ECO-FRIENDLY EFFORTS
Adding to the accolades for its dedication to sustainability , the Environmental Nature Center announced in recent months that it has received platinum certification under the Total Resource Use and Efficiency rating system , which is administered by Green Business Certification Inc . The ENC ’ s pursuit of zero waste is a local model of sustainable waste management and reduction practices , which contribute to environmental , health and economic benefits . “ At the ENC , we are an example to the thousands of young children we serve ,” ENC Executive Director Bo Glover said in a press release . “ Children model the behavior they observe of the world around them . I ’ m proud that we take our role as being an example very seriously . We , as a society , need to change our wasteful behaviors now . We can no longer be a disposable society . Our planet cannot survive it . I ’ m hopeful that our next generation is going to change the world and the ENC is going to help them every step of the way .” The ENC , which was founded in 1972 and has added a nature-based preschool in recent years , connects more than 50,000 community members to nature annually through school field trips and other programs and strives to serve as the community ’ s leader in ecological responsibility , sustainable practices and environmental education . ( 949-645- 8489 ; encenter . org ) — Clara Beard
Suzanne Appel , the new managing director at South Coast Repertory
A NEW ROLE
OPPOSITE PAGE , TOP : CHRISTIAN HORAN PHOTOGRAPHY ; BOTTOM RIGHT : COURTESY OF BALBOA BAY RESORT ; THIS PAGE , TOP LEFT SECTION : COURTESY OF ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER ; TOP RIGHT : TODD ROSENBERG ; BOTTOM : COURTESY OF CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
The Environmental Nature Center earned platinum certification under the Total Resource Use and Efficiency rating system .
ART IN THE PARK
Like a gallery with ever-changing displays , some new installations have popped up in Civic Center Park ’ s Sculpture Exhibition . A dedication ceremony took place in late June for this ninth phase of the revolving sculpture garden ; these 10 new pieces will remain on view for two years . The latest group of works includes Gecko , a brightly colored lizard reminiscent of Mexican folk art alebrijes , by Doug Snider ; Growing Wings , which looks like a red butterfly , by Hilde DeBruyne ; Duality , which shows two figures balancing on either end of a beam atop a circle , by Giuseppe Palumbo and more . The sculptures were selected from submissions received following a national call for entries . The sculpture garden came into being a decade ago , after the Newport Beach City Council gave the green light in 2013 for the City Arts Commission and city staff to implement a temporary sculpture exhibit in the park ; the first phase was installed in 2014 . ( 949-717-3802 ; newportbeachca . gov ) — C . B .
One of the new installations — Natural Wonders by Michele Moushey Dale — at Civic Center Park ’ s Sculpture Exhibition
South Coast Repertory , the Tony Award-winning theater in nearby Costa Mesa , recently named Suzanne Appel as its new managing director following a national search . Having recently held the same position at New York City ’ s off-Broadway Vineyard Theatre , she worked with consultants and the venue ’ s artistic directors to create their first strategic development and Equity , Diversity and Inclusion plans and established a four-year plan to raise all arts workers ’ wages by more than 30 %. Appel was to begin the SCR job in September , taking over the managing director reins from Paula Tomei , who announced her departure last November after 30 years in the position . South Coast Repertory ’ s 2024-25 season features six full productions including three world premieres , the Pacific Playwrights Festival ( an annual new-play showcase over three days ) and special offerings such as “ A Christmas Carol ,” Hershey Felder in “ Rachmaninoff and the Tsar ” and Felder ’ s “ Great American Songbook Sing-Along .” ( 714-708-5555 ; scr . org ) — C . B .
NEWPORT BEACH MAGAZINE 15