Corona del Mar Today: Solar panel talks move to Oct. 26
A City Council discussion on solar panels will be moved from Tuesday’s Newport Beach meeting agenda so members can devote more time to the issue at an Oct. 26 study session.
The question of whether local government can regulate solar panels became heated over the summer when some neighbors complained about panels used in an Irvine Terrace home. The panels fill a hillside above Bayside Drive, and some neighbors have said they create glare and are an eyesore.
In July, Councilman Ed Selich asked staff to create a report that would in part examine possible changes to the city code that could limit solar panels, in spite of a 2004 state law limiting local regulation.
Homeowner Steve Rizzone said his home, including the 168 solar panels used to power the residence, is in complete compliance with city codes. Besides utilizing solar power, the home incorporates other energy-saving and green elements such as skylights.
The Tuesday City Council Study Session has been canceled, and the regular meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers.
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Holiday pop-up store planned
The Corona del Mar resident behind the national Twistband craze, and who founded the now-closed Inkwells Paperie store, will be launching a new shop in time for the holidays, where you can buy gifts for $5 to $50 and support a local charity at the same time.
Jessica Frandson will be opening Pop Up Store in the space where her husband’s Athleticism business was located before moving a mile away to the Athletic Club.
“Picture Dylan’s Candy Bar meets Fred Segal with a dash of the former Inkwells vibe,” an announcement stated. “Pop Up is a one-stop shop for all your gift giving needs.”
The store will stock “fab finds” under $50 along with “one-of-a-kind found objects like Herme’s blankets, Emily Post Etiquette Books and Chanel scarves,” Frandson said in an email.
Custom gift wrap will be available, along with free parking. And, Frandson said, 5% of all retail sales will benefit Casa of Orange County.
Participating vendors include Jeff Yokiyama of Generic Youth; Steve Jones-Better Shelter of Sugar Toes and 44 knots.
The Pop Up Store will be opening at 2747 E. Coast Hwy. at Goldenrod Avenue.
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OASIS bus involved in crash
A pickup truck and an OASIS passenger bus collided Wednesday on rain-slickened roads, but the bus had no passengers and there were no injuries.
The crash was occurred at 8:21 a.m. at Back Bay Drive and Jamboree Road, and originally injuries were reported. Police, fire and emergency medical crews arrived on scene.
“There was no one on the OASIS passenger bus other than the driver,” said Jennifer Schulz, a spokeswoman with the Newport Beach Fire Department. “No one was injured from either vehicle.”
Not far up the road a few minutes later, another multi-vehicle traffic collision occurred on Jamboree Road at Santa Barbara Drive.
In that crash, cars were stopped at a red light when one car rear-ended another, resulting in a four-car pileup. No injuries were reported. That accident occurred at 8:33 a.m. while crews were still on scene at the first crash.
Roads were wet and it was raining at the time, but it was unknown if weather was a factor in either crash.
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Roger’s Garden ready for Halloween
Hundreds of invited preferred customers jammed into Roger’s Gardens on Thursday for the grand opening of the Christmas 2010 shops, filled with ornaments, candy, toys, crowns and just about every other holiday decoration imaginable.
The holiday shops will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.
The party began as customers enjoyed cookies, orange juice and white wine while they crammed their baskets with Santa Claus alarm clocks, colorful foil tree toppers and battery-operated candles to clip on Christmas trees.
“Isn’t that incredible?” Kathryn Hofer of Rancho Santa Margarita asked as she gazed at $225 moving Ferris wheel.
“It’s magical,” agreed her friend, Jeannie Osborne of Newport Beach.
“If money was no object, I’d buy it now,” Hofer said.