Yes, it’s been hot, cooler days ahead if you call mid-80s to low-90s cooler
You may not have heard this before, but the Costa Mesa Senior Center has been one of the coolest places in town. Last weekend, during the excruciating temps, they opened their doors to residents and crated pets, too, in order to come inside the air-conditioned confines in order to survive the excruciatingly hot temps.
Even yesterday, the old thermometer exceeded the 100° mark.
Fortunately, somewhat cooler days are ahead according to the National Weather Service. Today calls for temps reaching 91°, then 87° on Wednesday, 85° Thursday & Friday, and 83°Saturday.
Now, if I’m honest, that’s still hot, but very much more manageable.
Still, it’s good to know that the Senior Center is there if temps change their mind and climb again.
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At tonight’s (Oct. 6) City Council meeting they will begin the evening by issuing a proclamation to recognize Walktober, a popular fall-themed walking and physical activity campaign held throughout the month to promote health, community and pedestrian safety.
The council will also hold a Public Hearing regarding the denial of a reasonable accommodation by the Planning Commission and Economic Development Director for Ohio House to operate a sober living home at 115 E. Wilson St.
This is a case of too many too close. The Municipal Code requires that a group home, residential care facility, or state-licensed drug and alcohol treatment facility (with seven or more occupants) be at least 650 ft. from another similar property. In this case, the subject property is located within 550 ft. of a city-approved sober living home at 165 E. Wilson St.
There will also be a staff recommendation to adopt the Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan and to review a conceptual design for the open parcel adjacent to Shalimar Park – hint, more park!
The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers. You can find the full agenda here.
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I always love the Coffees with Cops outings. It provides a great way for the community to meet those on the force in a relaxed environment rather than in the heat of another time during their usual setting and/or responsibilities.
So please note, the Costa Mesa Police Department and Deli Nerds invite the community to join in on National Coffee with a Cop Day tomorrow (Oct. 7) from 8:30-10 a.m.
CMPD officers and staff will be at Deli Nerds to meet residents and visitors for a free cup of coffee and a friendly chat.
Here’s a bonus. Also meet Deli Nerds’ wonderful owner Tina Babajanians, a future force to be reckoned with. Tina not only owns Deli Nerds, she’s also a candidate running for Newport Beach City Council and gives every sign of going places.
She’s awesome!
Meanwhile, Coffee with a Cop is a Crime Prevention program designed to connect law enforcement to the community they serve and protect.
• • •
And we can’t mention our PD without also mentioning our Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue. They have an open house this Saturday, Oct. 10 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Fire Station No. 4, located at 2300 Placentia Ave.
This is a FREE community event where all are welcomed. Come out and meet the firefighters, learn about the fire service, try for yourself the firefighting gear, learn about fire safety from the Community Risk Reduction team and participate in other fun activities.
There is free parking across the street at Estancia High School.
• • •
After all of the lead-up, voting is now officially underway for the November 3 General Election as ballots have now been mailed to all active registered voters throughout Orange County.
The Orange County Registrar of Voters reminds residents that they have several ways to cast their ballots. Voters may return their Vote-By-Mail ballot through the U.S. Postal Service – no postage is required – or use one of 128 secure ballot drop boxes located throughout the county. Ballots may also be dropped off in person at any Vote Center, where voters also have the option of casting their ballots in person.
Select Vote Centers will open Saturday, Oct. 24, operating from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Beginning Saturday, Oct. 31, all Vote Centers will be open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Monday, Nov. 2. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, Vote Centers will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
The six Vote Centers in Costa Mesa are at the following locations:
–Costa Mesa Senior Center – 695 W. 19th St.
–Balearic Community Center – 1975 Balearic Drive
–Costa Mesa City Hall – 77 Fair Drive, (drive-thru)
–Norma Hertzog Community Center – 1845 Park Ave.
–Orange Coast College Student Union – 2701 Fairview Road (enter off Pirate Way; park in Lot A)
–Sofia University – 3333 Harbor Blvd. (enter off Law Court)
Election officials are encouraging voters to cast their ballots early. According to the Registrar, about 90% of Vote-By-Mail ballots received before Election Day are typically included in the first Unofficial Election Results report released on election night.
Assistance is also available by calling 888.OCVOTES (888.628.6837).
• • •
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris secured $40.6 million in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 California State Budget for public safety technology upgrades and climate research in Orange County. The investments will modernize emergency response capabilities, including those in Costa Mesa.
Directly affecting Costa Mesa will be $2.6 million for their Emergency Communications Center to modernize the city’s 911 dispatch center, upgrading aging infrastructure and technology to ensure faster, more reliable call processing and dispatch during emergencies – critical improvements as call volumes and complexity continue to grow.
“Keeping our communities safe starts with making sure our first responders have the tools, technology and resources they need to respond effectively and return home safely,” said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine). “These investments in emergency communications and real-time response technology, will make a tangible difference for the people who protect our communities every single day.”
• • •
Cottie also shared recent updates on Newport Boulevard. As part of the broader SR-55 improvement project, Caltrans is proposing safety improvements along Newport Boulevard between 19th Street and 16th Street.
“We have worked successfully with Caltrans and the city of Costa Mesa to incorporate additional safety measures into the project and pursue grant funding for further improvements along the corridor. Our goal is to make Newport Blvd. safer and more accessible for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians while supporting the businesses and neighborhoods that rely on this important roadway,” she said.
Eastside Costa Mesa housing project approved for former mobile home parking site
By SARA HALL
The Planning Commission last week unanimously approved a 21-unit residential development for Eastside Costa Mesa.
Commissioners voted 4-0 (Karen Klepack, Johnny Rojas and Jon Zich were absent) on Sept. 28 in favor of design review, tentative tract map and a density bonus request for the project, called Eira, located on a 1.49-acre property at 396 East 21st St. The site was previously developed with a 28-unit mobile home park, which is no longer in operation.
Plans call for 21 two-story, single-family detached for-sale units of three and four bedrooms. It includes 60 parking spaces (42 garages and 18 open). The inclusion of one very-low-income unit allows for three additional units and associated waivers.
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Rendering by Bassenian Lagoni Architects/Courtesy of Van Daele Homes/city of Costa Mesa
A rendering of Eira, a proposed 21-home development at East 21st Street and Tustin Avenue in Costa Mesa
Although commissioners generally praised the proposal, several noted that state housing law limited the city’s ability to reject it.
Because the project includes an affordable unit, state housing law requires the city to grant certain density bonus incentives and waivers, Commissioner David Martinez said. If they denied the development, the city could be sued, he noted.
The commission has certain obligations and state law to contend with, agreed Chair Jeffrey Harlan. This project also complies with local codes, he added.
“I appreciate all the neighbors who came out to express your opinions. I’m afraid you’re going to leave here feeling very dissatisfied and I get that. But what I want to say to you is that we cannot change the rules just because we don’t like something or we feel a certain way,” Harlan commented. “Putting all that aside, I’d still approve this project. I think it’s an excellent addition to Eastside.”
It’s a thoughtful and carefully designed project, he noted, and providing an additional affordable for-sale unit is important. The aesthetics are high quality and the developer has a good reputation in the city.
Martinez also noted that the project includes only three more units than the base zoning allows and fewer units than the property previously contained.
“This is providing 21 more homes for 21 more families to be able to experience our great community,” Martinez said.
Parking will be within the garages, per the HOA requirements, Martinez pointed out, addressing some public concerns.
Vehicular access to the development would be provided by two 25-foot-wide driveways, one from Tustin Avenue and one from East 21st Street.
Architecturally, the style is similar to other new construction or rebuilds in the region, said Pete Zehnder, representative of the applicant, Modern Mobile Ventures I. It will feature wood-grain materials and stucco with vertical siding and metal awnings.
They wanted to create something vibrant and engaging for the neighborhood, Zehnder said.
During public comment, several speakers raised concerns about parking, traffic and density.
Longtime local Perry Kupferman suggested cutting the number of units in half.
“We’re jamming too much into too small a space. This is really overkill,” he commented.
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Guest Column
So far, Costa Mesa’s election season is a quiet triumph
By Jenn Tanaka
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Submitted photo
Jenn Tanaka
Election season is well and truly upon us, and it’s a strange time to be a Costa Mesan.
The neighboring cities on either side of us seem to be on fire with the spirit of the season. Over in Huntington Beach, its city council elections are once again dominated by clashes between “slates,” or allied candidates that, if successful, would swing the entire political alignment of the Huntington Beach City Council. This amps up the stakes of the election significantly in a year that has no need of more hype: The city is faciing public discussion and speculation about its long-term financila outlook and it remains deeply entangled in state lawsuits over its housing policies.
Meanwhile, Newport Beach is having one of its most difficult elections in years. As well covered by Stu News, the City Council has been embroiled in disputes over multiple ballot initiatives covering term limits, district voting and resetting the city’s Housing Element. And, while partisan control isn’t really at stake, still the candidates have collectively raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for their campaigns. Former Newport Beach mayors are signing op-eds calling for change. All is not quiet on Costa Mesa’s southeastern front.
Yet in Costa Mesa’s municipal elections so far this year, “quiet” has been the rule rather than the exception. There have been no splashy opinion pieces placed in local publications crying out for change. I haven’t heard threats of political retribution during public comment at City Hall. Even our social media has been staid: There are no aggressive local activist groups pushing slates or initiatives, and the candidates themselves have been satisfied to stick to cultivating their own brands rather than attacking each other.
At first blush, this doesn’t make sense. Costa Mesa generally votes for its City Councilmembers using a district system (the mayor is voted upon by the city at large), and a majority of the seats are up for grabs. Four current members – John Stephens (Mayor), Andrea Marr (District 3), Manuel Chavez (District 4) and Arlis Reynolds (District 5) – who together have formed the nucleus of Democrat-leaning control for the last eight years, are termed out, leaving open races in their wake. Each contest features a fairly clean left-right match-up between two distinct candidates. And, depending on which way various balls bounce, the political leaning of the City Council could be radically different after the election.
So significant change is inevitable, the stakes are high and national red/blue contests are as vicious as ever. Costa Mesa should be at war.
But we’re not, or at least, we aren’t yet. Why?
I think there are two reasons. The first is that the outgoing majority has made civility a cornerstone of their administration. This group was elected in part as a reaction to the reforms pursued by former Mayors Jim Righeimer and Steve Mensinger. Fervent in their desire to overhaul various areas of Costa Mesa governance, Righeimer and Mensinger transformed a typically collaborative Costa Mesa City Council into a highly confrontational one.
The current outgoing majority, led by Mayor John Stephens, intentionally sought to draw a sharp contrast from this approach in addition to opposing Righeimer’s and Mensinger’s policies. Setting aside judgments of their resulting policies, we can now say that the outgoing majority succeeded in rebuilding a collegial political culture.
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CHAGEE opens new teahouse at South Coast Plaza
CHAGEE Modern Teahouse has opened a new Costa Mesa location inside the Collage Culinary Experience at Bloomingdale’s in South Coast Plaza.
Mayor John Stephens joined CHAGEE representatives, Bloomingdale’s Vice President and General Manager Preston Antonini, Collage Culinary Experience founder Morgan Zhang and members of the CHAGEE and Collage teams for a ribbon-cutting on October 2.
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Courtesy of city of Costa Mesa
CHAGEE staff and city officials enjoy tea at CHAGEE’s new South Coast Plaza location
Councilmember Andrea Marr, City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly and Assistant City Manager Alma Reyes attended a VIP tea tasting and tour the day before. They learned about the brand’s approach to Chinese tea culture and sampled several signature beverages.
The Costa Mesa teahouse is CHAGEE’s 12th Southern California location. The city stated it welcomes CHAGEE to Costa Mesa’s business community and wishes its team continued success.
Costa Mesa – From the Archives
Photo series courtesy of Costa Mesa Historical Society
Click on photo for a larger image
The SAAAB basketball team, formed in December 1942, is pictured here celebrating together in their locker room after having just won the 1943 championship trophy. In 1944, they boasted a 17-9 record, with an incredible 14-game winning streak. Over the team’s four-year history (1942-1945), they faced off against many notable opponents, including the Harlem Globetrotters in January 1943. The SAAAB basketball team disbanded in 1945 with the end of WWII and the discharge of personnel that followed.
• • •
Fresh Beginnings Ministries opens expanded Costa Mesa warehouse
Costa Mesa’s Fresh Beginnings Ministries celebrated the opening of its expanded warehouse on September 26, with Mayor John Stephens, co-founders Bill and Cathy Nelson, volunteers, board members and community partners coming together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
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Courtesy of city of Costa Mesa
Mayor John Stephens (front row, second from right) celebrating Fresh Beginnings Ministries’ expanded Costa Mesa warehouse with its volunteers and board members
Founded in 2012, the nonprofit provides food, basic necessities, mentoring and supportive care to people experiencing homelessness and those at risk.
The new warehouse at 1532 Old Newport Blvd. is twice the size of the organization’s previous space, creating additional room for programs including Family Food Boxes, Picnic Packs, Hygiene Packs, school supplies, holiday assistance and resources for veterans and seniors.
Mayor Stephens presented Fresh Beginnings Ministries with a certificate of recognition on behalf of the city and thanked its staff, volunteers and partners for their service to the community.
Guest Letter
Kelly Anne Brown, Ph.D.
Costa Mesa City Council Candidate, District 5
My experience tells you why I’m right for Costa Mesa’s District 5 City Council seat
Click on photo for larger image
Submitted photo
Kelly Anne Brown, Ph.D.
My husband Jeff and I moved our young family to Costa Mesa 14 years ago, and have raised our daughter on the Westside. Getting involved in the Parks and Community Services Commission has been quite meaningful for me. Through my 5 years of service on the commission, I’ve learned what many of the city’s strengths and needs are, and I’ve developed strong working relationships with staff so that I can be an effective leader – something my record demonstrates through two years as commission chair. In my role as chair I’ve established regular and more standardized CM Police Department reporting, initiated subcommittees on Capital Improvement Projects/budget issues as well as community gardens, and enhanced community outreach on senior transportation programs and Concerts in the Park at Fairview – an event I love!
Serving our country and serving our community is a core family value. I’m proud to come from a family who has served in our military every generation going back to the U.S. Civil War. My family is also teachers and public servants. I have worked at various levels of government, including in early childhood education programs at the state and county levels, for a city police department, in undergraduate classrooms at UC Santa Cruz and co-directing a University of California-wide research institute. I’m currently directing communications at UC Irvine, where I oversee internal and external communications. In these professional experiences I’ve managed multi-million-dollar project budgets, supervised high-performing teams and everything in between. My track record in Costa Mesa shows that I get involved and am unafraid of doing the sometimes hard, uncomfortable work required of good leaders. I listen to people first, and then analyze the data, in order to make big picture decisions grounded in the local details.
My priorities for Costa Mesa include:
An affordable, thriving Costa Mesa. Living well in Costa Mesa means a safe and stable home, a friendly neighborhood, and access to parks and other interesting things to do. I’m especially sensitive to issues of affordability, and recognize that many in our city are struggling to afford to pay utilities, groceries and rent. It’s important to representatives on City Council who are sensitive to the challenges we face and creative in their problem solving. I am proud of my work as commissioner to limit the impact of park fee increases on residents and to advocate to expand park access for all neighborhoods. On council, I will continue these efforts, and I will also prioritize simplifying and streamlining permits for residents and small businesses, and supporting residents who are struggling with the costs of living in Costa Mesa. It’s also important that as the “City of the Arts” we grow our unique creative economy, supporting local artists, businesses and students.
Public safety. As I navigate the world today, especially with my teen daughter in mind, I think a lot about what it means to feel and be safe. Yes – it means supporting the needs of our first responders. Safety is emergency response and much more. As a commissioner, I advocated for budgets that fixed park safety issues and collaborated with the Costa Mesa Police Department to create regular Park Ranger reports that more directly addressed resident concerns. On council, I will work to ensure that our public safety infrastructure meets our growing needs, including supporting emergency planning and community resilience (e.g., for extreme heat events and flooding). I am also very committed to making our streets safer by reducing speeding on residential streets and cut-through traffic as well as improving safety for people walking, biking and using public transportation.
Government transparency and engagement. As public servants, how we work is as important as what we do, and my pillars for government transparency include fiscal responsibility, public engagement and process improvement. Fiscal responsibility is the bare minimum we should expect from our elected leaders. We can, and should, do much more to ensure that our government is as inclusive, responsive and transparent as possible. As commission chair, I’ve focused on issues of transparency and engagement, including enhancing outreach on senior transportation needs and demanding data-driven decisions as we discuss programs and budgets. I look forward to bringing this same approach to council, and ensuring responsible city budgets in alignment with community values. I am also committed to improving transparency and community engagement, including on issues like Flock, and will regularly host town halls for District 5 residents.
Parks & Neighborhoods. We are lucky to have a rich ecosystem of parks in Costa Mesa, and on the Parks Commission I created a framework for park investments that centers community input. On City Council I will continue this work and develop a real plan to meet our city’s needs for parks, sports fields, gardens and trees. I also want to activate public spaces with free community events, including events like Fairview Park’s Concerts in the Park and Canyon Park’s Songs in the Canyon, as well as other movie or arts events and ideas raised by residents in the community survey I initiated. I want to advocate for balanced development that supports vibrant neighborhoods.
I welcome the opportunity to talk and learn from the residents of Costa Mesa about our many opportunities and concerns. Please feel free to reach out to me! Contact me on Instagram (@kellyforcostamesa) or at kellyforcostamesa@gmail.com.
Kelly Anne Brown, Ph.D.
Costa Mesa City Council Candidate, District 5
Vote-by-mail ballots were available as of October 5
Orange County voters can begin preparing for the November 3 general election, with voter guides already on their way and vote-by-mail ballots are coming this week.
Ballots for the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3 will be mailed to all registered voters by the Orange County Registrar of Voters (ROV) starting Monday, Oct. 5.
You can return your ballot by USPS mail, at secure ballot drop boxes, or at Vote Centers dropoffs. Ballots must be returned by Election Day, November 3.
Find a complete list of ballot return options at ocvote.gov/options. Additionally, the ROV has launched OC Ballot Express at ocvote.gov/track to track your ballot’s status, from when it is mailed, to when it is returned.
For more information about what will be on the 2026 General Municipal Election for Costa Mesa, visit costamesaca.gov/elections.
The last day to register to vote in the 2026 General Election is Monday, Oct. 19.
Register to vote at registertovote.ca.gov.
“Let’s Go Costa Mesa!” rideshare program earns state innovation award
Costa Mesa’s “Let’s Go Costa Mesa!” rideshare program received a 2026 Beacon Leadership and Innovation Award from the Institute for Local Government during the League of California Cities’ Annual Conference on September 25.
The program was recognized for its approach to clean transportation and for helping address gaps in the city’s transportation network.
Click on photo for a larger image
Courtesy of city of Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa city officials accepting a Beacon Leadership and Innovation Award for their “Let’s Go Costa Mesa!” rideshare program
Launched in October 2024, “Let’s Go Costa Mesa!” provides on-demand, point-to-point trips within a designated high-demand service area. The program offers residents and visitors a flexible alternative to private vehicles and traditional rideshare services using electric vehicles.
Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez attended the conference with City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly, Assistant City Manager Alma Reyes, City Attorney Kim Barlow, Public Works Director Raja Sethuraman and Community Development Director Carrie Tai.
NMUSD to hold College & Career Fair
Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) is inviting students and families to navigate college and career opportunities at the 2026 College & Career Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 5-8 p.m. at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.
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Photos courtesy of NMUSD
A college representative chatting with students at a previous College & Career Fair
This free event gives students and families the chance to gather information, ask questions, and connect with people who can help them plan their next steps. Attendees can visit with representatives from colleges, universities and international schools; meet business and industry professionals, and learn about scholarships and local community resources that support their education. No registration is required.
Families with elementary and middle school students are also encouraged to attend. Students can learn about programs offered at their future middle and high schools and take part in fun, hands-on activities in the Pathway Playground. The interactive experience introduces students to Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways that align with their growing interests and strengths.
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A representative from California State University Dominguez Hills talking to students at a previous College & Career Fair
The evening will feature a variety of workshops covering topics such as earning college credit while in high school, applying for financial aid, NCAA recruiting and scholarships, apprenticeships and planning for future success.
New this year, families can attend sessions focused on accommodations and accessibility guidance for students with disabilities, providing information and resources to help students successfully transition to college and access support services in higher education.
Whatever direction students are headed, the 2026 College & Career Fair is the place to chart it.
For more information, visit the College & Career Fair webpage, or contact Lisa Snowden at 714.424.5036.
The OC Fair & Event Center is located at 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.
CMPD to host Coffee with a Cop at Deli Nerds
The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) will join Deli Nerds on Wednesday, Oct. 7 for National Coffee with a Cop Day.
Residents and visitors are invited to meet CMPD officers and staff from 8:30-10 a.m. at Deli Nerds for a free cup of coffee and casual conversation.
Coffee with a Cop is a crime prevention program designed to build relationships between law enforcement and the community. The informal setting gives residents an opportunity to ask questions, share concerns and learn more about crime prevention resources.
Officers often meet community members during emergencies or other difficult moments. Events like Coffee with a Cop offer a chance to connect in a more relaxed setting while encouraging ongoing communication and helping residents stay informed about ways to prevent crime.
Deli Nerds is located at 525 Mesa Verde Drive E, Ste. 117, Costa Mesa.
Truck 84 crew conducts simulated fire rescue training
Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue crews train regularly to stay prepared for emergency responses.
Last week, the Truck 84 crew conducted a simulated structure-fire rescue at a local building, deploying aerial and ground ladders as part of the exercise.
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Courtesy of city of Costa Mesa
Truck 84 crews deploy an aerial ladder
The field-based training gave firefighters an opportunity to review the building’s access points, layout and construction features. That firsthand knowledge helps crews respond efficiently if an emergency occurs there.
CMFR crews train during every shift to remain ready to serve the community.
Public Works installs flood detection system
Costa Mesa Public Works crews recently installed a flood detection system at an intersection that is prone to flooding.
Courtesy of city of Costa Mesa
A new flood detection system warns drivers and alerts city staff when water rises at a flood-prone intersection
The system uses two sensors to help protect drivers and speed the city’s response during storms. The first activates a flashing “Road May Flood” sign once water reaches a predetermined level. If water continues to rise, the second sensor alerts Emergency Communications, Public Safety and Public Works staff so crews can respond and close the roadway if needed.
The upgrade gives drivers an earlier warning and city staff additional time to act before flooding becomes a hazard.
As rainy season approaches, remember: If you encounter water covering a roadway, do not drive through it. Water depth and road conditions can be difficult to judge and dangerous, the city stated.
The Sacramento Chronicles
By ASSEMBLYMEMBER DIANE DIXON
October 6, 2026
Hello Costa Mesa!
Hello October! Two weeks ago, fall began. The humidity is finally retreating, yet we are anticipating a historic “super” El Niño storm coming our way.
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Courtesy of Diane Dixon
Assemblymember Diane Dixon
Earlier last month, after multiple rainstorms hit Orange County, my Orange County Assembly and Senate bipartisan colleagues sent a letter to Governor Newsom requesting that he declare a State of Emergency for our coastal communities. In addition, Assemblymember Davies and I called on the leaders of Orange County’s coastal cities to formally request the County Board of Supervisors to declare an emergency declaration, later declared by Chair Doug Chaffee. These requests were necessary to set in motion the emergency declaration request to FEMA.
This year’s El Niño is anticipated to be the strongest in recorded history.
My office and I are monitoring this situation closely and working with local and state agencies to ensure that our communities are prepared and kept safe. Please reach out to my office if you have any questions or need assistance.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed every October to raise public awareness, support survivors and honor victims. It was first observed in 1987, and by 1989, Congress passed legislation to make its observance permanent.
Last year, I authored AB 1239, which established a public database of human trafficking data and allowed law enforcement to allocate resources appropriately. This data hadn’t been updated in 13 years! This year, I introduced AB 1918, the Ink of Hope Act, which would require tattoo operators or artists to complete training on how to recognize, respond to and report signs of human trafficking. AB 1918 is awaiting the governor’s signature. I also authored AB 2261, which will clarify and restore judicial authority to issue criminal protective orders (CPOs) to a victim’s family and household members. I am proud to share that the governor signed AB 2261 into law earlier this week, further building on my record as a fighter for crime victims.
This month, we honor those who have lost their lives and those who continue to be crime victims. We have made significant progress in this space, but the work is far from over. I will remain committed to this important fight and to putting the safety of our communities and victims at the forefront.
I am hosting various district events to kick off the fall season!
Calling all animal lovers! I am hosting a Fur-Ever Friends Fall Festival with my colleagues, Assemblymembers Sanchez and Davies, on Saturday, Oct. 10 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. We will be joined by more than a dozen adoption partners that will provide wildlife education, hands-on activities for kids and more! Learn more about this special event here.
The holidays are approaching, and the scams are on the rise. Join me for a Senior Scam Prevention series throughout Orange County. I am bringing in the experts to educate guests on how to recognize the signs and stop a scam before it’s too late. I hope to see you at one of the events below. Spaces are filling quickly, so please secure your spot as soon as possible. These events are free and open to all.
Laguna Woods: Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Laguna Woods Village, Clubhouse 7 (24111 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Woods, California 92637)
Click here to RSVP.
Laguna Beach: Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Laguna Beach City Hall (505 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, California 92651)
Click here to RSVP.
Newport-Mesa: Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Norma Hertzog Community Center (1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa, California 92627)
Click here to RSVP.
On Halloween, I am hosting a Spook-Tacular event on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Laguna Hills Civic Center. We will be joined by the Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce and other local organizations for this free community gathering.
This family-friendly event will include games, a trunk-or-treat and much more. I hope to see you there.
Looking for a way to make a difference in your community? I am excited to welcome volunteers to help make our Spook-Tacular event come to life for the community.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a volunteer, you can sign up here. My staff will be providing a letter for community service hours upon completion of the event. Please feel free to share this opportunity with family and friends.
We are hiring a Paid Community Outreach Intern in my district office. This intern will gain hands-on experience in public service while serving as a vital bridge between our community and state government. In this role, you will assist with constituent services by connecting residents with vital state and local resources while also supporting the planning and execution of district events throughout Assembly District 72. To apply, please email your résumé to assemblymemberdixon@assembly.a.gov.
My team is ready to assist you with any state issues you may have, like DMV, EDD, Franchise Tax Board and more. We’ve assisted hundreds of your neighbors this year, and it’s always free.
Not receiving invitations to my events? Send an email to assemblymember.dixon@assembly.ca.gov to be added to our distribution list, or visit my website: Diane Dixon website. Be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Thank you, Stu News, for keeping our local residents informed.
Diane Dixon is a two-term Newport Beach City Councilmember and two-time Mayor. She is currently serving her second term in Sacramento as Assemblymember of California’s 72nd District. She is also in a November-runoff for Orange County Supervisor, Fifth District.
The Coastal Corridor Alliance (CCA) unveils progress for Randall Preserve
The Coastal Corridor Alliance (CCA) unveiled progress on plans for the Frank and Joan Randall Preserve in Newport Beach, one of Orange County’s most significant coastal preservation areas, at a recent event hosted by the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) that drew community leaders, environmental advocates and philanthropists.
The remarkable 387.6-acre parcel of coastal mesa and adjacent coastal lowlands and wetlands is home to rare coastal habitats and diverse wildlife.
In August, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) approved the Property Management Plan for the preserve.
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Photos courtesy of Orange County Community Foundation
OCCF’s funding of $190,000 over five years supported community engagement and planning efforts for future uses of the Randall Preserve, including protection, restoration and mapping of native habitat, as well as endangered species monitoring
The Coastal Conservancy Alliance (CCA) Board of Directors recently approved plans for $2.4 million in fundraising campaigns for the following Frank and Joan Randall Preserve projects:
–A unified visitor experience.
–Habitat restoration planning.
–A vision plan for long-term protection, preservation and stewardship.
–Interpretive center for the public.
–A native plant nursery for habitat restoration.
“Many additional plans and studies are needed to prepare the preserve for public access,” said Melanie Schlotterbeck, stewardship consultant for the CCA. “Public access will be unveiled in phases. As every trail opens, there will be before-and-after surveys to determine impact.”
Schlotterbeck said the next round of studies and planning will be more specific and will include habitat and species studies (birds, plants, vernal pools, wetlands, restoration, etc.) and a study on a unified visitor experience. Plans include an interpretive center where the public can learn about the preserve before they go on the trails.
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Plans for the Randall Preserve include a unified visitor experience, habitat restoration, long-term protection, preservation and stewardship, an interpretive center for the public, a native plant nursery for habitat restoration and more
Milestones at the Randall Preserve since last year include kicking off the Wetland Restoration Feasibility Study, which looks at both short- and medium-term tidal restoration; delineating 5.2 miles of trails and receiving funding for vernal pool studies.
Formerly known as Banning Ranch, the parcel at the borders of Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa was preserved through the collaborative efforts of OCCF, the Trust for Public Land and the Banning Ranch Conservancy. OCCF’s funding of $190,000 over five years supported community engagement and planning efforts for future uses of the Randall Preserve, including protection, restoration and mapping of native habitat, as well as endangered species monitoring. Other current Randall Preserve nonprofit funders include National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Wildlife Conservation Board.
“We are proud to continue supporting efforts that help protect and restore our Orange County coastline and unique ecosystems,” said Shelley Hoss, CEO of the Orange County Community Foundation. “Now more than ever, it is important for all of us to come together and ensure that our natural resources can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Pet of the Week 
Stu News Costa Mesa is delighted to be working with the city of Costa Mesa Animal Services Bureau and WAGS Pet Adoption to help get the word out in search of loving homes for pets that deserve a warm, nurturing environment and a place to call “home.”
They are excited to announce that Bruno, a 6-month-old male Cane Corso puppy, is now available for adoption at WAGS Pet Adoption.
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Courtesy of WAGS
Meet Bruno, an energetic 6-month-old Cane Corso puppy
This adorable puppy is full of energy and ready for adventure. A little strong willed with plenty of personality, he needs to have exercise regularly. Bruno needs an owner who understands the Cane Corso breed and can provide patient, consistent training.
He is neutered and microchipped and is up to date on his vaccines and flea medication.
If you would like to set up a meet and greet with Bruno who is ready to find his forever family, contact WAGS via text message at 714.887.6156.
WAGS Pet Adoption is located at 6621 Westminster Blvd., Westminster. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1-5 p.m. for adoption tours, and walk-ins are welcome. To view other adoptable pets, visit www.wagspetadoption.org.
Seasonal Adventures Pumpkin Patch now open at OC Fairgrounds
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Courtesy of OC Fair & Event Center
Pick the perfect pumpkins for your jack-o-lanterns, and enjoy a farmers’ market, inflatable slides, kiddie rides, petting zoo and train at Season Adventures, now open at the OC Fairgrounds and running through October 31. Hours vary by day. General admission is $25, children 2 and under are free, which includes all activities. Parking is free Monday through Thursday; $15 Friday through Sunday. For more information, visit www.seasonaladventures.com. The OC Fair & Event Center is located at 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.
Pacific Symphony announces six new orchestra appointments
Pacific Symphony welcomes six new musicians to its roster for the 2026-27 season, bringing to Orange County accomplished performers with experience performing with leading orchestras and in concert halls and music festivals around the world.
Joining the orchestra are Evan Nicholson and Xi Yang, cello; Hiram Sebastian Rodriguez, principal trombone; Griffin Cutaiar, bass trombone; Benjamin Vargas, principal tuba and Will Howald, principal timpani. The appointments come as Pacific Symphony begins its 2026-27 season under Artistic & Music Director Alexander Shelley, marking a new chapter in the orchestra’s artistic evolution.
“We are thrilled to welcome these six exceptional musicians to Pacific Symphony,” said Alexander Shelley, artistic and music director of Pacific Symphony. “Each brings tremendous artistry, experience and musical excellence to the orchestra. As we begin this exciting new chapter, their talent will further strengthen an already extraordinary ensemble. We look forward to the contributions they will make both on stage and within our community.”
Evan Nicholson, Cello
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Nicholson began studying cello at age 4 after a brief start on violin. As the result of young artist competitions, he performed the first movement of the Dvořák Cello Concerto with the Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra and Columbus State Symphony Orchestra and the Shostakovich Concerto with the Northwest Florida Symphony.
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Photos courtesy of Pacific Symphony
Xi Yang
Xi Yang, Cello
Born in Guangdong, China, Yang began her musical studies at age 7 and received her early training in Shanghai before attending the Bard Conservatory of Music, where she completed its five-year double-degree program. She later earned her Master of Music degree from the USC Thornton School of Music and was awarded full scholarships at both institutions.
Hiram Sebastian Rodriguez, Principal Trombone
Trombonist, composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Hiram Sebastian Rodriguez brings a wide-ranging musical background to his role as principal trombone. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music in 2020 and his master’s degree from UCLA in 2022.
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Griffin Cutaiar
Griffin Cutaiar, Bass Trombone
Griffin Cutaiar is originally from Ellicott City, Maryland. Prior to his appointment as bass trombone of Pacific Symphony, he served as acting bass trombone of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
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Benjamin Vargas
Benjamin Vargas, Principal Tuba
Vargas joins Pacific Symphony as principal tuba after performances with the Toronto Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony and Hamilton Philharmonic. In winter 2025, he toured internationally with film composer Hans Zimmer, performing in the United States and Saudi Arabia. He was also the sole American semifinalist in the 2025 International Tuba Euphonium Competition and a semifinalist in the 2024 Leonard Falcone International Tuba Competition.
Will Howald
Will Howald, Principal Timpani
Howald joins Pacific Symphony as principal timpani after previously serving as principal timpani with the Erie Philharmonic and section percussion with the Spokane Symphony. He has also appeared with the San Francisco Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
New law helps ensure future of California State Library Parks Pass Program
California State Parks Foundation applauded Governor Newsom’s recent signing of AB 1804, which will help ensure the future of the broadly popular California State Library Parks Pass. The California State Library Parks Pass gives library card holders free vehicle day-use entry to more than 200 participating state parks, available through more than 1,100 public libraries across California. Since the start of the program, thousands of passes have been distributed to public libraries throughout the state.
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Courtesy of Crystal Cove Conservancy
Passes available at Costa Mesa library branches can be used to enjoy Crystal Cove State Park
Introduced by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), AB 1804 codifies into law the authority of the California Department of Parks and Recreation (popularly known as State Parks) to work with the California State Library and individual library systems to provide these park passes. They are available at the two Costa Mesa branches to use at Crystal Cove State Park. The signing of AB 1804 into law comes on the heels of the inclusion of ongoing funding for the California State Library Parks Pass program in California’s 2026-27 state budget. The approved budget establishes an ongoing appropriation for the program.
Previously, lawmakers had to approve funding for the program to be added to the state budget each year. Going forward, funding will continue automatically unless a future Governor or the Legislature takes action to change it. “The California State Library Parks Pass is here to stay, thanks to thousands of Californians who spoke up in support of the program,” said Rachel Norton, executive director of California State Parks Foundation. “Cost should not be a barrier to experiencing the wonders of our state parks. AB 1804, paired with the permanent program funding approved in this year’s state budget, helps safeguard this important program. More Californians will now be able to experience the physical and mental health benefits of time in nature.”
California State Parks Foundation has advocated for long-term funding of the program since its launch, working alongside libraries, community organizations, outdoor advocates and state leaders to demonstrate its value and ensure more Californians can experience the benefits of state parks.
Despite its immense popularity and value, the California State Library Parks Pass program repeatedly faced uncertainty as it relied on an annual appropriation in the state budget. California State Parks Foundation continually mobilized thousands of Californians to contact their legislators and ask for their support of the program over the years.
Since the program launched in 2021, more than 33,000 passes have been distributed to branch libraries statewide. Library card holders can check out a pass, visit a participating state park and return it to their library so others can enjoy it. Libraries consistently report that the passes are among their most popular items available for checkout. In partnership with REI, select libraries also offer backpacks with outdoor exploration tools, including binoculars, compasses and wildlife guides.
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents Grammy-Award winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Isata Kanneh-Mason
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents the Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Isata Kanneh-Mason on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m., at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. This highly anticipated concert marks the return of both artists to Orange County.
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Photos by Neda Navaee
The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra performs on November 10
Kanneh-Mason last appeared in the region in 2024, performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Vasily Petrenko as part of its Orchestra Residency with the Philharmonic Society. Isata, alongside her brother, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, also served as the Philharmonic Society’s Virtual Artists-in-Residence in 2020. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra returns following its 2022 performance with celebrated jazz musician, Branford Marsalis.
The program includes works by Mozart and Haydn, selections from Handel’s Water Music Suite, and the Southern California premiere of Elixir of Life, a newly commissioned work by multi-award-winning Welsh composer and producer, Katie Jenkins. A pre-concert lecture will take place at 7 p.m. by Classical California’s Brian Lauritzen. This performance is made possible with support from The Segerstrom Foundation.
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String section of The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is a radical experiment in musical democracy, proving for more than 50 years what happens when exceptional artists gather with total trust in each other and faith in the creative process. Orpheus began in 1972 when cellist Julian Fifer assembled a group of New York freelancers in their early 20s to play orchestral repertoire as if it were chamber music. In that age of co-ops and communes, the idealistic Orpheans snubbed the “corporate” path of symphony orchestras and learned how to play, plan and promote concerts as a true collective, with leadership roles rotating from the very first performance.
It’s one thing for the four players of a string quartet to lean into the group sound and react spontaneously, but with 20 to 30 musicians together, the complexities and payoffs are magnified exponentially. Within its first decade, Orpheus made Carnegie Hall their home and became a global sensation through tours of Europe and Asia.
Isata Kanneh-Mason is first and foremost a pianist but is also a composer and arranger who is passionate about chamber music, romantic repertoire and loves to bring a range of styles and composers to her performances.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Ticket prices start at $31 and are available at the Philharmonic Society box office at 949.553-2422, or online at www.philharmonicsociety.org and at the Center’s box office at 714.556.2787.
All artists, dates, venues, programs and prices are subject to change.
Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.
JWA shows 4.2% decrease in year-over-year passenger traffic for August 2026
Airline passenger traffic at John Wayne Airport (JWA) decreased in August 2026 as compared to August 2025. This year, the airport served 991,015 passengers, a decrease of 4.2% when compared to the August 2025 passenger traffic count of 1,034,529.
Commercial aircraft operations in August 2026 of 8,168 increased 0.3% and commuter aircraft operations of 835 increased 12.2% when compared with 2025 levels.
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Courtesy of JWA
Total aircraft operations decreased in August 2026 as compared with the same month in 2025. In August 2026, there were 26,233 total aircraft operations (take-offs and landings), an 8.5% decrease compared to 28,670 total aircraft operations in August 2025.
General aviation activity of 17,222 accounted for 66.0% of the total aircraft operations during August 2026 and decreased 12.9% when compared with August 2025.
The top three airlines in August 2026, based on passenger count, were Southwest Airlines (267,105), United Airlines (168,697) and American Airlines (164,639).
Costa Mesa offers free parkway tree planting program
Costa Mesa residents without a parkway tree in front of their homes may qualify for a free 15-gallon tree through the city’s Parkway Tree Planting Program.
The program is part of the city’s Urban Forest Management efforts. Costa Mesa, which has been designated a Tree City USA for 21 years, has an inventory of more than 23,000 trees and continues to seek opportunities to expand its canopy coverage.
Trees can help absorb traffic noise, cool neighborhoods, reduce energy costs by shading buildings, improve property values and support mental and physical health. Trees also absorb carbon dioxide, helping mitigate the effects of climate change.
Residents interested in the program can contact the Maintenance Services Division at 714.754.5123 to determine whether their property qualifies. The city will provide the tree, along with trimming and re-staking services as needed.
Homeowners are responsible for deep watering the newly planted tree to help it grow and remain healthy.
SCFTA presents Houston Ballet with pianist George Li Sons de L’âme on October 15-18
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA) will welcome the Houston Ballet to Segerstrom Hall for the company’s first performances ever on its stage with an exciting program, Sons de L’âme. Making its West Coast debut, the intimate and elegant Sons de L’âme (Sounds of the Soul) is a rapturous full-length ballet, choreographed by Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM, set to piano pieces by Frederic Chopin.
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Courtesy of SCFTA
Lauren Strongin and Connor Walsh perform in “Sons de L’âme”
With renowned pianist George Li sharing the stage with 20 members of the acclaimed company, the ballet blends hypnotic solos with dramatic, elaborate pas de deux and ensemble sections –showcasing not only the technical skill of the dancers but also the romantic, emotional nature of Chopin’s music. The choreography is designed to merge with the music, allowing the dancers to feed off the live piano performance (and vice versa).
Li possesses an effortless grace, poised authority and brilliant virtuosity far beyond his years. Since winning the Silver Medal at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition, Li has rapidly established a major international reputation and performs regularly with some of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors.
Stanton Welch AM was born in Melbourne to Marilyn Jones OBE and Garth Welch AM, two of Australia’s most gifted dancers of the 1960s and 1970s. He joined The Australian Ballet, rising to the rank of leading soloist and performing various principal roles, before serving as resident choreographer.
The piece originally debuted in October 2013 at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in Paris, France as a work for 16 Houston Ballet dancers, with pianist Lang Lang performing live as part of the co-production. Asia Society Texas (AST) and Houston Ballet then collaborated, bringing the full presentation of Sons de L’âme to the stage for the first time in the U.S. this past April, accompanied live by Li. The Center performances are only the third time that the work has been performed in its entirety.
Join SCFTA’s company warm-up one hour before the Saturday matinee performance and get the inside scoop before the curtain rises. Segerstrom Center’s VP of Programming and Production, Limor Tomer, leads a lively conversation and audience Q&A with members of the creative team and arts community, taking a closer look at the ideas, artistry and inspiration behind the work.
Tickets for Houston Ballet Sons de L’âme performances start at $44 and are available online at www.scfta.org, in person at the SCFTA box office at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa (Monday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 12 -5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: closed.), or by phone at 714.556.2787. For group sales, call 714.755.0236. Sons de L’âme is suggested for audiences 10 and up.
Performances: Thursday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 17, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 p.m.
Ballet preview chat: Saturday, Oct. 17, 1 p.m., Segerstrom Hall, balcony lobby.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. For more information, visit www.scfta.org.
Candlelight® sets the mood for Halloween with a haunting live musical program in Costa Mesa
Set against a mesmerizing backdrop of thousands of candles, the Candlelight® experience comes to Costa Mesa this Halloween with a live musical program built around mystery and the supernatural. It’s the perfect Halloween experience for friends, families and coworkers looking for something different from the usual haunted house or bar crawl.
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Photos courtesy of Candlelight®
Musicians perform during the 2023 Candlelight® experience in Palacio-Fernan-Nuñez, Madrid
Featured programming to include:
–Funeral March of a Marionette – Charles Gounod
–Danse Macabre – Camille Saint-Saëns
–Night on Bald Mountain – Modest Mussorgsky
–Der Erlkönig – Franz Schubert
–In the Hall of the Mountain King – Edvard Grieg
–Theme from Stranger Things
–Selections from The Nightmare Before Christmas
–Michael Jackson’s Thriller
Programming varies by city – guests are encouraged to check local listings for the exact set list.
Candlelight: Halloween Classics
First United Methodist Church of Costa Mesa, 420 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa.
October 30, 7:30 p.m. Tickets from: $40, click here.
Candlelight combines live music, distinctive venues and a candlelit atmosphere for a visually compelling Halloween story – with the added local hook of featuring musicians based in Orange County.
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Decorations at Palacio-Fernan-Nuñez in Madrid for Candlelight® concert on September 7, 2023
The appetite for that combination is measurable: According to Fever’sClassical Pulse study, experiencing live music in person is the primary motivation for 54% of classical concert attendees, and 35% of U.S. respondents actively seek out immersive, unconventional ways to experience live performances – exactly the itch a haunting, candlelit Halloween program is built to scratch.
Costa Mesa to host BarktoberFest pet adoption event October 17
Costa Mesa’s Animal Services Unit will host their annual BarktoberFest Halloween pet adoption event from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17) at TeWinkle Park.
The event will feature adoptable cats and dogs from local animal rescue organizations, along with pet-related vendors.
H.E.A.R.T. (Healthcare & Emergency Animal Rescue Team) will offer walk-up vaccinations for dogs and cats through their mobile vaccine clinic. No appointment is required.
Participants also can visit food trucks, watch demonstrations by the Costa Mesa Police Department K-9 Unit, have caricatures drawn, enjoy face painting and enter the pet-and-owner costume contest.
TeWinkle Park is located at 970 Arlington Drive, Costa Mesa.
UC Irvine Langson OC Museum of Art presents Hello Again and Tokio Ueyama
Spanning more than a century of art making, Hello Again introduces the newly integrated holdings of UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art, showcasing the institution’s deep strengths in California art history, with a particular focus on the 1960s and 1970s. Abandoning a rigid chronology in favor of thematic fluidity, the featured works highlight the many ways California’s artists have bypassed literal documentation to treat their physical environments as mirrors for spiritual, internal and social realities. Cross-generational dialogues collapse time, revealing how regional landscapes, domestic spaces and urban culture remain fertile territory for material and conceptual experimentation.
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Photo by Fredrik Nilsen
Pearl C. Hsiung, “Tidal Wretch, 2005
Hello Again will be on view November 13, 2026-April 11, 2027.
Tokio Ueyama: The Hollows Between Mountains
Through February 28, 2027
Drawing from Tokio Ueyama’s (1889-1954) archive and personal art collection, this exhibition – the first California museum exhibition dedicated to his work – explores the Japanese artist’s life, work and artistic network, tracing the diverse influences that shaped his practice and Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo.
Academically trained as a plein air painter, Ueyama remained active throughout the interwar period and during his incarceration in a World War II camp, painting landscapes, portraits and still lifes. This presentation marks the first museum exhibition in California dedicated to his work.
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Courtesy of Japanese American National Museum
Tokio Ueyama, “At Santa Anita (The Evacuee),” 1942
Drawing from Ueyama’s archive and personal art collection, the exhibition examines the artist’s critical reception, travels and friendships to trace the convergence of diverse artistic currents –including Impressionism, modern photography, Japanese yōga and Mexican muralism – in his practice and in the cultural milieu of Little Tokyo. To reconstruct Ueyama’s expansive artistic network, his works are presented alongside drawings, prints, photographs and paintings by artists he collected, exhibited with, and championed, including Diego Rivera, Tōyō Miyatake, Edward Weston, and Henrietta Shore.
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Photo by Eric Stephenson, courtesy Denver Art Museum
Tokio Ueyama, “Katsuura,” 1940, Oil on canvas
In its eclectic expanse, Hello Again reveals how California artists have returned to the region’s diverse topography and everyday environments as fuel for internal expression, social commentary, and material innovation, creating a complex portrait of place.
This exhibition is supported by Presenting Sponsor Visionaries in Art.
For more information about UC Irvine Langson, OC Museum of Art, go to https://langson.uci.edu/.
Costa Mesa libraries present Spooky Month 2026
OC Public Libraries has announced its annual Spooky Month celebration this October, offering a frightfully fun lineup of programs for all ages in Costa Mesa libraries. From haunted crafts and eerie author talks to spooky story times and seasonal activities, Spooky Month invites the community to embrace the season with creativity.
CreateSpace: Spooky Birdhouses
Thursday, Oct. 1 at 3:30 p.m.
Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library School-age children can decorate a spooky birdhouse at this creepy CreateSpace. All materials are provided while supplies last.
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Courtesy of Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library
Design candy sushi on October 6
Teen Bite Club: Candy Sushi
Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 4:30 p.m.
Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library
Create your own candy sushi out of fruit roll ups, marshmallows, Swedish fish, gummy worms and more. All ingredients are available while supplies last. For teens ages 13-18.
Spooky Family Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Saturday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m.
Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library. Watch a screening of the classic Halloween/Christmas movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Rated PG, runtime: 76 minutes.
Spooky Cooks
Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 10:30 a. m.
Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library. Join them for a special no-cook spooky event where you can make your own guacamole and Jack-o-Lantern pepper.
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Courtesy of Costa Mesa-Mesa Verde Library
Beware of monsters, Monster Mash on October 28 at Mesa Verde Library
Mesa Verde Monster Mash
Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 3 p. m.
Costa Mesa-Mesa Verde Library. Calling all goblins and ghouls, come join the library for a spooktacular time. Enjoy face painting, games and crafts. Costumes are strongly encouraged but not required.
For a full list of Spooky Month programs, click here for Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library and here for Costa Mesa-Mesa Verde Library.
The Outsiders comes to SCFTA on October 20
The winner of four 2024 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, The Outsiders will be performed at Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SCFTA) from October 20-25.
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Courtesy of SCFTA
Cast of “The Outsiders” on tour
Adapted from S.E. Hinton’s seminal novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film, this thrilling new musical features a book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine, music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and Tony Award® winner Justin Levine, music supervision, orchestration, and arrangements by Justin Levine, choreography by Rick Kuperman & Jeff Kuperman, and direction by Tony Award® winner Danya Taymor. Entertainment Weekly said, “The Outsiders has the power to inspire an entire generation.”
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade and their Greaser family of ‘outsiders’ battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. The Outsiders navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, The Outsiders a story of friendship, family, belonging…and the realization that there is still “lots of good in the world.”
Tickets start at $49.01 and are available by clicking here.
This performance is part of Taste of the Arts, SCFTA’s fun foodie series featuring an exceptional 3-course dinner at Antonello Ristorante before the show. Join SCFTA as they celebrate the very best in the culinary and the performing arts.
Get your Taste of the Arts ticket here.
SCFTA is located at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.
SCR presents the international multimedia hit Blind Runner
South Coast Repertory (SCR) with Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Suzanne Appel presents the international multimedia hit Blind Runner. A Mehr Theatre Group production with text and direction by award-winning Iranian theatre artist Amir Reza Koohestani, it is performed entirely in Persian with English supertitles. Blind Runner runs October 18-November 8 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.
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Photos courtesy of SCR
“Blind Runner” features performers Mohammad Aghebati and Ainaz Azarhoush, both making their SCR debuts
This marks Blind Runner’s West Coast debut and its second United States engagement, the previous one being at New York’s prestigious St. Ann’s Warehouse in January 2025 as part of the Under the Radar Festival.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Mehr Theatre Group to South Coast Repertory,” Ivers said. “Blind Runner feels urgent in body and in form, using video, projections and technology in innovative ways to immerse us in a play about confinement and motion, surveillance, freedom, separation and solidarity. I am drawn to its assertion that a person who is constrained by political force finds a way to move, a person who cannot see becomes a guide and an act as simple as running becomes charged with danger, devotion and hope.”
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Ainaz Azarhoush
Blind Runner interweaves the destinies of three Iranians. At the insistence of his wife, a political prisoner, a man agrees to help a blind woman train for a race in Paris. After placing third, they take on a second challenge. Can they run the 38-kilometer Channel Tunnel from France to the UK in a few hours to avoid being hit by the first train of the morning?
It received a 2026 Obie Award Special Citation for its ensemble.
“In Blind Runner, human athleticism and dignity are entwined,” Appel said. “This run against time transforms running from an act of resilience into an act of resistance. This universal story of a quest for freedom will deeply resonate with our Orange County audiences. We are so thrilled to have the West Coast premiere of this international hit!”
Blind Runner, marks the first partnership between SCR and Mehr Theatre Group, founded in 1996 in Shiraz, Iran as an acting workshop that seeks to create productions distinct from traditional theater and heavily influenced by cinema.
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Mohammad Aghebati
Blind Runner received generous support from Season Producers Apriem Advisors, with production and engagement support provided by the Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation.
Post-Show Discussions:
Actor Talks with members of the cast: Wednesday, Oct. 28 and Thursday, Nov. 5.
Terrace Talk is a new feature this season. SCR is taking their popular Actor Talks outdoors under the stars for a more casual, interactive experience on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Community Conversation, a presentation and discussion surrounding a theme specific to Blind Runner on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Inside the Season: Saturday, Oct. 31 from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Led by members of SCR’s literary staff, this lively 90-minute session includes in-depth interviews with cast members and artists from the production staff, revealing secrets and offering insights into each play. Tickets for the session are $14 and may be purchased in advance or at the door. Audio-Described Performance with live translation and verbal commentary for the visually impaired: Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale and range in price from $44-$128, with additional discounts available for educators, seniors and theatergoers ages 25 and under. Tickets may be purchased online at www.scr.org, or by phone at 714.708.5555.
South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa.
Complete information is available at www.scr.org.
Lions Park gets spooky for annual Scarecrow Festival
Costa Mesa’s Scarecrow Festival will return to Lions Park in October with an afternoon of costumes, pumpkins, games and other fun fall activities.
The free festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 10 from 2-6 p.m. at the Lions Park Event Lawn.
The family-friendly event will feature a kids costume parade, pumpkin decorating, music, games and trick-or-treat stations.
The annual scarecrow contest is also taking place, and registration is now open for participants interested in creating and displaying their own scarecrows.
Scarecrow entries can be registered online here.
The Lions Park Event Lawn is located at 1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa. It is adjacent to the Norma Herzog Community Center.