8 newportbeachindy . com DECEMBER 22 , 2023
Op / Ed : There ’ s a New Toll Road in Town
By Robyn Grant ., Newport Beach City Councilmember
Travelling to and from Los Angeles is something of a mix between a science and an art . We debate the best time to get on the road to avoid the morning and afternoon commuters , how early to leave to make a flight at LAX , whether weekend traffic is steadily increasing , and perhaps the
By Christopher Trela | NB Indy College football fans are hoping their favorite teams make spectacular catches during their bowl games , but Bluewater Grill restaurant in Newport Beach has its own seaworthy catch .
Visiting students , alumni , fans and even local residents rooting for one of the teams playing in the Rose Bowl can enjoy two limited time offers :
• A free cup of Bluewater ’ s famous house-made New England or Manhattan clam chowder with the purchase of any entrée priced at $ 20 or more ( a $ 10 value ).
• A free appetizer with the purchase of any entrée priced at $ 20 or more ( a value of up to $ 21 ). Limit one free appetizer per party .
The special offer is part of Bluewater ’ s larger “ College Bowl Days ” promotion for visiting fans and local residents rooting for teams playing in postseason bowl games in or near Bluewater neighborhoods : Bluewaters in Newport Beach , Redondo Beach , Temecula , Santa Barbara and Avalon for the Rose Bowl , and Bluewaters in Carlsbad and Coronado for the Holiday Bowl in San Diego .
To take advantage of the offer , football and seafood fans must present an official logo or team name of one of the schools participating in the Rose Bowl or Holiday Bowl to their Bluewater Grill , Bluewater Avalon or Bluewater
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Boathouse Seafood Grill server before ordering on or before Jan . 5 , 2024 .
The two offers cannot be combined with each other , or with other promotions . One free cup of chowder per purchased entrée priced at $ 20 or more ( no limit per party ), or one free appetizer per purchase entrée at $ 20 or more ( limit one per party ). Some selections on the menu may not be available . There is a minimum purchase of $ 100 per party before discount .
All eight Bluewater restaurants will also extend their popular weekday happy hours , featuring $ 6 , $ 8 , $ 10 and
most difficult of all , how to deal with holiday travel .
Starting on December 1 , the Orange County Transportation Agency ( OCTA ) significantly impacted the equation with the newly completed I-405 Improvement Project , a massive upgrade to this heavily traveled stretch of highway . OCTA forecasts shorter commutes , increased safety , and overall lessened congestion .
OCTA added one regular lane in each direction of the 405 between Costa Mesa and the border of Los Angeles County . A second lane added in each direction will combine with the existing carpool lanes to form the fourteen miles of the 405 Express Lanes . Entries and exits along the way provide drivers the option to pay for solely the
$ 12 drink and appetizer specials , during all six featured bowl games .
Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach has been a popular seafood restaurant since it opened in 1996 . Lunch and dinner menus feature numerous varieties of fresh seafood and shellfish . The restaurant , which went through a multi-million-dollar remodel last year , has a spacious patio overlooking Newport Harbor .
For Bluewater Grill locations and menus , go to www . bluewatergrill . com . portions they drive . Additional work reconstructed 18 bridges , improved local streets and freeway on and off ramps , and added electronic message boards for toll pricing .
The 405 Express Lanes will allow shorter travel times for a toll . Tolls will vary not only by the number of travelers and distance traveled , but also the hour of day , day of week , and direction of travel . For example :
• The maximum toll for a single driver of the entire northbound stretch on a Friday commute between 3 and 5 p . m . will be $ 9.95 .
• Vehicles with two passengers during non-peak hours will travel for free for the first three and a half years .
• Vehicles with three or more passengers , as well as motorcycles and vehicles with designated veterans license plates or disabled person license plates , will always travel on the 405 Express Lanes for free .
Drivers will need a FasTrak transponder ; there are no toll booths for cash payments . A single driver vehicle with a sticker transponder affixed to the windshield is ready to go , nothing more is required to use the 405 Express Lanes .
To qualify for carpool discounts on the 405 Express Lanes , drivers need a switchable hardcase FasTrak transponder . Prior to starting each trip , the driver will move the switch to indicate the number of passengers in the vehicle ( 1 , 2 or 3 +) and calculate the correct toll .
A vehicle can have both a sticker transponder and switchable transponder mounted to the same windshield . The switchable transponder automatically takes priority and registers the appropriate toll for travel on the 405 Express Lanes based on the number of passengers set by the driver .
For more information including how to obtain a sticker or switchable hardcase transponder , go to 405expresslanes . com or thetollroads . com .
Robyn Grant is a member of the Newport Beach City Council . First elected in 2022 , she represents the 4th District . She can be reached at rgrant @ newportbeachca . gov or @ robynbgrant
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- such as checks or forms with the personal information listed above - in your residential mailbox Use a blue postal mailbox or your local post o ffi c e .
• Consider installing a residential mailbox that is secured with a locking mechanism .
• Never leave mail in your mailbox overnight .
• When ordering new checks , do not have them mailed to your home . Pick them up at your bank or have them delivered by registered mail .
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• Use a shredder prior to disposing of bank and credit card statements , cancelled checks , pre-approved credit card offers , and any other personal information listed above . A crosscut shredder offers added security by making it more difficult to reconstruct shredded documents .
• Place your garbage bins out in the morning on the day of pickup , rather than the night before . This gives “ dumpster divers ” less opportunity to go through your trash .
• Minimize the amount of information
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you carry in your wallet or purse by taking out extra cards and IDs .
• Cancel all unused credit cards . Maintain a list of all active cards and account , including the following details : account numbers , expiration dates , telephone numbers and addresses for each creditor . Store this information in a secure place .
• Open all bills promptly and check your accounts monthly .
• Call your credit card company if your card is expired and you have not received a replacement . Report any
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lost or stolen cards immediately .
• Notify financial institutions and credit card companies in advance of any address or phone number changes .
• Always shield the keypad from prying eyes when you enter your PIN number .
• Never leave transaction receipts behind , including at an ATM , the gas pump , the bank , or in a nearby trash receptacle . These should be shredded if they include any sensitive information .
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