March-April, 2006 Volume 8 Issue 2

BALBOA ISLAND CALENDAR
THURS. APRIL 6 BALBOA ISLAND PARADE MEETING—WILMA’S 7:00 pm
FRI APRIL 7 FRIDAY NIGHT STROLL 7pm—9 pm
SAT., SUN. MAY 6, 7 ALL ISLAND GARAGE SALE—7:30 am—4:30 pm
Application inside Island Breeze. $10.00 Sign-up Fee.
More Information Call 949.422.8570.
SUNDAY MAY 7 3rd ANNUAL HISTORY HOME TOUR—11am—4pm.
Further Information call 949.675.1348.
SUNDAY MAY 21 BALBOA ISLAND ART WALK—9 am—5 pm S. Bayfront Boardwalk. http://www.balboaislandartwalk.com
FRIDAY JUNE 23 BIYC Sign-Ups—Info: Curtis Converse 949.722.8884

SHOOTING THE BREEZE. . .Carolyn Carr
This month I want to Thank our Newport Beach Police Department and in particular, Officer David Darling.
I grew up in an environment where the respect for the police was not taught. As the daughters of a prominent physician—the rules weren’t for us. I can remember my sister being taken in to the police station with friends of hers from an illegal, underage, drinking party in a remote location.
Because of who the kids were—sons and daughters of extremely wealthy people—they didn’t put them in jail—just in the office to wait for their parents.
Because they were who they were—they should have been put in jail. My sister came home with pockets full of traffic tickets and told me how they ate all the officers lunches. I’ll bet there were some happy people whose tickets just seemed to literally disappear. This all happened in the 60s—before computers, and obviously before common sense.
Since I have moved to Newport Beach I have attended many “Policemen’s Breakfasts” and have grown to respect our local police force.
In February my friend and computer expert, Tom , and I were at Island Flooring when we heard loud bang. A truck had sideswiped a car in front of my office. Tom was outside and came running in. He gave me a description of of the truck and a partial license plate number. I immediately called the Newport Beach Police and Office Darling came out to take a report. Within the hour, based on Tom’s description, the truck was found and the person was apprehended.
That night Tom called me and said, “I never believed the police would come, and I never believed they would find the person—this renews my faith in law enforcement. “
I knew they would —I trust these guys—they are the best!! (And I wont ever steal their lunch!!)

JIM’s STORIES
This month our story comes from Greg Topper, the well known Entertainer at the Village Inn..
Greg always called Jim “The Honorary Mayor of Balboa Island.” He even planned to have a plaque made for Jim and present it to him in a surprise ceremony. Unfortunately Jim passed away before the plaque was finished.
Jim always came into the Village Inn on Saturday nights. He noticed that Topper didn’t have a tip jar. He asked Greg, “why don’t you have a tip jar?’ He kept asking every week. Finally one week he presented Topper with a beautiful plastic tip jar. That jar was subsequently stolen. And Jim replaced it once again.
Whenever Jim came into the Village Inn, Topper would announce, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Honorary Mayor of Balboa Island.” On the Saturday night after Jim’s death, Topper got up and announced, “this night is dedicated to Jim Jennings.” There was a standing ovation. Greg said he had introduced many famous people in the Village Inn before—from the Righteous Brothers to Paul Williams—and no one had ever received such a large, heart felt standing ovation before.
(Please send any stories about Jim to The Island Breeze, 118 Agate Avenue, Balboa Island, CA 92662. We will print them in future issues. Or you can do what Topper did and stop in and let me take down your story in person).

FAX AND COPY AT ISLAND FLOORING
We have a new high-speed copy machine. We can now copy large and small quantities, color copies and fax. Come in and try out our service.

BALBOA ISLAND BULLETIN BOARD
FOR LEASE Little Island Bayfront - Back Unit—Three Levels. $2200.00 Yearly. 2BR/2BA. W/D Hookup. Automatic Garage Door. No Smoking. No Pets. 323.876.2723.

HOW BALBOA ISLAND HAS TOUCHED OUR LIVES . . . FAITH BOWLUS

December, 1990
In December, with the onset of dusk, Balboa Island becomes a fantasy of sparkling lights that transform homes, piers, moored boats and even the waters from which these lights reflected, twinkle back at us.
Each Christmas season Don and I invite a couple of early music groups to our home for an afternoon of carols and other seasonal music from the 16th to 18th centuries. On this occasion I, too, join in with my seldom played recorder. In our second story, open-beam, A-frame living room we ring forth the spirit of Christmas, some of the carols accompanied by those instrumentalists who have beautiful singing voices.
Later, as darkness falls, we went our way on foot to the village where, seated around a large table in one of the island’s noted restaurants, we savor a delectable meal and a camaraderie intensified by being the old friends we are.
Once back at 312 Collins, all of us gather ‘round Don’s and my old oak dining table to sample the homemade Christmas treats everyone has brought to sip hot cider. Then it is back upstairs for more music.
One of the participants at this event, upon hearing from me that I was writing about it, recently asked, “Have you written about how you enthrall us?” She was referring to the delight the group feels over the miniature snowy Christmas scenes, Scandinavian perhaps in flavor, that transform the downstairs of our home and spill over into the upstairs living room.
Don and I are told by these friends that the magic of the music events awaken for them the aura of the season.

OUR ISLAND NEIGHBORS. . . Nancy Wilhelms
Nancy Wilhelms was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Fine Arts.
After graduation Nancy headed back to the Midwest, running the Main Stage at the Milwaukee Summer Fest. There she met all kinds of entertainers—from Ray Charles to Arlo Guthrie to the Doors—it was the 70s after all. It was a fun and rewarding job.
With that experience, Nancy gravitated to marketing and public relations. She formed a consulting company called WestGroup; working for over twenty years with some of the world’s top companies.
Last year one of her clients, Jeff Stroud ( of the Stroud’s Linens family), came to her with a new company to promote, Private Quarters. While she was working with Jeff, she found that she loved the products so much she decided to build a new business selling Private Quarters products—and it has really taken off!!
Nancy has found that the people on Balboa Island are probably some of the most discriminating customers in the world. They demand quality. They love Private Quarters products.
Private Quarters allows you to transform your private spaces—bedroom and bathroom—into the quality of luxury you enjoy at a deluxe hotel or spa. Nancy’s Private Quarters business is all about sharing beautiful things with excellent style and design—at an affordable price.
I have bought several pieces from Nancy and have loved every one. My favorite is the deluxe featherbed that has been keeping me warm and cozy during this cold winter. I have also given several of her soft micro throws as much appreciated gifts.
When Nancy isn’t helping us make our houses more beautiful and comfortable she volunteers for HELPS, International. HELPS provides medical relief efforts to the native people of Guatemala. She has gone to Guatemala and worked on-site in the hill country with the HELPS medical teams. Nancy enjoyed the incredible hands-on feeling of making a difference.
Please see the flyer included in the Island Breeze and call Nancy at 949.723.6377 or

THIRTEENTH BALBOA ISLAND PARADE
. . . . Kathy Peterson (From the Internet)

The first meeting of the Balboa Island Parade Committee met at Wilma’s on March 9, 2006. Kathy Peterson replaces long-time chairman Craig Page on this the 13th Anniversary of the parade on Sunday, June 4, 2006.
There are several positions that need to be filled:
Publicity Truck Rental Music
And of course there is much need for more people to help with staging/check-in; setting up; balloons/decorations; and poster distribution.
The Grand Marshals for this year’s parade will be the ever popular Keystone Kops. Ken Lindahl, creator of the Kops, will help us with pictures and information to be used in publication.
If you would like to volunteer to help with the parade, please call Kathy at 949.675.4504.

We will be welcoming back “Goldens on Parade” for the second year. If you have a golden retriever and would like to be in the Balboa Island Parade, please contact Bill and Darleen Manclark at 949.723.0103.

PAL—PERSONAL ASSISTANCE LEAGUE
Once again, I can’t thank Carol O’Donnell enough for her personnel at PAL. I had extensive knee surgery on February 10 and for three days and nights Lorraine, one of Carol’s wonderful women, gave me my medication, changed my bandages, fed me and watched over me like a comforting angel.
If I have to have surgery—and hopefully this is the end for a long time—there isn’t a better way to recover! I even got to go out for a walk around the island in a wheelchair and see my friends.
PAL has moved their offices to 226 Marine Avenue #A, over Starbucks—stay tuned for their Grand Opening. In the meantime call Personal Assistance League at 949.723.1986 or 949.233.4477

TIPSOF THE MONTH
TOXIC WASTE RULES HAVE CHANGED
Now there really is a reason to bring those old cell phones to Island Flooring for Phones4Life.
A new California regulation outlaws throwing phones, batteries and other materials containing lead or other heavy metals in the trash.
Known as “the Universal Waste Rule,” the new law governs dozens of items found around the house: lithium batteries, mercury thermostats, fluorescent light bulbs, old computer monitors, televisions, computer hard drives and personal electronics. As of February 9, 2006, all these materials must now be taken to a specialized disposal center or picked up by certified waste handlers.
Our nearest disposal sites are in Huntington Beach at 17121 Nichols Street and in Irvine at 6411 Oak Canyon.
There is also a website called earth911.org that lists all kinds of disposal and recycling sites for everything from the items listed above to bicycles, clothing, musical instruments to office machines. There is a place for almost everything you might have. (Remember this AFTER the All Island Garage Sale).
You can still bring your old cell phones to Island Flooring for recycling.
HOUSE MAINTENANCE
Your home is your most valuable asset—besides cleaning, paying the electric bill and tending the gardens—how many of us really “maintain” our houses. When was the last time you put a new filter in your furnace or air conditioner, cleaned the furnace ducts, tested the pressure valve on the water heater? Or are you thinking, “Uh . . . There’s a valve?”
The average homeowner should budget 1% - 3% of the home’s value for annual maintenance, depending on the age and size of the home and the area climate. Some years it might cost more; some years less. For a complete—month by month list of items to check—See the back of the Island Flooring Flyer in this month’s Island Breeze. And as you read the list notice all the things we DON’T have to do here on Balboa Island. We are lucky in so many ways.

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . . . . . . ISLAND FLOORING
We often have customers come into our store asking us how to get rid of dents in the carpet caused by furniture.
These dents are usually caused by using pad which is not dense enough. That thick, spongy padding. When the furniture is moved—the imprint of the furniture legs remain. When we install carpet we try to put in pad with a 7 or 8 pound density or “memory” . That means it will bounce back.
If, however, you already have your carpet and pad in place there are a few things you can try to eliminate those dents (From Heloise).
Fill a spray bottle with water. Spritz it over the indentations. Take a hair dryer, turned on hot, and blow air over dampened areas. The heat helps nylon and wool carpets rebound. Fluff up the carpet with your fingers.
Put an ice cube in every dent, letting each melt slowly. Allow the moisture to remain for about 12 hours or overnight. Then blot up any leftover wet spots. Use a spoon to pull up the carpet fibers.
These ideas are consistent with what our carpet cleaner Kurt Holsinger, from Masterclean tells us about adding water back into your carpet every year.
In the past we had advised people not to get their carpets cleaned until they really had to because cleaning removes the protectorants put on the carpet at the factory. However, your carpet does dry out over a year’s time. If you use a certified carpet cleaner who uses a PH balanced water system, he will renew your carpet—rather than wear it out. The PH balancing will keep the protectorants from being removed and the water will put life back into your carpet.
I can really tell the difference between samples I have had for a year or more and those that have just come into my showroom. And now I know why. It is the moisture in the carpet. And putting the moisture back can also remove the dents as Heloise points out. You learn something every day.
ISLAND FLOORING, 118 Agate Avenue, Balboa Island, CA 92662. 949.675.3456. Cell: 949.422.8669. Open Daily 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Sunday by Appointment.

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March-April, 2006 Volume 8 Issue 2