Thursday, May 3, 2012
Sandy Asper writes about one of Newport's favorite characters...Don Jones.
It was a gorgeous day at Newport Grammar School on May 8, 1945, with students hanging out on the beach at lunch. World War II had gone on for a long time, and finally the school was told that the war was over in Europe. Don Jones, the school's student body president, decided on his own that there was no reason to be in school that day. According to his friend Tuck Rabbit, "Don felt entitled to dismiss because the high school had been let off." So as student body president, Jones dismissed the entire school. The teachers were unaware of the sudden and unilateral dismissal and were in some kind of shock as the happy band of Newport Grammar students tripped out of school and enjoyed having the rest of the day. Tuck said Don and his merry …
Monday, April 30, 2012
Kevin Rudolph, William Johnson Jr. and Joseph Stewart lost their lives during the Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race. A fourth sailor -- believed to be Theo Mavromatis -- remains unaccounted for.
Blunt-force trauma and drowning killed three of the sailors who perished last weekend in the Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race, according to a San Diego County Coroner's report released this afternoon. Kevin Eric Rudolph, 53, of Manhattan Beach, William Reed Johnson Jr., 57, of Torrance, and Joseph Lester Stewart, 64, of Bradenton, Fla., lost their lives in the mysterious Aegean yacht crash. Rudolph died from blunt-force injuries to his head and neck, Johnson from multiple blunt-force injuries and Stewart drowned, the coroner said. The fourth crewman was Theo Mavromatis, the 37-foot Aegean's skipper, according to Ray Pollock of Marina Sailing, which rented the boat for Mavromatis. On Sunday afternoon, U.S. Coast Guard officials suspended the …
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Booking such acts as Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ken Phebus spent his life connecting fans and musicians.
The Newport Beach native who booked concerts for 20 years died Saturday of a heart attack, according to several news reports. Ken Phebus was 64 and passed away in Mission Viejo. By his own count, talent scout Phebus booked over 7,000 shows, mostly in Southern California. More shows, he claimed, than anyone else in the business. The musicians he worked with included a who's who of musical talent, from Al Green and Tina Turner to Ray Charles and Johnny Cash. And while many remember him as the booking agent for The Galaxy in Santa Ana and The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, he is perhaps best remembered in Mission Viejo for his lake concert bookings. He brought a variety of musicians to the lake, including Ray Manzarek of the Doors, Brian…
Monday, March 12, 2012
F. Sherwood Rowland was a chemistry professor at UC Irvine. His ashes will be scattered at sea in a private ceremony within sight of his home in Corona del Mar.
F. Sherwood Rowland, a founding faculty member and chemistry professor at UC Irvine who won the Nobel Prize for showing that chlorofluorocarbons could destroy the Earth's ozone layer, passed away this weekend in Corona del Mar. Rowland died Saturday at his CDM home from complications from Parkinson's Disease. He was 84. The news of Rowland's death was announced to the university's staff on Sunday. "It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to tell you that Sherry Rowland died...,'" UCI physical sciences dean Kenneth C. Janda wrote in an email. "We have lost our finest friend and mentor. He saved the world from a major catastrophe: never wavering in his commitment to science, truth and humanity, and did so with integrity and grace.'' As a …
Monday, February 27, 2012
A combination diet drug is expected to be approved by the FDA, and it's hailed as the next big thing in combating obesity, but the side-effects are serious.
There is a whiff of science fiction about it: two thirds of a population seems to be slowly, inexorably destroying itself. A substance comes along that stops the self-destructive behavior. However, the chemical can’t be given to women of reproductive age because of birth defects associated with it, so it will be kept under lock and key. No, it’s not a screenplay or a scene from a dark Margaret Atwood novel. It’s the newest weight-loss medication, Qnexa. This drug got the green light from a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel on Feb. 22, a crucial step toward approval of the drug, which is expected in April. Previously, In 2010, an FDA advisory panel nixed Qnexa, citing concerns about cardiovascular risks and birth defects …
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Sgt. Manny Loggins Jr. went out of his way to help others, classmate says.
In the wake of Tuesday's fatal shooting of a Marine sergeant by an Orange County sheriff's deputy, friends of the Marine said they were bewildered by reports he may have ignored a deputy's commands. "I know he would never jeopardize the lives of his girls nor ever disobey an order," said Darlene Patino-Rousch of Mission Viejo, who said she studied nursing with Sgt. Manny Loggins Jr. at Stanbridge College in Irvine. Loggins, 31, was shot in the parking lot of San Clemente High School after exiting his GMC Yukon during a predawn traffic stop. Loggins' two young daughters were in the back seat of the vehicle at the time. On Thursday, echoing the comments of other friends and colleagues, Patino-Rousch recalled Loggins as "a good Christian and …
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Friday, January 13, 2012
The average cost of gasoline has increased for 21 days straight. Patch is tracking the cheapest spot to buy it in Newport Beach.
Spending hard-earned cash on necessities is never that enjoyable, but it can be downright aggravating when the price of gasoline gets on an upward slope. That's what drivers in Orange County have witnessed in the last three weeks, since before Christmas. Beginning Dec. 23, the average cost of gasoline has risen, slowly but steadily, for 21 straight days. Now, on average, gas in Orange County costs $3.72. According to AAA, that's $0.16 more than one month ago and $0.38 more than a year ago. Still, there is some good news. Patch has a new page that tracks the cheapest gas in town for you. (It also shows major traffic accidents.) Today, the least expensive (regular) gas in Newport Beach can be found at World Oil, located at 3401 Newport Blvd…
Sunday, January 8, 2012
The wave forecasting pioneer is remembered as one of surfing's most influential figures.
Thousands gathered and hundreds paddled through the surf Sunday morning to honor the man who combined science and soul in pursuit of the perfect wave. Surfline founder and Seal Beach resident Sean Collins was honored in Huntington Beach with a massive paddle out, reflecting just how big his contributions to the world of surfing was. Collins revolutionized surf forecasting and spent his life sharing his knowledge with those who shared his passion for surfing. He passed away last month from a heart attack while playing tennis with his son in Newport Beach. The 59-year-old Hall of Fame surfer's death sent shockwaves through the worldwide surf community and in Seal Beach and Huntington Beach, where he sponsored surf contests such as the U.S. …
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Surfers are invited to memorialize the founder of Surfline on Sunday in Huntington Beach.
A memorial paddle out to honor Surfline.com founder Sean Collins has been rescheduled to Sunday off the Huntington Beach Pier. The paddle out will start at 11 a.m. and last about 30 minutes, according to a Facebook announcement. Collins, 59, a Seal Beach resident, died Monday after suffering a heart attack while playing tennis. According to Surfline, a memorial fund has also been set up. Collins' family will use donations "to contribute to various charitable causes Sean would support." Checks can be sent to the Sean Collins Surfline Charitable Fund, 300 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 310, Huntington Beach, CA 92648. The paddle out was originally set for Saturday.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sean Collins, Seal Beach resident and founder of Surfline, suffered an apparent heart attack Monday.
Sean Collins, surfing hall-of-famer, founder of Surfline and one of the sport’s most influential figures, has died. According to friends of the family, the 59-year-old had a heart attack while playing tennis Monday. Collins combined science and technology with his passion for surfing and became the world’s foremost authority for surf reports. Surfers worldwide turned to his forecasts to find the next big swell, and Collins’ Surfline was the first to install beach webcams around the world to provide real-time images of surf conditions. “I call him the Steve Jobs of Seal Beach,” said surfer Jake Tellkamp. “He is an innovator. More surfers turn to Surfline than any other site in the world.” Studying charts and maps, and consulting …
Freddie D. Merz
11:54 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
What a beautiful telling of a very interesting man. I so enjoyed reading about Mr. Jones and his escapades. It must have been fun to know him and to witness his accomplishments. Sandy's insight and wry humor is always a delight. Reading about some early history of Newport El and Ensign was an interesting read for me. more ›