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Community Members:
On Friday, April 11, the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) celebrated and honored sworn and civilian staff for exceptional service and acts of heroism during the 2024 calendar year.
The 52nd Annual Police Appreciation Luncheon event, a moving and inspiring ceremony held at the Pendry Newport Beach, was attended by more than 500 community members, elected officials, and families of NBPD officers and staff.
Each year, award nominations are submitted to committees in each award category. Nominees are evaluated by the committees and recommendations are submitted to the Chief of Police for consideration.
Please join me in congratulating the officers and civilian staff recognized for outstanding service:
- Officer Zach Varela, 2024 Officer of the Year.
- Sergeant Alex Maslin, 2024 Sworn Supervisor of the Year.
- Parking Control Supervisor Matthew Kerman, 2024 Civilian Supervisor of the Year.
- Police IT Analyst David Fattal, 2024 Civilian of the Year.
- Volunteer Joel Gerson, 2024 Volunteer of the Year.
Lifesaving awards, for exceptional rescue actions, were presented to the following officers: Ricardo Adame, Kyle Cameron, Tony Gallegos, Joshua Granger, Ragan Grego, Jack McMannis, Michael Querry, Roberto Salcedo, Bernadette Sanchez, Jonathan Sunshine, Heather Thomson and Salvador Torres.
Awards of merit, for acts of bravery and exceptional service to the community, were presented to the following officers: Cynthia Carter, Daniel Chavez and Bill Hume.
Thank you to our event host, the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, and the event sponsors.
Congratulations to all those recognized at this year’s ceremony – and thank to you all the sworn and civilian members of our Police Department team for your ongoing service and commitment to community safety.
City Manager, Grace K. Leung
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L-R, Jennifer Manzella, Fiscal Services/Facilities Manager, Mayor Joe Stapleton, Officer of the Year Zachary Varela, Chief of Police Dave Miner |
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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs from Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach joined forces last weekend for a regional disaster response drill simulating a major earthquake and multi-agency coordination.
The exercise, held at Newport Beach's fire training facility at Fire Station 7, tested the skills and collaboration of volunteers from the three neighboring cities. The drill scenario involved an earthquake that overwhelmed first responders, prompting CERT teams to mobilize in support of emergency operations.
The drill included a variety of hands-on training stations. Volunteers conducted light search and rescue inside a fog-filled training tower, locating and removing simulated victims under low-visibility conditions. Another group responded to a simulated mass casualty incident, providing triage and basic medical care in a disaster environment.
Participants also learned how to operate within a CERT command post, managing radio communication, documentation and team coordination. Volunteers practiced extinguishing small fires using portable extinguishers under the guidance of fire personnel.
The event served as a skills refresher and a demonstration of regional collaboration. By training side-by-side, CERT members from the three cities strengthened their ability to work together in the event of an actual disaster.
CERT programs are designed to educate and train community members in disaster response so they can assist others when professional responders are delayed or overwhelmed. The tri-city drill emphasized the importance of neighbor-to-neighbor support in large-scale emergencies.
Visit our CERT web page for more information or to learn how to become a CERT volunteer in Newport Beach.
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The Newport Beach Police and Library Services departments will be part of the inaugural Corona del Mar “3rd Thursdays” event, kicking off April 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will continue on the third Thursday of each month.
The event is organized and supported by Visit Newport Beach and the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce to promote local commerce and community engagement.
“Residents and visitors can expect open businesses throughout the corridor offering giveaways, discounts, food specials, live music, group classes, fire station and other open houses, art exhibitions, family and pet-friendly activities, pop-ups and much more, all in the ocean-air setting of our charming village,” according to the Chamber of Commerce.
The CdM Branch Library, 410 Marigold Ave., will offer refreshments, games, and crafts. Bring your library card for giveaways and to enter a prize drawing.
For more information: visitnewportbeach.com/3rdthursdays
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Join us to learn more about the Newport Beach Public Library's many technology resources at the free "Digital Saturday" event at the Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., on Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Learn about the treasure trove of tech tools, apps, programs, databases, eBooks, audiobooks, and more that the Library has to offer.
Experts will be on hand to show, tell, and answer questions.
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Join us this Sunday, April 13 from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., for a musicale with the Syrinx Quintet, a woodwind ensemble of five talented musicians playing the oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bass clarinet, and bassoon.
This program is free. Seating is first come, first served.
Funding is generously provided by the Friends of the Library.
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The City is now accepting applications for annual community programs grants and special events grants. Grants are available in two main categories: (1) organizations that provide community programs that are available to Newport Beach residents, and (2) qualified event organizers seeking financial support for Newport Beach-based events.
Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, April 22, at 5 p.m.
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Community Programs Grant - The City will provide grants to qualifying organizations that enhance services or programs offered for Newport Beach residents.
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Special Events Grant - These grants support two types of events: Community and Charitable Events, and Signature Events. Community and Charitable Events must serve or benefit local organizations and causes, and/or provide recreational, cultural and social benefits to Newport Beach residents. Signature Events are large-scale events based in Newport Beach that promote the city regionally, attract visitors and provide measurable economic benefits.
Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a grant award, as this is a competitive process. Applications will be evaluated based on eligibility guidelines, qualifications and requirements as outlined for the various grants.
For more information and to access the online application, please visit newportbeachca.gov/grants.
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The City is offering a Teen Leader Program for teens ages 13-15. The program gives teens an opportunity to work side by side with City recreation staff in youth summer camps, the Pint-Sized Camp, the Marina Park Sailing & Boating Center, and at City events.
Participants can earn service credits, get involved in the community, develop and enhance life and work skills, and gain valuable job experience. For more information or to apply, click here.
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On Saturday, April 26 from 8 a.m. to noon the City will host a compost, e-waste and document shredding event for Newport Beach residents at the City Corporation Yard, 592 Superior Ave.
On-site document shredding and electronic waste drop-off will be available. Please remove batteries from electronic devices. Free bagged compost will be provided while supplies last.
For questions, email pwinfo@newportbeachca.gov or call 949-644-3055.
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 This week, the City’s homeless outreach and response teams:
- Temporarily sheltered two people in a motel.
- Enrolled six people into services.
- Continued to shelter people. Twenty-two 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.
Click here for information on the City's Good Giving program.
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The next meeting of the Newport Beach City Council will be on Tuesday, April 15 at 4 p.m. The full agenda is available here.
Agenda items include:
- A $1.2 million contract award with Irvine-based Griffin Structures, Inc., for construction management services for the upcoming Fire Station 1 and Branch Library replacement project.
- Consideration of a notice of intent to override the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission’s determination of inconsistency for an amendment to Newport Beach's Housing Opportunity Overlay Zoning and Coastal Zoning Districts. The amendment pertains to nine properties located in the John Wayne Airport (JWA) notification area. The City is required to submit an amendment to the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission for a consistency determination with the JWA Airport Environs Land Use Plan. In March, the airport commission found the City's amendment to be inconsistent with the JWA land use plan. The Council action would authorize staff to provide notification of the Council's intent to override the commission's finding of inconsistency.
- A license agreement with Heritage Wellness Collective for temporary use of City property to operate and manage the Corona del Mar Farmers’ Market. The current agreement for the CdM farmers’ market is set to expire on June 30. The City issued a request for proposals in August 2024 to identify a qualified operator for continued operations. After formal evaluations and interviews, Heritage was selected as the most qualified. Heritage is a non-profit operator of community and certified farmers’ markets, with more than 15 years of experience developing and managing markets in Orange, Riverside,
Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties. Heritage is known for fostering a strong culinary experience and curating markets with a mix of small local businesses, artisan vendors and certified growers. Heritage proposes to operate the farmer’s market by retaining the existing vendors and producers and adding pre-packaged and prepared food vendors to complement the produce vendors. Heritage also plans to provide periodic entertainment by local musicians and seasonal events such as pumpkin decorating, kids’ crafts, farm-to-table dinner fundraisers, Earth day activities and giveaways.
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WWW.NEWPORTBEACHCA.GOV | 949-644-3309 | 100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660
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