NewportBeachNow

NEWPORT BEACH WEATHERS STRONG WINTER STORM

By Eric Longabardi

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.

(All photos ©2014 TeleMedia News Productions)

 

MILLER TIME: SKI SEASON OPENS IN NEWPORT THIS THURSDAY

By Eric Longabardi

It's that time of year again.

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!  

See you there!

U.S. MILITARY COPTER RATTLES ROOFTOPS IN NEWPORT

By Eric Longabardi

A U.S. Marine Corps helicopter flew over Newport Beach yesterday at an unusually low altitude and high rate of speed rattling rooftops as it passed over the city. The low flight path of the aircraft, its speed and the noise it generated gave residents a brief startling experience.

The flight was witnessed by this reporter at just after 2:15PM-PST Monday afternoon. The helicopter flew low and fast over the Newport Heights section of the city near Newport Harbor High School and headed out to sea.

The U.S. Marine Corps air command based at Miramar Marine Air Station in San Diego was contacted by Newport Beach Now (NBN), but a Marine Corps spokesman was unable to confirm the identity or purpose of the military flight prior to publication of this story.

The helicopter is believed to be a U.S. Marine Corps HU-1 "Venom" type aircraft as seen in the photo above.

The helicopter's flight was confirmed to NBN yesterday by Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford, who said "At 2:12 pm, a military helicopter did a low approach at John Wayne and then asked permission to fly southwest toward the beach, which is not an unusual request"

FAA spokesman Lunsford told NBN "according to radar, the aircraft was at an altitude of roughly 500 feet over NB, descending to about 200 feet at the beach. It dropped below radar while southbound over the water."

According to Lunsford, the military call sign of the aircraft was "Viper 88". A call sign is what aircraft use to identify themselves when in contact with air traffic controllers on the ground. 

Newport Beach Police and the City's spokesperson Tara Finnigan were unable to confirm any official resident complaints or reports were received by local authorities about the flight.

In March of last year, a similar fly-by of military F-18 fighter jets over Newport caused a stir when residents were startled by the low-flying aircraft. The incident and related story can be seen here. 

In response to last year's incident the city sought to receive pre-notification of any military fly-overs, but were rebuffed by military and FAA officials.

** UPDATE ** 2:50P - PST

U.S. Marine Corps spokesman 1stLt Chad Hill confirmed to NBN the flight and its purpose: "The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing helicopter, stationed aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, was conducting a training flight near John Wayne Airport. The aircraft was within an FAA-approved flight profile and under positive control of FAA air traffic controllers." 

PANGA LANDING AT CRYSTAL COVE IN NEWPORT: NOT JUST PASSENGERS

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. 

Last year I reported on the efforts of a joint Federal task force and it's operations here in Newport Beach -- dubbed "Operation Stonegarden". The story detailed a specially designated high-tech chase boat that was being used to try and stem the increasing tide of people and drugs being smuggling from Mexican waters. A short video about the program is below.

  

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!  

NEWPORT WITH A VIEW: IS IT WORTH IT: SORRY NO ELEVATORS: TAKE THE STAIRS!

By Eric Longabardi

Have you dreamed of living the good life on the water in Newport Beach?

If you have you might want to avoid a high-rise condo that hasn't had a working elevator for nearly a month and a half. Unless of course you would enjoy the workout of climbing the stairs every time you come or go from your home.

So what's the big deal you say, quit your whining and just use the stairs!. You might get in better shape and shed a few pounds in the process!

What if I told you the high-rise condo is 8-stories tall and you were going to have to climb those stairs up and down all day, every day?

Would you still think it was no big deal? Even if you were close to 70 years old or even older. A routine trip to the grocery store can quickly become an adventure all its own.

Many of the people living at 'Newport: The Towers', located at 3121 W. Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach are asking just those questions. The building is tucked in-between the iconic Italian restaurant Villa Nova and a waterfront office complex. 

The building is one of the oldest hi-rise condos in Newport and was originally built in the early 1960’s. It once had working elevators. Actually it had two of them. Now those two elevators are out of commission. Some residents say they just can’t take the stairs anymore and they are fed up.

You might be thinking to yourself -- if the building had working elevators, then of course the owner of the building would have to fix them and keep them running -- Right?

Guess what -- Wrong!

What will surprise you is that in an old building like this, the building is exempt from any requirement to continue to operate the elevators. Just like an automobile, although you have to register it with the state, you don't have to operate it.

According to officials at Cal/OSHA, the state agency that regulates elevators and the City of Newport Beach, the residents of the building are just stuck on the 1^st floor and out of luck.  

Both state and city agencies have been dealing with the building and it's owners, but so far they have been little help in solving the problem. Cal/OSHA and the city have sent inspectors to check out the elevators due to resident complaints. So far that's all they've done.

I spoke with some residents of the building and they told me they’ve been getting nothing less than the runaround. They say their landlords, home owners association and the property management company are not addressing the problem in a timely manner.

One resident who didn’t want their name used for fear of retaliation said, “It’s been over a month now that the elevators are down, rumors abound and who’s to blame etc., etc. No one seems to be able to get any straight answers”. This person recounted a recent visit by an elevator repairman who explained that “he could not fix the elevator as it is too old and (he) cannot even find parts for it anymore” and they have been “trying to tell the HOA this for years.” 

The repairman summed it all up saying “sorry you would think this is a situation on sees in TJ Mexico, not Newport Beach on oceanfront property!”

A different resident explained to Newport Beach Now that even before the two elevators stopped working last month, taking on ride of them was always a unique experience. 

The resident, who also didn’t want their name used for fear of retaliation said, “I’ve been stuck in those elevators many times … for a long as 10-15 minutes" .. "sometimes the elevator would stop a foot or more from the floor landing and you’d have to jump up to the floor to get out” or “you would stop on a floor and the elevator would unexpectedly drop before it would stop”

Newport Beach Now decided to take a look for itself. We paid the building a visit only a few days ago. Although two elevator doors on the main lobby floor were securely shut and could not be opened, on the basement garage level we found an open door to an elevator shaft.

An elevator car was hanging a floor or two above our heads. It seemed like a dangerous situation. We also found signs on the elevator doors explaining the situation to residents. We then took a walk up the strairs to the eighth floor. Not an easy jaunt for anyone, even me and I’ve been working out the last few months!

After our visit we called Cal/OSHA and the city of Newport Beach again.

We spoke at length to a supervisor in the city's building department. He had knowledge of the situation and was very forthcoming about how the city could do little to help. A few previous calls to the Newport city inspector who has been directly dealing with the situation went un-returned.

We were later referred to speak with the city’s spokesperson Tara Finnegan, who when asked “What has the city done in regards to code enforcement related to the building” told us:

" ... Community Development has had staff out there (Building and Code Enforcement) to see what the City could do to help facilitate the repairs. Staff also contacted the state since it does have an agency (OSHA) that oversees elevator safety ... It’s not a construction project / something that the City would permit. Since it’s a maintenance issue, it’s the responsibility of the homeowners association and the property manager. Our staff is monitoring the situation and doing what they can to help facilitate the repair work."

When told of the open elevator door and other safety issues found during my recent visit, the Cal/OSHA inspector based in Santa Ana responded “I’m going to have to get out there as soon as I can and red-tag it”.  The inspector told Newport Beach Now that even if elevators aren’t required to operate in a building like this, they are required to be safe and not pose a safety hazard for people in the building.

We also reached out to Dennis D’Alessio, a member of the building's Homeowners Association. D'Alessio spoke to us briefly and promised to get back to us with more information. He never did.

In a lengthy letter last month D'Alessio told residents that despite all the problems “all we can ask of you residents is to have patience as we work through this. We sincerely apoligize for all of the delay and inconvenience to you and will do everything we can to minimize it . Remember, we too have to climb these stairs every single day, so we suffer with you.”

After speaking with D’Alessio and Newport Beach Now's visit to the building, only days ago, there was an interesting twist. The building Irvine based management company 'Total Property Management' issued a letter to the residents stating that repairs to the elevators were still on-going. No time-frame was given for when the elevators would be working again.

They did offer residents some new help. They explained that the building facility's manager would begin “to assist Homeowners with carrying items to and from your units while the elevators are being repaired”.  His hours are 10AM to 6PM.

If residents didn't already have enough problems at the building, a new issue came up the other night. All the power to the building went out during a localized blackout in the area.

One resident we spoke to for this story told us they had to navigate their way up the stairs to their unit on a high floor with a flashlight.

As for the elevators. They still don’t work. 

THE HELICAT HITS NEWPORT: FLYING ON WATER

By Eric Longabardi

I grew up on boats here in Newport Beach. Me and my two brothers even owned a Hobie-Cat for a few years when we were kids. So happens it was the same color as a striking new boat making a splash at this weekends Newport Boat Show. The new boat is called the Helicat. The only thing the two boats have in common -- they are both twin-hull catamarans.

Me and my brothers moved up to bigger and faster boats as we grew up. I wasn't exactly the most seaworthy of the group, but I still loved a day on the water, in the harbor, or off the Newport coastline. One brother made his love of the sea a lifestyle. He is now an avid deep-sea fisherman and boat captain.

Since those Newport days of youth I've sailed and motored on many different boats over the years. Here in Newport and elsewhere around the U.S and the world. Even logging a few nautical sailing miles in the Greek Islands long ago. Over the years I've seen a lot of different boats. Safe to say though, I've never seen one like this.

This weekend marks the 40th annual Newport Boat Show. It runs April 18th through the 21st down at Lido Marina Village. The show is one of the largest in-water boat shows in the country. The dizzying array of sailboats, yachts and other types of watercraft is endless.

The temporary docks installed just for the show spill out into Newport Harbor's turning basin just off Pacific Coast Hwy and Balboa Blvd. For as far as the eye can see it's a boating nirvana. It always grabs my attention every year.

Although the boats come in a lot of different shapes, sizes and prices, one boat in particular this year will probably catch your eye. It did mine. That boat is the Helicat. The first time you see it you won’t have any doubt about how it got its name.

The Helicat is a nautical 'hybrid' of sorts, a cross between a catamaran and a helicopter.  Yes, you heard that right -- a helicopter! Now the boat doesn’t fly or leave the water (for more than an instance jumping swells) but at first glance you might think it could or should take-off.

Sandy Williamson of Tacoma. Washington hears that a lot. He is the owner of the Helicat now floating in Newport Harbor. He made the trip down from his home in Washington to try and find potential buyers for his very unique boat. Williamson stopped at a Bay Area boat show in Oakland, CA before arriving in Newport this week.

I spoke with Williamson about his 22' foot Helicat at the Newport Dunes where he and his brother were putting the boat in the water before making the short trip over to Lido Village for the show. I caught up with him later at the boat show site as well.

Williamson told me the Helicat in Newport this week is one of only two now in North America. The boat was originally designed and built in Argentina he says. Since then the boat has been undergoing testing and Williamson has begun the process of trying to market and sell the boats. He says he's had a couple of pretty good offers so far.

If you're looking to stand out on the water here in Newport this might be the boat for you. That isn't an easy thing to do with mega-yachts, million-dollar sailboats and even water borne jetpacks flying around the harbor on any given day. Even so, this boat seems like the perfect match for anyone who wants to catch people's eye as they head out to sea passing the Balboa Pavilion or flying along at full speed off the Balboa or Newport Piers. Even the 26-mile crossing to Catalina Island might draws a few curious onlookers at sea.

The current prototype model has a top-speed of 40mph. A newer version will be even lighter and faster Williamson says.

According to promotional materials “The HeliCat 22 is a high-performance two-person catamaran -- great for stable & safe, fun, fast, economical and practical water travel, island transport, fishing far away, or day charter/rental."

From what I’ve seen of the Helicat so far it sure looks like it to me. If you need to ask that one nagging little question -- how much?, well according to Williamson it will set your wallet back just under $65,000. That's the boat show price. A trailer is included.

Click on these links for more info and pictures and video about the Helicat. To see the Helicat in person, take a trip down to The Newport Boat Show this weekend.

FASHION ISLAND SHOOTER FORMER SECURITY GUARD

By Eric Longabardi

The Enterprise Report has learned that the gunman involved in the shooting last night in Newport Beach, CA at the Fashion Island shopping center had a permit to carry a weapon and was a licensed state security guard/patrol person.

Mark Gurrola, 42 seen above in his booking photo provided by the Orange County Sheriff's Department was also licensed to carry a police baton records indicate.

Gurrola was first issued the permit to carry a weapon in 1994 according to state records. The permit was "cancelled" for unknown reasons.

Why Gurrola opened fire last night is still under investigation by authorities. For Newport Beach Now's previous reporting on this story click here

 

CLOSE CALL: GUNMAN OPENS FIRE AT NEWPORT BEACH SHOPPING CENTER: NO INJURIES REPORTED

By Eric Longabardi

A lone gunman opened fire in the parking lot of an upscale Newport Beach, California shopping center just after 4:30PM Saturday. According to Newport Beach police over 50 rounds were fired from a small caliber handgun before police officers, already on patrol at the shopping center were able to locate and take the suspect into custody without further incident.

According to Newport Beach Deputy Police Chief David Mcgill, the suspected shooter, Marcos Sarinana Gurrola, 42 did not resist and was not armed when officers approached him after being alerted to shots being fired in a parking lot adjecent to a Macy's Deparment Store. Large numbers of holiday shoppers were at the location and numerous calls to 911 flooded in from the public as the incident unfolded.

A video, posted on YouTube caught shooting as it happened.  The poster claims he was taking packages to his car in the parking lot when he heard gunshots and turned on his cellphone and began recording.

The poster of the video Patrick Wyrick, of Lake Forest, CA, provided this detailed eyewitness account of what he said he saw happened as his camera captured the sounds and a glimpse of the shooter:

"I was taking packages out to the car when I heard a bunch of shots. I wasn't sure they were real or not. Then a heard another set of shots and then another. I couldn't see who was shooting, but I started to take video in the direction the shots came from while standing behind the car you see in the foreground. My video catches the last two clips he shot and I could finally see him when he shot off the last clip. You can barely make the shooter out. He is just beneath the little redish triangle immediately left of the two palm trees in the center of the picture. Before I left, I saw the him on the ground and surrounded by police, but my daughter was very upset so I left to pick them up and get out of the area. My wife and daughter were at an ice cream shop in the mall when the shooting happened. They ended up running and screaming with everyone toward the opposite side of the mall."

As police responded to the shooter, people both in the parking lot and inside the adjacent Macy's store and throughout the shopping center sought to escape and fled as confusion and fear spread.

The Enterprise Report spoke to a woman working at a small kiosk selling hats just outside an extrance to the Macy's store about what she witnessed happen as people rushed from the store trying to get away from where the shooting was coming from. 

The woman, "Sophia", who didn't want her full name used spoke to to The Enterprise Report on tape exclusively. Listen to her audio interview as she describes what happend in the moments as the incident unfolded.  She says she ended up running away from the store and finding shelter at another store, where employees locked the doors trying to shield freightened shoppers from any potential threat.  The woman also says she spoke directly to a woman who came face to face with the alledged shooter. Take a listen to her chilling account:



Newport Beach pollce spokesman Kathy Lowe said Gurrola is currently being held on assault with a deadly weapon charges. Other charges may be pending. Gurrola was booked into the Orange County Men's Central Jail. His bail is set at 250,000 according to jail information reviewed for this report.

GRIFF AMIES: CDM SEA KING FOOTBALL SECRET WEAPON

By Eric Longabardi

Last month I wrote about Griff Aimes for the Newport Beach Independent.  Griff is a special kind of kid. Not only can he kick a football unlike most high schoolers I or you have ever seen, he has a special quality, a drive, a quest to achieve that really stands out from most people his age. His personal story gives you clues as to why that is so.

Since I penned my story about Griff he has gone on to break all-time county records with his kicking this season. But that doesn't tell you the whole story.  Griff and his team are now in the CIF playoffs and open up their post-season tonight at Newport's Davidson Field at 7PM. Griff will be ready to go I'm sure.

Watch this video about Griff that tells his story in a 'new-media' kind of way. I think you'll see what I mean. If you're a football fan you'll probably recognize the music as well. I know Griff does.

  

ESTHER LOFGREN BRINGS THE GOLD HOME TO NEWPORT

By Eric Longabardi

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!