Nearly 500 Citations Issued During NBPD Distracted Driving Campaign
In April, the Newport Beach Police Department joined over 200 other local law enforcement agencies and the Highway Patrol in a statewide Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign. Newport Beach Police Officers issued 491 citations to drivers who were texting or operating hand-held cell phones during this period.
Distracted Driving is a serious traffic safety concern that puts everyone on the road at risk. Eighty percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention and up to 6,000 people nationwide are killed in crashes where driver distractions are involved.
Talking on a cell phone or texting is the number one source of distracted driving.
Although the statewide campaign has concluded, the Newport Beach Police Department will continue to work with the Community to provide education and enforcement in an effort to reduce the number of distracted driving incidents in our City.
The Newport Beach Police Department and the Office of Traffic Safety offer the following tips:
•Never text and drive.
•Turn off your phone when you get behind the wheel.
•Don’t call or text anyone when you know they are likely to be driving.
•Avoid additional distractions, such as eating and drinking, reading, using maps, grooming, and using other electronic devices while driving. Pull over or stop your vehicle if you must engage in these activities
Newport Harbor Home and Garden Tour
For people interested in peeking behind the gates of notable Newport homes, the Newport Harbor Home and Garden Tour will be held May 15.
“This is a major event in our community and is the single biggest fundraiser for the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation,” according to Claudia Reese, who handles publicity for the event.
The tour raised more than $125,000 last year. In the past five years, it has raised approximately $500,000 for Newport Harbor High School student programs.
Proceeds have funded the Culinary Arts program, intensive teacher training for the International Baccalaureate program, AP courses and more.
“These funds not only positively affect our students at Newport Harbor High School, but our community as well,” Reese wrote in an email.
This year’s homes include the newly remodeled home of renowned interior designer Barclay Butera and the Tenore home which reflects their company RVCA’s hip style, she explained.
The NHHS tour also made the New York Times list of house and garden tours not to miss.
For more information, visit NewportHarborHomeTour.com
Diamonds for Mom Contest
A Newport Beach diamond business announced the winners of a Mother’s Day contest this week.
Gallery of Diamonds will award three Orange County students to receive a quarter-carat diamond valued at $600 each to give to their mothers in the 22nd annual Why Mom Deserves a Diamond contest.
The Annual Diamond Day, which includes a presentation of roses and official ceremony, will be held Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the store at 1000 Bristol St. North, Suite 8.
The contest started in 1993 in honor of founder Mike Watson’s adoptive mother the birth mother he had never knew.
The contest inspired nearly 20,000 kids to write words of appreciation for their mothers this year.
First and second place winners will receive an amethyst and a garnet, respectively. Diamond Teachers will receive sterling silver garnet necklaces. Diamond Judges will receive sterling silver amethyst necklaces.
For more information, visit whymomdeservesadiamond.com and GalleryOfDiamonds.com.
Keith Curry Campaign Moves Forward
Newport Beach councilman Keith Curry announced Wednesday that his campaign for the 74th Assembly District has officially raise more than $300,000, according to a press release.
“I am humbled and gratified to have the financial support from such a broad and diverse group of people from throughout the district and our state,” Curry said in the prepared statement. “
Last week Curry announced his honorary campaign co-chairs.
The general campaign co-chairs are former Governor George Deukmejian and Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.
“I have known Keith Curry for decades. He is just the kind of strong, conservative, Republican leader we need in Sacramento today,” Deukmejian said.
Other co-chairs in other categories include: Education: Former Secretary of Education and State Senator Marian Bergeson; Small business: Former Newport Beach Mayor and CEO, Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Steve Rosansky; Newport Beach: Mayor Rush Hill; and more.
“I am privileged to have the support from so many established community leaders from every city in the district,” Curry said.
Newport-Mesa Distinguished Schools
Several Newport Beach schools have been selected as California Distinguished Schools, according to a district announcement this week.
On April 24, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson named 424 public elementary schools California Distinguished Schools for “their strong commitment and innovative approaches to improving student academic achievement,” according to the Newport Mesa Unified School District statement released May 1.
Eastbluff, Harbor View, Lincoln Mariners, Newport Coast, Newport Heights, Andersen, and Woodland (Costa Mesa) elementary schools were all chosen from the Newport-Mesa district.
“I am extremely proud of the schools and would like to recognize the administrators, staff, teachers, parents and students for their commitment and hard work in supporting the comprehensive and lengthy application process,” said NMUSD Superintendent Fred Navarro in the prepared statement. “Their dedication is exemplary.”
The 2014 California Distinguished Schools Program focuses on California’s students’ right to an equitable and rigorous education, and recognizes those schools that have made progress in narrowing the academic achievement gap.
