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November-December, Volume 7. Issue 8

BALBOA ISLAND CALENDAR

DEC 2 FRIDAY NIGHT STROLL—MARINE AVENUE—5 pm-9 pm
Refreshments, Fun and Shopping—Carolers too!

DEC 3 CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING— 2 pm-5 pm Fire Station Cookies, Cider, Candy Canes, Snow and Santa Claus.

DEC 11 BALBOA ISLAND HOME TOUR 11 am—4 pm
Tickets available at: Even Sisters, Island Home, Let’s Go Shopping, Martha’s Bookstore, Persimmon Tree, The Sandpiper

DEC 12 ,13,&14 HOLIDAY HOME DECORATING CONTEST—
Keep your lights on until 10 pm each evening for Judging.

DEC 14—18 NEWPORT HARBOR CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE
Starts at 6:30 off Collins Island
http://www.christmasboatparade.com




JIM JENNINGS—A SPECIAL MAN
Jim Jennings found me my first house on Balboa Island.  I met Jim about 17 years ago through his daughter-in-law Karen Jennings. 
When I had a housecleaning business I used to clean Jim’s house early in the morning on Tuesday mornings.  One Tuesday Jim came groggily out of the bedroom complaining that he had to answer at least 50 calls on a house for rent.  “House, what house?” I asked.  “The house belonging to my friend Mr. Kelley,” replied Jim.  “Can I see it—I need a house?,” I asked. 
That night Jim introduced me to Mr. Kelly and took me to see the house (Mr. Kelly drove in from Santa Monica every Tuesday night and Jim and he went fishing at Irvine Lake on Wednesdays).  As we drove down Topaz with my first view of the Pavilion at night; Jim turned to me and said, “With a view like that you should have no problem finding a man.”
Always the romantic.  And I have to say Jim didn’t stop there at trying to find me a man—he was always sending one type of workman or another to my house to do a project in hopes that we would click.  Didn’t happen —I met Mike in 1994 and until then I just enjoyed the house on Topaz with my dogs and cats.
Although the Union gas station was gone by the time I arrived on Balboa Island, I had heard many stories about it—from Jim, Maybelle, Jim Jr., Karen, Bob Marjama and all the other locals. 
In July of 1999 I asked Jim if he would do one of my interviews about the closing of the gas station. That story appeared in the fifth issue of the Island Breeze.  Jim liked writing the story and decided to continue on. Every month he would send me a new story as soon as his last one was published.  Never more than one—Jim was afraid I might misplace them.
Jim ran out of stories in September, 2005—almost six years later. He told me he would have to start making them up!!  By that time he had put them in a book called Old Balboa Island Stories. His little book that he thought would sell “a few hundred copies” ended up selling 3,000!!!
A highlight of my friendship with Jim and the Jennings family was Jim and Maybelle’s 50th Anniversary Party in February, 1999.  His son and daughter-in-law sent the invitation with the picture to the left—taken about the time Jim and Maybelle were married on
February 4, 1947.
What a fantastic party it was—with Jim and Maybelle and all their friends.  I remember Rafer Johnson gave them a keepsake box with the picture from the invitation silk screened on the top.  We all marveled at the thoughtfulness of that gift.
Jim gave his heart and soul to our Island—he loved Balboa Island.  He always told me that the people here were a special kind of people—and he was the most special of them all.
Now it is time for the rest of us to give back to Jim.  Everyone at his funeral had a story about Jim—we would still be there listening if the stories were told.  Jim Jr. would like me to collect your memories of Jim and put them in a book—a companion to Jim’s book if you will.  Please call, fax, e-mail, or snail mail your stories to me at the Island Breeze, 118 Agate Avenue, Balboa Island, CA 92662.  949.422.8570 (Cell) 949.675.4348 (Fax). 

SHOOTING THE BREEZE . . .Carolyn Carr
This is where I talk about upcoming community events.  This month just check the calendar above and on the website http://www.balboa-island.com.  The latest events, links and even The Island Breeze can be found there.
Let your friends know what is going on here on Balboa Island and have them read our latest news by sending a link to our website.
The Agate and Marine Avenue Merchants are participating in the Balboa Island Home Tour this year. You can tell the participating merchants by the Home Tour signs in their windows.
Store Owners will be giving away everything from a glass of champagne, hot apple cider, scones, cookies—all kinds of food and little treats.

AND REMEMBER . . . Keep bringing those old cell phones to Island Flooring—So far Balboa Island has contributed two boxes of used cell phones to Phones4Life to save lives in disaster situations.
This will be an ongoing project—so keep saving your phones and bringing them in.  Especially when you get your great new models at Christmas Time.



FRIDAY NIGHT STROLL on BALBOA ISLAND FIRST FRIDAY NIGHT

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Picture provided by Garland Travis http://www.garphoto.com

The MARINE AVENUE merchants are having a Friday Night Stroll the First Friday of EVERY Month.

Participating Merchants will be open from 5:00 to 9:00 pm.  There will be Refreshments, Fun and Shopping. 

This month the Pacific Carolers will be entertaining in Costume and, who knows, Santa could be seen strolling along
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TIPS OF THE MONTH . . . Tape a Bean and Call Me in the Morning.
Having trouble sleeping and relaxing.  Take a dried kidney bean and tape it between the two tendons on the inside of your right wrist—about the width of three fingers from the wrist crease.  According to research, this is an acupressure point called the “inner gate”.  Pushing on it relieves anxiety and promotes sleep.  If you prefer a more modern method—try 1st Choice Sleep Band, which has a plastic button embedded in a Velcro strap.
(from the Los Angeles Times, 11/14/2005).


Buy Paper Made With the Highest Percentage of Post-Consumer-Waste Recycled Paper.
Americans go through a lot of paper.  On average, each of us uses about 730 pounds of paper each year.  That’s over a third of a ton.  And producing each ton of paper uses 24 trees, 55,000 gallons of water and enough electricity to light your home for two months.  It also produces 60 pounds of pollution.  Fortunately there is an alternative. Just one ream of paper saves 10.2 gallons of water and prevents the release of 2.1 pounds of carbon dioxide, not to mention helping protect trees.


Look for the recycle symbol.
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Look for the highest percentage of post-consumer waste (PCW).  This identifies the amount of paper that has been collected from recycling bins and used as pulp to make new paper.
The Paper Campaign Website offers a list of paper brands that are environmentally friendly. http://www.thepapercampaign.com/alternatives.html.
Check out http://www.ibuydifferent.com for other ways to make a difference with the environment in mind.  (From the Internet).
Staples, Kinko’s and Target all offer paper with PCW recycled content.  Brands to look for include Mead, Roaring Spring and Xerox—but be sure to check the specifications on each product and ask the manager if you can’t find what you are looking for.
Treecycle offers recycled paper, including filler paper for binders on line at http://www.treecycle.com

How Balboa Island Has Touched Our Lives . . . Faith Bowlus

November 19, 1989
I have just returned from a walk around the Island.  It has been one of those rare, deliciously balmy evenings.  The temperature reached 90 degrees during the day.  We are experiencing one of our characteristic fall “Santa Anas”, air currents coming over from the desert that result in the unusual phenomenon of the coastal temperature being the same as that of the desert.  Ordinarily there is a range of up to 40 degrees.  The winds that accompany these current did not reach us today, fortunately.  They can be miserable, sometimes blowing in gusts of up to 80 mph.  It seemed rather inappropriate that, on a day like this, I would be preparing and freezing tasty concoctions for next week’s Thanksgiving dinner.

September 2, 1991
The twilight sky is bathed in the most penetrating orange-magenta glow, an effect of the volcanic dust from the Philippines.  Mt Pinatubo’s recent eruption.  A rainbow arches across our house.  It is thundering.  What a combination!!

October 10, 1991
I saw a flock of California least tern winging their way homeward at dusk.  They would have been hardly visible if it hadn’t been for the “Mt. Pinatubo glow”.  It caused their small forms to shimmer as if a beam of a golden light had been cast directly at them.

October 18, 1991
In this afternoon’s clean and brisk air I walked around the island.  As I marveled at the late day lighting on the water, I looked up to see a pelican gliding toward me.  As I delighted in the absence of summer crowds and the return of the majestic pelicans, the bird suddenly let loose a spray of sizeable white pellets.  I dodged in time and just missed being the recipient of its greeting.  Welcome back, Pelicans.

Dee’s Balboa Island Talk . . . . Dee Dawson
Where has the year gone?  It is difficult to believe that the most festive holidays of the year—Thanksgiving and Christmas— are just around the corner. 
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I popped in to Even Sisters (207 Marine) say hello to Helen and her costumed cow, Carmen MOO Randa.  Fox CH 11 early morning top host Jillian Barbierie dropped in on the store with a cameraman in tow, to review the hottest new clothing line, XCVT.  The store has just begun carrying this trendy collection, priced in the high $60s.  All 100% cotton coordinates—more on arrival—due early in November!! Helen has video of the interview if you missed it on Fox 11!!  And for kids and kids at heart, you will want to pick up one of the store’s exclusive “OC” lunch pails complete with beautiful shots of Newport Beach and a handy detachable shoulder strap!  Cute!  Practical too!!
Next stop, Island Home—a “one stop Holiday shop” and favorite of BI locals.  Gleaming Ceramic White Pumpkins greet you as you enter the store—containing the tiniest light inside to illuminate them ever so quietly at the dinner table.  Also there were beautiful candles and autumn print napkins to complete your tableware service.  Hurry over, store owner Sheila Noyes says “Thanksgiving supplies are going quickly!”
To get ready for the Christmas Holiday in elegant style, peek into the charming patio area.  Two “oversized” Dickens Carolers beckon you, all decked out in traditional English attire. A few feet away there is the cutest little Snowman on a sleigh!  Don’t forget to pick up a package of miniature Gumdrop Candles nearby at only $15.95 a bag.  So charming and unique!  The numerous needlepoint pillows feature lovely Yuletide tapestries in prices anywhere from $49.00—$200.00.  So much more to explore!  Stop by soon and take a look at 313 Marine Avenue or phone 949.673.1133.
Big Holiday News at JP Maxwell’s.  Reyn Spooner has designed a special Centennial Shirt for Newport Beach due out January 15, 2006.  JP suggests buying a Gift Certificate now—in time for the Holidays—he will throw in a complimentary “swatch” of the shirt’s print for your guy to preview.
On Agate don’t forget Let’s Go Shopping, 114 Agate—Boutique items at a reasonable price. Cowboy boots for xxx, great tops and skirts.  Candles and jewelry.
Remember to shop Balboa Island on the Day After Thanksgiving—save gas and parking hassles. 

Island_Flooring_Newsletter_Late_Fall_2005.pdf