NEWPORT BEACH Village hits the road for...

NEWPORT BEACH

Village hits the road for centennial celebration

Corona del Mar had an exciting day Thursday when it celebrated the

city taking control of Coast Highway through the village as part of

the kickoff for Corona del Mar’s Centennial.

The centennial celebration concludes today with events at Big

Corona.

* Cingular and Sprint will have to go back to the drawing board to

revise their plans and explore other locations for their wireless

antennas after West Newport residents’ concerns convinced the City

Council to delay a decision on the antennas. The companies want to

mount the antennas on light poles on city-owned property at Superior

Avenue and West Coast Highway. The council will consider the issue

again on Nov. 9.

* The city’s beach smoking ban, which the City Council approved in

September, took effect Thursday, though with the summer crowds gone

few people were around to observe it. City workers placed “no

smoking” decals on existing signs that list beach and pier

regulations, and they will later add cigarette trash receptacles.

City police expect to first try to educate the public about the

ban, then move on to enforcement in about 30 days. A civil citation

for smoking on a city beach or pier will be accompanied by a fine of

$100 for the first offense, $200 the second time, and $500 for the

third strike.