Taking cell phones to the next level

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- These days even a house of God understands the

importance of communicating over a clear cellular connection.

While Castaways residents thought scaffolding encasing Newport Harbor

Lutheran Church’s 30-year-old cross meant religious renovations, it was

-- in fact -- Pacific Bell extending its cellular phone reach.

“It seemed to be an improvement,” said resident Jonie Murr. “I didn’t

really know what they were doing.”

What Pacific Bell was doing was cutting off the top 8 feet of the

structure and placing an antenna at the top of the 52-foot-tall cross. In

the next three weeks, the antenna will be encased in a fine, fiberglass

cover resembling the white metal of the original cross. While the height

of the religious symbol will remain the same, the completed width will

double to 2 feet.

Pacific Bell had approached the church a year ago, offering to pay a

fee for renting space on the cross, said a representative from the

company. The amount was not disclosed.

The Lutheran church eventually agreed, and Pacific Bell began its work

the first of August.

The church itself was built on its original site on Cliff Drive in

1945. In 1970 it was rebuilt at its current location on Dover and 16th

Street.

After learning that her cell phone connection might improve, Murr

seemed a little more enthusiastic about the scaffolding.