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April-May 2005, Volume 7, Issue 3

BALBOA ISLAND CALENDAR

SUN MAY 1 2nd Annual HISTORIC HOME TOUR—11 am—4 pm.
Tickets $15.00 on Sale April 1.  675.1348 for Infor- mation.
SAT. MAY 7 BALBOA ISLAND ART WALK



Island Flooring has produced this newsletter for 7 years and it has taken me that long to figure out that I should make that clear on the front page—not the back!!!  So we have a new format for the Island Breeze beginning with this issue—and each month for the next few months we will change and (hopefully) improve it.

Island Flooring is full of surprises this month—we are finishing remodeling our showroom bathroom.  We started this project in September, 1993.  Mike and I had completely different ideas and it took us that long to finally come to an agreement on products to put in the bathroom.  I am amazed that our clients can make such quick decisions, but then they have us to guide and instruct them.  In our case there was no outside third party. 

Travertine is becoming more and more popular, as we see a trend away from the formal look of polished stone to a softer décor.  We used 4” x 4” multi-colored travertine set on a diagonal for the bathroom floor.  We also used Chocolade travertine on the upper portion of the shower with a chiseled edge.  Then, to finish it off, and show another look, we used breccia oniciata marble on the lower portion of the shower and the bathroom wainscoting.
Mike and I agreed that we wanted a bowl in the bathroom—our biggest challenge was finding what to put it on.  I had originally wanted an antique cabinet and we even went to Beaumont to look at antiques without success. Mike finally pointed out that if we wanted to reproduce the look for clients, we should probably start with a readily available cabinet—we found one that worked at Home Depot and then topped it with a Travertine counter.  The bowl-type sink blends with the countertop and has the look we find is becoming more and more popular.

Kathy found a wonderful mirror to replace ours with a fabulous frame.  She is going to paint the cabinet to match that frame and customize what was a plain Home Depot cabinet.  We need to finish texturizing the ceiling and paint and then it will be the perfect showroom bathroom—showcasing several different styles and types of stone and marble and a very unusual design that will last a lifetime.

Don’t forget about our door mats and cotton rugs—we are getting new styles in daily—from the ‘stars and stripes’ patriotic theme to butterflies, water lilies and animals in the coir door mats—to Hawaiian shirt themes and many “shaggy raggy” rugs just for fun. 
Island Flooring is open daily from 9—4, Saturdays, 11-4 and Sundays by appointment. 

Tax Corner . . . . Candace Yeamans
Sale of Personal Residence

The tax laws have changed!  The “old law” that allowed taxpayers to “roll-over” gain from one residence to another is gone.  However, the new law may benefit some homeowners who have used part of their home for a rental unit or an office.  First, the personal residence portion:  $250,000 per homeowner, or $500,000 per couple, can be excluded from gain.  Second, the rental or business portion:  This part of your home can be exchanged for a rental property, or into a “tenant-in-common” realty partnership. This is done with a “like-kind” exchange.  All of the above have specific requirements of residence time, purchase of new property time, debts on all property, gain, and basis.  Each person’s situation is unique, but with proper planning a Balboa Island home can be sold without paying capital gains taxes.  For additional information, Call Candace Yeamans, Certified Public Accountant, 323-1/2 Crystal Avenue, Balboa Island, 949-903-4242.

This article is intended to provide general information only without taking into account any particular person’s objectives, tax situation or needs. Before acting on this information readers should consider its appropriateness with regard to their personal objectives, tax situation or needs. Always get tax advice specific to your situation before making any decisions. 

Historic Home Tour. . . . . .Craig Page
The Balboa Island Museum will hold its 2nd annual Historic Home Tour on Sunday May 1, 2005 from 11 am until 4 pm.  There will be 8 pre-1945 homes on this year’s tour with memorabilia, historic photos, and a home history prepared by the owner.  $15.00 tickets will be available beginning April 1st at the Balboa Island Museum (502 S. Bayfront), Persimmon Tree, Sally Huss Gallery, and Martha’s Bookstore.  Call Craig Page at 675.1348 for further information.

Balboa Island Bulletin Board
Bayfront Little Island—Beautiful Modern 3-Story—Large Three Bedroom—Three Bath—Jacuzzi Bath—Large Patio—Fireplace.  Use of Pier.  Yearly Lease.  $4500.00 323.876.2723
Office/Garage Cabinets—Top of the Line Office or Garage Cabinets.  White Formica Finish.  3’ x 7’ x 2’.  Six or seven Cabinets. 323.876.2723
Cleaning—Vacation Rentals, Weekly, Monthly, Specializing in Spring Cleanings—949.422.8570. 

People We Share the Island With . . . Paul A. Ricatto (Part II)
Paul Ricato enjoyed his job as a meteorologist during WWII.  His job was to inspect the bomber stations between Brazil and Africa and predict the weather for bomber runs.  Paul visited Ascension Island since it was one of the bomber stations on the way to Africa.  Ascension Island was the island that Napoleon was originally exiled to.  There was little there except the station and 100-year-old turtles.  Later in life when Paul taught school, he liked to tell his students that he and Napoleon met the same turtles!
When Paul returned home from WWII his girlfriend Betty was waiting.  Betty wanted to move to California.  Paul thought that was a great idea.  But first Paul wanted to show Betty the nation’s capital.  As they were driving through Bel Air, Maryland Paul decided they needed to get married.  Paul stopped a cab driver and asked, “Is there anywhere nearby where we can get married.” There was, and the cab driver ended up being their best man!!!
When Paul arrived in California in 1946 he got a contractor and broker’s license and started building houses. He called his houses “Lucky Homes”. He built houses in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernadino, and Orange counties under five corporations.  Paul built 60 houses a month.  These houses were two bedrooms with 715 sq. feet.  And a one-car garage.  They cost $3,999.00 on your lot!!  Some of the houses still stand today and are worth about $200,000.
In 1959 Paul and a partner bought 111 prefab houses from the US government in Portland, Oregon.  They paid $44,000 with $2,000 down and with the stipulation that they had to remove the houses from the government property within one year.  Paul sold these houses for $1995.00 each to logging camps, farmers and other people who needed remote housing in Montana, Idaho, Northern California and Oregon.
By 1963 Paul had made enough money to quit the business and do what he really wanted to do—teach school.  He taught continuation high school for nine years and loved it. 
Paul ‘retired’ in 1972, but his idea of retirement has included, among other things, writing the books advertised below.  Paul moved to Balboa Island in 1985 when his wife Betty died.  Paul enjoys Island life and spends his afternoons at the Oasis senior center with friends. 

WANTED!!
Marketing Person for Booklets written about the History of Professional Basketball. 
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Please Contact:
Mr. Paul Ricatto
337 Crystal Ave.
Balboa Island, CA
949.675.4849

What’s New in the Village—Mona’s Waxing Studio
Mona Bahrami came to the United States in May 1996 from Iran.  She was 15 years old.  She didn’t speak a word of English.  You would never know it.  She looks and speaks like any other Southern California girl I know.  Mona says she learned English by taking all the classes she could and by going to summer school.  It certainly paid off. 
The stress of being a stranger in a strange land also paid off.  She developed skin problems caused by stress, and as a result became interested in helping others with their skin.
Mona first went to Orange Coast College and then Long Beach Cosmetology School and studied to be an aesthetician. She has been working for local spas for over five years.  Some day Mona would like to own her own spa. 
Luckily for us she recently met Maryam and decided to rent part of Maryam’s shop and open Mona’s Waxing Studio here on Balboa Island. Mona has a whole menu of services from brow shaping to leg waxing—available for both men and women.  Mona can be reached at Maryam’s Salon, 221 Marine Avenue, 949.723.5727. 

Adopt-a-Pot Painting . . . . . Dottie Siemons
My friend Peggy Marotta recently came into Island Flooring and asked if I had seen the beautiful job that Dottie Siemons had done painting all the Adopt-a-Pots on the boardwalks around the Island.  I hadn’t, but I took a walk and then called Dottie to schedule an interview so we could all find out what she does besides this wonderful volunteer work. 
From the moment Dottie arrived in my office I was impressed with her beautiful smile. When I asked her why she had spent the time painting the pots twice in the last two years, she said, “I just want the Island to look nice.” Actually it looks more than nice thanks to Dottie’s handiwork.
Dottie has lived on Balboa Island for 31 years this August—she has been painting for 12 years; and, with her husband Bob, helping people with their gardens for over 20 years.  On the day I saw her she and her husband had just moved her mother-in-law (who is 100 years old!) to assisted living.  Dottie was still smiling and full of energy!
Martha at Balboa Porch started selling Dottie’s paintings and now she is one of the featured artists at Sally Huss Gallery.  Dottie doesn’t have time for gardening anymore—she spends her time painting the local beach scenes which are featured in her paintings and her line of cards.  Her work is also reflected in her home.  She has painted the ceiling fans, the beams, the fireplace and even the inside and outside of the kitchen cupboards.  Dottie isn’t kidding when she says she loves to paint.  You can see Dottie’s work at Sally Huss Gallery, 222 Marine Avenue, Balboa Island.  949.673.1292. And of course on the pots around the Island.

Shooting the Breeze . . . . Carolyn Carr
This year has brought a lot of changes, so I have decided to experiment with the Island Breeze and exercise my creative side in a different way.  Since Island Flooring has been underwriting this, my other endeavor, for the last seven years, I thought it was appropriate to give them top billing.  And, to help our advertisers a little more, I thought moving around the various sections would create more interest on the part of you, the reader.  Any and all feedback is welcome.
It is now approaching the time that many of us on the Island look forward to—the Annual cleaning out of our attics and garages for the All Island Garage Sale, Saturday and Sunday May 14 and 15.  It takes place the weekend after the Balboa Island Art Walk (May 7) and Mother’s Day (May 8).  Enjoy walking the alleys and finding all those treasures.  We have a saying—”nothing ever leaves the Island, it just moves from house to house”.  So sign up to sell with the application included in this newsletter or just get out and enjoy the day.

Tips of the Month
They weren’t satisfied with digging in our trash or stealing our data from the Internet—now they are trying to do so on the telephone.  During tax time I received several calls from persons who said they represented businesses we had worked for and wanted our tax id information.  Thanks to an aware assistant who asked for an invoice number or a company name they were unsuccessful.  They could not provide either.  Just last week I received a call from someone saying they were at Experian and had my company name and address, but a phony name for the owner—nothing even close.  I told them to send me the request for information in the mail.  They too hung up.  Be careful—don’t give out any information on the telephone unless you can verify the person that is calling—they want your number!!!
To get off “pre-approved” credit card lists call 888.567.8688 or do it at http://www.optoutprescreen.com.  One call will eliminate that kind of mail for five years or forever.

Attitude . . . . Charles Swindoll
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.  Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.  It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, say or do.  It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company . . a church . . a home.  The remarkable thing is we have a choice very day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.  We cannot change our past . . We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.  I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.  And so it is with out . . .we are in charge of our attitudes. “

Dee’s Balboa Island Talk . . . . Dee Dawson
May is nearly here, and it is time to get started on Island gift ideas for all those special moms.  Having lost my mother recently, this Mother’s Day rings especially bittersweet and will be my first without her.  I loved to thoughtfully select and choose my gifts through the years, and ‘scouted’ with equal interest among our many Balboa Island merchants.
First, I would like to welcome to Balboa Island and highly recommend a new jewelry store, Elegant Illusions at 307 Marine Avenue.  This expansive shop features “created Gems’ or as commonly referred to within the industry, “faux”.  And as we know, all things are not created equal.  I was very pleased to discover that their jewelry selections feature only top quality Russian CZs offered in a variety of settings and colors.  Salesperson Crystal Allen explained how superior the clarity and brilliance of this particular CZ compared to the ‘typical’ cubic zirconium.
One of the groupings I found the most eye-catching featured the deep purplish Tanzanite stone from the Premiere Collection.  Choose from earrings, pendants, tennis bracelets and neck-pieces, all sparkling with star-power design.  Another ”must-see” is the lovely Canary Diamond group.  Or how about the uniquely reversible Alexandre stone which turns from a crimson color to a deep turquoise on the flip side.  All excellent selections for any Mom worthy of regal mention.  And the perfect “travel jewelry” in case of loss or theft—no huge $$ investment!!  Stop by and greet the staff soon and please tell them I sent you!  See the coupon in the Island Breeze for 20% off regular priced items—but hurry, it expires on May 15, 2005.  Or phone 949.673.3594.
Next I recommend a visit to the West Wing which carries elegant Loungewear.  Here you will discover top labels among luxurious intimate apparel and comfy ‘home-war’ for Mom.  I loved the fluffy Spa robes in 100% Cotton-Lycra priced right under $60.00.  They also carry satiny two-piece lace Cami’s and related separates by popular label Arianne—this will save you a drive to Nordstrom’s.  And don’t forget to compliment these items with a lovely pair of matching slippers or dazzling sandals! Unique soaps, sachets, bath salts and other novelties make Moms happy too.!  The West Wing is located at 211 Marine Avenue, 949.723.0285.
And who could forget the most timeless gift of them all on this special day—flowers!  Fortunately Balboa Island features TWO great sources to serve you—the flowery Bliss Fine Florals on Marine Avenue and the popular, longstanding and extremely elegant designs of In Bloom, a floral boutique, on Agate.  You cannot go wrong at either of these and they both deliver, of course.  I would encourage all early orders as this is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year.  And with the Art Walk the day before Mother’s Day try to schedule an early delivery as well—trying to get to you on Saturday can be a real challenge!!!
And, Finally, don’t forget a special Mother’s Day Dinner (or lunch) at any one of our fine Island restaurants.  Too many to mention—but you know who you are.  Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Spring!!