Fire Rings Fruit Cake Bingo!
Some of you are wondering... has this site been taken over by a bunch of anti-fire rings fanatics? I'm still checking my web logs, but in the meantime, let me fire one last shot across the bow! Soon I'll be…
At the AQMD
Barbara Peters speaks in favor of removing the beach fire rings. It was a thrill to be the first speaker called to the podium at the AQMD's hearing this morning as they consider banning beach fire pits along the Los…
Auction Fundraiser
Thursday night: party and fundraiser! It's time for the Share the Road Charity Fundraiser and we're out to raise money for bike safety improvements in Newport Beach. It's a true win-win because all monies raised are matched 3:1 by the…
Was He Wearing a Helmet?
My neighbor is a family medical doctor; we crossed paths recently while she was washing her car and I was taking out the trash. We got to talking about the recent bike fatalities. It's one of my standard questions of…
Bayside Road Rage on the way to the HB Bike Fest
The day started out with anticipation — this would be my maiden voyage on the new touring bike. What I didn't know was how quickly I'd be testing the brakes. The night before as I'm drifting off to sleep I…
Commission Recommends Clean Air
In Newport Beach last night a divided Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission voted to recommend to the City Council the removal of all beach fire rings.
It was a raucous session with several residents interrupting Commissioner Roy Englebrecht at one point as he proposed converting the wood burning fire rings to natural gas; the clean burning fuel would remove a major concern of the residents: the airborne carcinogens in the smoke. Trying a different tact, Commissioner Anderson implied that without a full scientific inquiry, the residents’ complaints of ash sticking to their patio furniture might prove to be the rubber from tire wear, as an investigation of the area surrounding the John Wayne airport apparently once found. These subterfuges would not deter the majority of the Commission members who voted 4 to 3 to send their recommendation to the City Council: complete removal of the fire rings.
