have not been convicted of any crime (yet) here in the U.S. and therefore are entitled to all due process under the law--right? I think not. Let me tell you why.
Of course if it's shown later that this boat load of people were simply out for a fun day of deep-sea fishing or maybe a really low-cost panga-crusie-ship vacation of sorts, in a boat completely unseaworthy for the trip over 90 nautical miles north of Mexican waters -- then of course, it would be an outrage that these particular hispanics were unfairly labeled "illegal aliens". If it turns out they were wrongly arrested they should sue the pants off everybody they can find, most especially the U.S. Government!
I doubt that is ever going to happen. Actually I'm sure that it never will.
Now if you read the local L.A. Times community newspaper story about this incident from 'The Daily Pilot' you would have to have had figured out for yourself that the boat was full of "illegal aliens" attempting to illegally enter the United States. To get that part of the story you would have to read the story until you reached the fourth paragraph. You'll probably start to get the idea at that point.
According to the Daily Pilot headline and lead paragraph, the only reason this beach landing was 'news' was because a "Boat with 24 aboard (was) seized near Crystal Cove". To put it bluntly this is worst kind of "politically correct" sanitized news that now permeates most of what was once called credible journalism.
I asked the Border Patrol spokesman in San Diego a simple question about this case. I didn't want to seem insensitive to anyone. "How is is determined that the people on the boat that landed at Crystal Cove yesterday had entered the US illegally? He told me a simple and accurate answer. "When you enter from another country you are required to present yourself to a Customs and Border Protection Officer. Also he said, "most simply admit being in the country illegally". He also told me the entry rules apply to anyone, even U.S citizens.
The only true reason this story was "news" was because a boat full of illegal aliens were attempting to enter the United States and landed on a beach in Orange County, especially in well-to-do Newport Beach. This kind of sea borne smuggling is nothing new along the California coastline. Actually it's a growing problem in recent years.
This wasn't the first time this sort of thing has happened at Crystal Cove either. Earlier this year another boat load of people, (I'm sorry --"passengers") were also arrested and over a thousand pounds of pot was seized. In 2011 another 15 "passengers" were unexpectedly tossed into the ocean when their panga cruise ship flipped in the surf. All of them were ok but were also arrested for entering the United States illegally.
Take special note in the video. Two of the three crew members searching for and attempting to arrest illegal aliens being smuggled into the U.S. are hispanic. One crew member is white. Are these hard working law enforcement officers racially insensitive? I think such a notion is a farce.
I'm also guessing the politically correct L.A. Times would probably omit these facts and most likely run a headline that said something like this if they had published this story ...
"Late night panga-boaters being tracked and watched by new high-tech boat near Newport Beach" Why? Who cares right! We don't want to be racial insensitive to any ethnic group so let's omit relevant facts in our story! I believe the newly ordered politically correct (and inaccurate) L.A. Times style guidelines (see story) are a disgrace to honest accurate journalism. I'm not politically correct or a racist, I'm just an honest accurate reporter. How culturally insensitive that can be these days I know!
Yesterday afternoon Esther Lofgren, gold medalist at the London Olympic games returned to her hometown of Newport Beach to visit with family and friends.
It was Esther's first visit home since capturing the gold in the U.S. Women's 8-Crew boat with her teammates at the London Olympics.
Esther was met at John Wayne Airport by her mom, dad, brother and sister. They were all decked out in red, white and blue. It was clear they were glad to have Esther back home for a while here in Newport.
Some people at the airport also noticed Esther was not your typical traveler. That large shiny gold medal hanging around her neck was a dead give away!
Esther's smile could light up Southern California, as well as the rest of California. If this humid heatwave continues to sap our electric grid, we may need her help!
Congradulations Esther!, you inspire Newport kids and adults to do their best and dream big. Newport Beach is extremely proud. How do I know?, well back in London and here in Newport you did just that for my own daughter Sophia and my family.
Take a look at this special video I put together in a hurry to welcome Esther back to her hometown Newport Beach. It's a fast and furious attempt to express in pictures and words the kind of inspiration Esther is to her family and friends -- old and new!
Newport Beach's own Esther Lofgren, a 2003 graduate of Newport Harbor High School and longtime resident of Newport Beach has struck Olympic gold in London for the United States.
As a member of the U.S. Women's 8-crew she won gold in an exciting victory in London earlier today.
Last night, Newport Beach Now "My Not So Humble Opinion" was awarded a second place in the special category "The Real OC Award" in the annual Orange County Press Club Journalism Awards. The award presentation was made at a gala event held at the Encore Theater in Tustin, CA.
According to the Press Club, the award is given out and designated "for the story, review, feature, blog, column or photo that best captures something special, surprising, telling or essential about Orange County".
This is the second award for the Newport Beach Now online column. Launched in early 2011, the column was a finalist in the Los Angeles Press Club Southern California Journalism Awards for "Best Online Column" in Southern California last year.
Last Sunday I decided to go see what was doing over at the Corona Del Mar High School pool. I'm a Newport Harbor High graduate myself and our schools have a never ending (but friendly) rivalry that has spanned decades. I've been out of high school for nearly 30 years, but any 'Tar' or 'Sea King' never forgets.
On this Sunday there was a compelling reason I would have to set aside my friendly aversion to CdMHS for the day. I'll fess up, I've even done it before. I somehow let my now 8-year old daughter Sophia learn to swim in East Bluff over at the 'Sea King' pool.
I was drawn to the CdMHS pool on this day to watch the U.S. Women's Olympic Water Polo team. The team was swinging through Newport Beach for its last tune-up exhibition match before heading off to London for the 2012 Olympic Games.
A few weeks earlier I had done the same when the U.S. Men's team came through Newport to play some matches against foreign rivals Hungary and Croatia at Newport Harbor High's pool. I wrote about that and a profile of John Mann, a local standout Olympic water polo player, also from CdMHS.
I've seen a lot of men's water polo games over the years. I grew up in Newport Beach and the sport is a big deal around here. Friends of mine growing up have played the sport. I never did. My official sport hours as a kid were spent mostly on dry-land, playing basketball and tennis or skiing. That is, other than spending the majority of my youth at some beach spot here in Newport, swimming and bodysurfing.
But to be honest, and I didn't realize it until last Sunday, I don't think in all my near 50 years on the planet, I have ever seen a women's water polo match! That was about to change.
On this Sunday I wasn't really there to see the U.S. women's team play. I was compelled to come see one particular U.S. player.
Her name is Tumua Anae.
Tumua is a local Newport Beach woman who graduated from Corona Del Mar High and went on to a stand out career at USC as a water polo goalie. Now she is one of only two goalies on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.
In my day-job as roving independent producer and journalist, I had written about Tumua for the local Newport Beach Independent newspaper here in town. Her story, simply put was that of a young girl from Hawaii who moved with her parents to Newport Beach when she was very young. The rest as I bet Tumua would say, was not only "history" but a lot of hard work and effort. Tumua also had a lot of friends and family who helped her along the way.
What also drew me to come see this wonder-kind in the water named Tumua, was my own daughter. Her name is Sophia. She is about to turn 9-years old this October. Sophia loves the water.
Like any good dad, I've been telling Sophia since the day I first laid eyes on her when she was born, that she could do anything or be anything she wanted in life. The only catch was that she would have to work hard and have a dream. I told her and still do that there was nothing that could keep her from achieving her dreams. Tumua has a dad too. I've never met him, but I'm sure just like me and Sophia, he told Tumua the same thing.
Sophia so far says she wants to be a writer and an illustrator, but she also has entertained scientist, animator and Disney-imagineer and in her younger days even astronaunt and firewoman! She still has plenty of time to figure it out. Tumua and her Dad I bet know the feeling.
When summer rolls around here in Newport, Sophia turns her attention to the pool and the beach. I'm sure just like Tumua always did. This summer is no different. Sophia is learning to swim and advancing in her technique and riding the waves at the beach. Tumua was a Newport Beach lifeguard. I don't know if Sophia will ever do that, but thankfully at least she is now learning her swim strokes at the Newport Harbor High pool!
Sophia attended the U.S. Men's water polo match with me and my better half a few weeks back. She was excited and thrilled to see water polo for the first time. In her typical way she was engrossed with what she saw. As we left the pool Sophia had one very relevant question for me after the match was over.
"Dad, can girls play too"
I told her "yes of course", and said I even knew a girl water polo player because I had written a story about her. Sophia knows her dad is a journalist. She even knows what that means. I tell stories about other people and what they do, good and even sometimes bad.
So I told her that we would try and go see this female water polo player I knew. I told Sophia her name was Tumua Anae. She was coming to Newport to play in just a few weeks.
It turned out Sophia couldn't come to see the match last Sunday, but I told her all about it and made a video to tell her the story of how a young girl form Newport Beach, not unlike herself, can become everything and anything they want to be, if they work hard, have friends and family who love and support them, and have a dream.
I played the video for Sophia yesterday morning and told her I made it to show her that just like Tumua, she could achieve anything. She said "dad, I love it" and gave me a hug.
I also decided to show the video to Tumua before I showed it to anybody else publicly. I had a feeling I might be invading Tumua's personal privacy and a very special moment for her and her family. The video so closely touches on that special moment.
Tumua had come home to Newport Beach and was sharing that moment with her friends and family. It was only weeks before she was head off to London to achieve what I'm sure is a dream of hers. I even asked Tumua about this last Sunday. Her answer is in the video. Tumua also told me yesterday she loved the video and said a few other nice things about my efforts. So take a look. I hope you like it too:
And two more things before I go ...
Thanks Sophia for asking if "girls can play too".
Thanks Tumua for giving young girls like Sophia somebody to look up to and strive to be like. And for showing them, with a dream, hard work and the love and support of those around you it can be done!
If you're in Newport Beach and you want to honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. military, as well as law enforcement, fire personnel and first responders, stop by the Castaways Park just above Coast Highway and Dover Drive this weekend.
The event coincides with Armed Forces Day and runs through the weekend.
The Newport Harbor Exchange Club annual 'Field of Honor' will be in place at the park from May 18-20th. 1,776 flags will pay tribute to our service members. You can dedicate a flag to honor someone yourself for $45. For more information click on the Exchange Club link above.
In respect to the 'Field of Honor' event and for Memorial Day 2011 I did this video last year to honor all those that have given the ultimate sacrifice.
This video is specially dedicated to:
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Michael J. Longabardi (U.S. Army) Died in service to his country in Vietnam February 8, 1968
Stephen M. Mills (US Navy) Died in service to his country in Afghanistan August 11, 2011
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It also personally honors the service of the following:
Donald Martin, served in Ohio National Guard Sam Millimet (US Army) - served in Korean War Robert Pelletier Sr., (US Army) (d) served in Korean War Paul Stowell, (US Navy) served as a corpsman/medic
A second video below honors U.S. Navy Seal Matt Mills
I've seen a lot of new things over the years and have even tried a few of them myself. I'm no X-gen extreme sport athlete by any stretch, but there's a new 'sport' in town that may just have taken over the top slot of what constitutes the cutting edge of extreme sport.
It's a new flying machine and if you haven't seen it yet -- well simply put you have too. Words don't do it justice.
The flying machine is called the JetLev. A new state-of-the-art water powered jet pack that turns you into a human flying machine. The only requirement water, gas and some nerve. A little skill helps too!
So take a look and if you want to try it yourself give the guys down at Jetlev Newport Beach a call and they'll have you flying in no time.
I'm sure in the next X-Games they'll be racing across the channel to Catalina Island with modified suped up turbo charged versions, or maybe a gymnastics like water top routine set to music to show off the agility, style and finesse of a flying water dance!
Either way, who wouldn't be impressed with these amazing young men and their flying machine - I was, so will you!
Watch the short video below about Danny Parsel, Dennis Holland and the boat named 'Shawnee'. Parsel recently paid a visit to Dennis Holland, master boat builder at his home in Newport Beach, CA. Both men are trying to find a way to save the historic wooden boat from being lost forever.
Danny's grandfather Alan Adler owned and sailed the historic wooden boat Shawnee in Newport Beach for years until his death in 2002. Much of Danny's childhood and young adulthood was spent on the ship.