NBPD Motorcycle Officer Zach Varela Ever since he was a kid, 33-year-old Zachary Varela dreamed of being a chef in his own restaurant. He lives for fine food, travels the world to sample the exotic fare in exotic lands, and most recently refineds his palate in the sophisticated dining rooms Read More
Newport Beach Police Department Crime Prevention Specialist Sara Verschueren Of the nearly seven million annual visitors to Newport Beach, most come for the famous beaches, the world class shopping and dining, the elegant hotel stays and the proximity to Disneyland. While many jet in exclusively for business, a relatively small Read More
Don Logan of Newport Model Boats. Photo credit Larry Parker Anyone who could grow a beard in 1979, should remember the oft-repeated advertising slogan by Victor Kiam, then president of Remington electric razors: “I liked the shaver so much, I bought the company.” Fast forward to January 2023: Newport Beach Read More
Electric Bike Company owner Sean Lupton-Smith with one of his e-bikes Few people have heard of the Madiba Bike Company. Unfortunately, among those few were attorneys who sued South African-born entrepreneur Sean Lupton-Smith out of the bicycle business, albeit temporarily. The reason? South African anti-apartheid activist and politician Nelson “Madiba” Read More
Walking on Balboa Island / photo by Chris Trela Remember when you used to pester your little sibling to play, and they yelled “Go take a walk!” You may not have thought so then, but that might have been one of the best pieces of advice you ever received. Anthropologists Read More
Senior Newport Beach Police Dispatcher Brandy Banks at her 911 control center When does 15-seconds seem like an eternity? While waiting for 9-1-1 to answer your panicked call. In 2022, Newport Beach Police Department dispatch operators answered 172,614 calls, of which 40,629 were received on 911, said Senior Police Dispatcher Read More
Be Well mobile van There are two definitions for the term “Be Well,” plus more than 80 verbs that can express the same, each with its own nuance. Definition one: To develop or progress rapidly and successfully. Definition two: To recover or improve, especially from an injury or illness. There Read More
Pierce Type 3 Fire Truck similar to the one purchased by NBPD For a mere $1,151,117, one can order a 4WD Mercedes Benz G650 Maybach Landaulet, complete with rear seat massage and thermal cup holders — so perfect for meeting the unfathomable challenges of fashionably inching up one’s fog-moistened driveway. Read More
Drake Donatell, 5, and NBPD Motor Officer Mark Hamilton / photo by Richard Simon If one focuses on voices in a crowd rather than the sights, a different world emerges. For example, at the fifth Mobile Cafe community outreach program presented by the Newport Beach Police Department on Saturday, Feb. Read More
Arial view of the Christmas Boat Parade by Richard Simon Newport Beach Indy writer and photographer Richard Simon decided to get a bird’s eye view of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, courtesy of his trusty drone, which soared high above the boats in Newport Harbor to get this illuminating Read More
