Newport Beach lifeguards said 386,500 visitors hit local beaches between Aug. 31 and Monday. The weather, crowds and big waves led to plenty of rescues over the Labor Day holiday period.
On Aug. 31, 55,000 people visited beaches, and lifeguards made 38 rescues, 1,802 preventative actions, 48 first aid calls and four medical aids.
On Sept. 1, 32,500 people visited, and lifeguards made 34 rescues, 1,786 preventive actions, 28 first aid calls and one medical aid.
On Sept. 2, 50,000 people visited beaches, and lifeguards made 20 rescues, 1,710 preventive actions, 37 first aid calls and one medical aid.
On Sept. 3, 90,000 people visited beaches, and lifeguards made 16 rescues, 918 preventive actions, 48 first ad calls and three medical aids.
Crowds peaked at 95,000 on Sept. 4, when surf conditions eased to 4 to 6 feet with moderate winds and water temperatures at about 60 degrees, said Lifeguard Battalion Chief Rob Williams.
Guards made 15 rescues Sept. 4, with 1,175 preventive actions, 90 first aid calls and seven medical aids.
On Monday, cloudy weather led to smaller crowds of 64,000 people. Guards made four rescues, 668 preventive actions, 48 first aid calls and five medical aids.
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Government affairs meeting canceled
The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce has canceled the September meeting of the Government Affairs Committee.
The next meeting will take place at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 11. The meetings occur on the second Thursday of each month in the Chamber of Commerce office at 2855 E. Coast Hwy. For more information, call (949) 673-4050.
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Construction to begin on home near Begonia Park
Construction is set to begin next month of a home that some say will block views from Begonia Park — 11 years after the homeowner purchased the lot.
"It's finally going to happen!" Kim Megonigal said in an email, adding that all permits are in place and construction is set to begin after Labor Day.
Kim and Carolyne Megonigal spent more than three years planning and obtaining permission to build a single-family home on a vacant lot at Begonia Avenue and Pacific Drive.
The city's Planning Department twice approved their plans, but concerns over whether their proposed garage would block views from the nearby Begonia Park created a huge wave of public outcry.
A group called Friends of Begonia Park collected about 1,200 signatures on a petition against the project, and the some of the group's signs remain in place in front of a few nearby homes.
The Newport Beach City Council voted 5 to 2 in January 2010 to let the home be built after an boisterous public hearing.
Megonigal said he expected construction to take about 24 months.
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