Jeff Herdman filed paperwork Thursday to run for Newport Beach City Council.  Herdman is known for being a past-president of the Balboa Island Improvement District. I met with Jeff a few weeks ago when he was mulling over his run.  Please do not get me wrong: He is a very pleasant man, but my interaction with him left a lot …

Police revved up the PR battle against drinking over the weekend, sending four cops into bars armed with breathalyzers.  The officers then proceeded to ask seventy-five patrons to take the test so that the police could catalog the data. Of those asked, 34 refused, and 44 took the test. Police contend that it is entirely voluntary, and that bars and restaurants must …

After 66 years of serving the Newport/Mesa community, the Grant Boys (also known as Grant’s for Guns) will be going out of business (http://www.grantboys.com/).  Company representatives could not be reached this morning, but their ad taken out in the OC Register seems to indicate that November will be their final month. If you are looking for great deals on outdoor …

Remember that Sunday morning we set our clocks BACK by one hour, so that 1:59am happens TWICE. Daylight savings has to do with energy savings, particularly in old factories.  By slightly adjusting the clock to account for the changes in the sunrise and sunset times, employers were able to save money on heating and electricity. Remember, this Sunday on November 1st, “Fall Back” …

This morning around 2:33am a sound like a gunshot was heard from the William B. and firefighters were dispatched to the boat, a storied 76-foot wooden tugboat that was built in 1942. The boat was moored between Bay Island and Newport Harbor Yacht Club, and is a favorite among locals and tourists alike.  After 5 hours of battling, the fire was extinguished at …

Happy Halloween, beachdwellers! Tomorrow night is a special night and remains one of my favorite holidays, to this day!  Remember that some people still use live candles in jack-o-lanterns, so baggy-clothed costumes for the young ones need to be watched carefully to ensure they don’t get too close (and also so they don’t trip!).  Inspect all candy.  Smile.  Greet your …

If you’re looking for something more than just the same ol’ M&M packages this Halloween, check out: – “Balboa Candy” on Main St in Balboa – “Too Sweet” on Balboa Island at the corner of Balboa and Marine Ave – “B.CANDY” in CdM off Jasmine and PCH. Nope, I’m not getting paid for this. Just reminding everyone in the candy …

BREAKING: Will O’Neill, Newport Beach Finance Commissioner, has filed to run for City Council in District 7.  His intent is to run against Fred Ameri. After appointing O’Neill to the Newport Beach Finance Committee, Councilman Duffy Duffield said, “Will is a fiscal conservative with a keen ability to analyze complex issues and develop common-­‐sense  solutions.  I’m impressed that he already helped …

Tonight the Newport Beach City Council is set to hold a vote on “Balboa Parking”– so what’s the big deal? Well, currently in Balboa (as with 99% of the rest of the city) you can park on the road.  This is particularly important for an area of town where garages were built to house Ford Model T’s, as those garages are simply …

This Saturday the 24th will kick off the 9th Annual Halloween Surf Competition by Blackies.  Officially, the kickoff starts at 7am, but many people arrive about 30 minutes earlier for the festivities and costume show-offs.  In the past, the kids to arrive have received prizes.  Prizes are also awarded for the costumes. Typically, the party lasts a couple of hours, until …