Corona del Mar Today: Filming of ‘SciGirls’ gets underway at Crystal Cove State Park
Three girls, all Crystal Cove State Park Junior Guards participants, were recently hanging out at the park, conducting scientific research in the ocean and in university laboratories — all part of filming of a PBS television show that will air in the spring.
“It’s been fun,” said Ellah Hess, 14, who attends Orange Lutheran High School. “I’ve loved everything.”
Ellah, along with Taylor Magee, 13, of Thurston Middle School in Laguna Beach and Chloe Hyde, 13, of Ensign Middle School in Newport Beach, were chosen from a group of about 40 girls to participate in the filming of “SciGirls.”
The “SciGirls” program is designed for kids from 8 to 12 years old and “showcases bright, curious real tween girls putting science and engineering to work in their everyday lives,” according to a PBS website. “Each half-hour episode follows a different group of middle school girls, whose eagerness to find answers to their questions will inspire your children to explore the world around them and discover that science and technology are everywhere!”
Taylor, Chloe and Ellah spent a recent week conducting research on the Crystal Cove Alliance’s Marine Protected Area Citizen Science boat, including using digital fishing rods that have cameras instead of hooks. The girls lowered their lines through kelp forests, filming fish so they could identify and sort them later.
They’ve also collected plankton samples that could indicate climate change and tested water purity. They spent mornings on the water, then afternoons in a lab at UC Irvine or in a cottage in the park’s Historic District.
The girls said being outside snorkeling and kayaking and collecting samples — even being surprised by a sea lion that darted in front of their cameras — was fun.
But the indoor work was good, too, they said.
“It does get serious,” Ellah said.
“But it’s not a bummer at all,” Taylor said. “We go outside for field work and come inside to analyze the data, but it’s still fun.”
Producer Marie Domingo from Twin Cities Public Television in St. Paul, Minn., said filming would take a week, then there would be few months of post-production work, including editing and animation. The episode should air in spring of 2015.
The filming has gone well, with beautiful weather and scenery, she said.
“My kids are home at soccer practice wearing fleece,” she said. “It’s a treat to be here.”
Harry Helling, president and chief executive officer of the Crystal Cove Alliance, said it was exciting to be selected as a SciGirls program location.
“We’re being showcased among top universities all over the country,” he said. “We’re honored and proud.”
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Council to discuss Port alcohol service
The Newport Beach City Council will hear an appeal of the Port Theater’s expanded alcohol service Tuesday, according to a public notice posted online and at the theater.
In August, the city’s Planning Commission voted to allow the theater to extend alcohol service until 1 a.m., including throughout the theater at all-ages shows.
Two weeks later, however, City Councilwoman Nancy Gardner appealed the Planning Commission’s decision because of concerns from neighbors about noise from intoxicated patrons.
Theater representatives have said they needed the changes to compete with theaters like Fashion Island’s Island 7. The Port Theater is located at 2905 E. Coast Highway.
The council also will hold a public hearing on A-frame sign regulations, another public hearing notice said.
The Corona del Mar Business Improvement District asked for that the city change rules that ban A-frame signs, and the Planning Commission voted 4-2 last month to allow the signs in Corona del Mar only.
The City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers at the Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Drive.
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Street-weeping hours near CdMHS could change
Complaints about street sweeping could lead city officials to change the sweeper day near Corona del Mar High School, according to an email from the school.
“Due to numerous complaints about street sweeping, the signs around CdMHS will be covered again,” the email said, citing information from the school’s police resource officer. “City of Newport Beach Traffic Engineers are going to recommend to the Newport Beach City Council to change the sweeper day on the school side to Thursday, along with one side of Amigos and Domingo, and have the other side of Amigos and Domingo changed to Friday.”
The City Council will not consider the change until Oct. 28, the email said.
“Once the decision has been approved, and the days on the signs are changed, NBPD will leave warning cards again for two weeks,” the email said. “The rest of the Vista del Oro and Mar Vista route will continue to be enforced on Fridays like it has been. The Amigos and Domingo route will continue to be enforced on Thursdays as it has been also.”
Currently, only seniors have permits to park in school lots. Last year, the City Council agreed to implement a parking permit program for residents of Aralia Street near the school, which prevents students from parking there for more than one hour. The restrictions went into effect earlier this year.
Corona del Mar Today appears Sunday in the Daily Pilot. Read daily updates at coronadelmartoday.com.