Corona del Mar Today: Learn more about the Civic Center

Architect Peter Bohlin, who designed Newport Beach’s new Civic Center project, will discuss the facility at a free event at the Central Library at 7 p.m. Monday.

“The New Civic Center: A Vision for the Future” will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, organizers said in a news release.

“Residents will have the opportunity to meet the architect behind the new Civic Center design and learn about his vision for this multifaceted facility and the inspiration behind his contemporary design,” the release said.

The Newport Beach City Arts Commission and the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation are sponsoring the event.

Bohlin is a founding principal of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the firm the City Council selected to design the Civic Center complex off Avocado Avenue.

The council plans to hold its December meeting in the new building, although it will remain under construction in December and January, officials have said. The complex includes a 450-space parking structure and a 17-acre park.

For more information, call (949) 717-3801.

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New homecoming queen

Corona del Mar High School senior Emily Petros was named homecoming queen last week.

Tony Petros posted the news on his Facebook page; Petros is running unopposed for the District 2 seat on the City Council in the Nov. 6 election.

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Port Theater Halloween

The Port Theater is hosting a Port Palooza Halloween carnival from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 27. The event, which costs $10 per person (or $35 for four people) will include pumpkin decorating, costume contests, carnival games, balloon art, face painting and a Halloween-themed movie, organizers said in a news release. The event is aimed at families with kids from toddlers to early teens.

Space is limited, and tickets may be bought in advance online. The Port Theater is at 2905 E. Coast Highway.

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Political forum

About 70 people gathered Wednesday night at the OASIS Senior Center for a community meeting that covered everything from the November election to safety concerns in Corona del Mar.

The Corona del Mar Residents Assn. hosted the meeting, which typically would have been a candidates’ forum for council candidates running in the Nov. 6 election.

But this year, all three candidates — incumbents Ed Selich and Keith Curry, who both represent parts of Corona del Mar, and Petros — are running unopposed. So organizers planned a community meeting with more emphasis on public safety and village projects as well as election discussions.

They also addressed the one ballot measure in Newport Beach this election — Measure EE, which would amend the city’s charter.

City officials, including Mayor Nancy Gardner and Curry, urge yes votes on the measure, which would make 38 changes to the city’s charter. Among the changes include a ban on red-light traffic-enforcement cameras and a ban on class-action lawsuits against the city, as well as a requirement to make language gender-neutral, allowing just one council meeting in August and December and more.

Proponent Paul Glowienke, who served on a committee that considered the changes, said the measure would save tax dollars.

But opponent Robert Hawkins said that 38 changes bundled into one measure were too many to ask voters to decide with one vote.

“That’s enough to reject, you don’t have to think about anything else,” he said.

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Crash investigation

More than a month after bicyclist Sarah Leaf was killed on East Coast Highway, Newport Beach police continue to investigate the crash.

Leaf, 29, was cycling eastbound at Bayside Drive when a stake-bed truck making a right turn onto Bayside struck her Sept. 14. Leaf died at the scene.

According to Newport Beach Police Department spokeswoman Kathy Lowe, the truck driver has not been arrested or cited while the investigation continues.

Leaf’s death, along with the death of cyclist Dr. Catherine “Kit” Campion-Ritz the following day on Newport Coast Drive, outraged friends and cycling-safety advocates, who attended a special Bicycle Safety Committee meeting and demanded immediate improvements.

Since that Sept. 17 meeting, city officials have created a bicycle safety improvement fund, which matches private contributions with up to $450,000 in city funds in a 3:1 ratio. The city also has pushed forward plans to add sharrow markings on East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar.

The city also is sponsoring a memorial ride in honor of Leaf and Campion-Ritz on Oct. 28 at Fashion Island. According to the event’s website, the ride has collected $19,242 before expenses as of Oct. 11.

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Twitter: @coronadelmartdy