“ For Locals , by Locals ”
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Fortieth Annual Spirit Run in Fashion Island on March 17 Benefits Youth Sports and Local Schools
By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
Hundreds of runners of all ages turned out for the 2024 Spirit Run , which marked its 40th year on March 17 by celebrating community , family and fitness to support local causes .
Held at Fashion Island in Newport Center , the Spirit Run benefitted local schools , Newport Beach Junior Lifeguards , youth sports programs and CASA Orange County for Children .
Entrants could compete in mile and 5K race categories for adults , including the Dog Mile for humans to race with their dogs .
Youth competitors also had the opportunity to compete in mile and 5K racing options . The Youth 5K was open to high school age and younger with a quarter mile race for age four , a half mile race for ages five and six and three separate mile races for ages seven , eight and nine to 14 , and 15 to 17 .
Spirit Run also offered events for casual runners and walkers to enjoy individually or as a family .
Top finishers in various categories received either cash prizes or gift certificates to Balboa Candy . Top canine competitors received gift cards to Lazy Dog Restaurant .
Each finisher ( adult , youth and canine ) received a lucky medal at the finish line . Spirit Run also gave away leprechaun-approved
Newport Beach City Manager Update
Grace Leung , Newport Beach City Manager
Above : Adults at the start of the Spirit Run . Photo by Jim Collins ; below : Youths at the start of the Spirit Run . Photo by Jim Collins .
decorative eyeglasses and headpieces to registrants to celebrate Irish pride . These decorative items were designed to complement the costume contest entrants ’ attire . The best costume winners in several adult , youth and canine categories received merchandise prizes courtesy of Malarky ’ s Irish Pub .
Held in conjunction with the Spirit Run was a Youth , Fitness , & Dog Expo adjacent to the running and walking events . The Expo offered
By Grace Leung , Newport Beach City Manager
The City is seeking the community ’ s help to shape the future of Newport Beach through a comprehensive General Plan update .
The central hub for this effort is our newly updated website , Newport , Together , with key information , resources and opportunities to provide critical feedback .
The City ’ s General Plan is being updated to reflect the community ’ s current needs and future aspirations . The General Plan contains goals that establish values and direction , policies that guide decision-making , and programs that carry out the actions needed to live music , a food truck , beverages , a rockclimbing wall , mini-skate park and other youth activities , fitness information , merchandise vendors and community organization booths .
This year ’ s Spirit Run was sponsored in part by the City of Newport Beach , Fashion Island , Fletcher Jones Motor Cars , the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor and the Daruty Family .
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achieve these goals . The last comprehensive update of Newport Beach ’ s General Plan was in 2006 .
A core part of updating the General Plan is engaging with residents and other stakeholders to capture and articulate a shared vision for the City for the next 20 years .
The relaunched Newport , Together website contains many resources that will aid in this effort , including interactive questionnaires and maps , a project timeline , FAQs , a document library , feedback form , and opportunity to subscribe to an email list for ongoing updates .
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MARCH 29 , 2024 | VOLUME XVI , ISSUE 07
Visit Newport Beach Honored for Best Public Relations Campaign in California
By NB Indy Staff
Visit California , the state ’ s marketing and destination organization , honored tourism destinations and attractions across California for excellence in tourism marketing and destination stewardship at the organization ’ s biennial Poppy Awards , held on March 12 at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa ..
Visit Newport Beach was selected as the winner in the Best Public Relations for a Destination category for its “ Big Game Getaway ” campaign .
When Super Bowl LVII was held to Glendale , Arizona in 2023 , Visit Newport Beach saw an opportunity when Arizona residents began listing their homes on shortterm rental sites as a way to make substantial money and get out of town to avoid the crowds .
With a short lead time , Visit Newport Beach decided to lure those residents to Newport Beach with a targeted campaign called “ Big Game Getaway .”
Visit Newport Beach joined with its hotel , restaurant and recreational partners to collaborate and curate exclusive Super Bowl-themed packages and experiences to entice Arizonans to travel during the month of February .
The results : Rooms booked increased three percent year over year , and website traffic from Arizona tripled in under a month . “ Big Game Getaway ” totals by numbers :
the
INDYPOLL THIS WEEK ’ S QUESTION :
Do you plan on visiting the city ’ s new updated website , Newport , Together , to get the latest information on Newport ’ s General Plan and more ?
� Yes
� No
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