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AUGUST, 2007 Volume 10, Issue 5

BALBOA ISLAND CALENDAR
SAT. AUG. 25 PANCAKE BREAKFAST—BEEK CENTER PARK - 7:30 am—10:00 am
FRI SEPT.  7 FRIDAY NIGHT STROLL—7 pm until 9 pm—MARINE AVENUE
SAT. SEPT. 8 BALBOA ISLAND HEART WALK—STARBUCKS—9:00 am
MAY 3 & 4 2008 2008 ALL ISLAND GARAGE SALE Info Call 949.422.8570




SHOOTING THE BREEZE.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  ..  . Carolyn L. Carr
This is my month to be grateful. 
imageThanks to Mr. Dennis Vitarelli and the Balboa Island Yacht Club for the movies in the Beek Center Park across the street.  I was the honored guest on the first Thursday night—free popcorn, candy and a seat right up front.  Now I understand why Dennis enjoys this activity so much.  The reaction of the kids was enough to keep me going for a long time.  You don’t see such gratitude often in this day and age.  Thanks for caring, Dennis.

Thanks to Seymour Beek for running the Ferry from 6 am to 2 am rather than 24 hours this summer.  It is much quieter at 4:00 am without the rowdy guys going on those fishing trips.  I am sure they have a great time, but it wasn’t so great for some of the neighbors here on the Island. 

Thanks to my hero of the month—Paul Staley.  Paul was working here on the Island and saw my many USC items in the window.  Paul came in to look for a birthday present for his brother while I was trying to open up, and I have to admit I hadn’t put on my “Happy Face” yet.  When I noticed he had taken the USC Dynasty Banner out of the window to look at it, I did not pause before yelling.  I am tired of people taking the USC and UCLA Dynasty Banners out of the window and knocking over the USC clock on display—the mechanism is fragile. 

Paul had, however, noticed the clock and hadn’t hurt it.  However, when I went to redo the window, and get the July bunting out at the same time, I fell head first into my window display!  Paul lifted me out of the widow like I was nothing—over my protests! (God forbid forbid I ask for help from someone whom I had been less than civil to a moment before).  Now I was guilty of “unBalboa-Island type behavior!!” What a nice young man!  He bought the $100.00 clock in spite of me!!!

Thanks to my new electrician—Scott Hoffman of SNH Connection.  Scott lives on Balboa Island and did some much needed work when we discovered misdirected electrical lines in our bathroom remodel.  He showed up early, was clean and efficient and cheerful.  Scott is an ex Navy Seal and I hope to do a story on him in the near future.  His number is 714.883.2084.  Give Scott a call for any electrical needs you might have.

Thanks to Jennifer & Tobias Halbmaier of DesignedDinners.com.  I had them deliver a weeks worth of dinners to my house—salmon, Asian Pork Chops, Mediterranean Chicken, Scallops—all ready to put in the oven or barbeque.  I just added a salad, vegetable or bread and life was easy!!  Ordering is easy—just follow the directions on the internet site—they will deliver for FREE on Balboa Island on Monday nights!! (See Attached Flyer).

imageAnd finally, thanks to my new friends Bobbi and John Allen who just opened Beach Bumz on Balboa Island.  Bobbi came in in April looking for a place to rent and we started talking.  John’s and Mike’s birthday are a day apart, so we took advantage of that fact and took them out to dinner and for a Gondola ride in the bay– it was a night to remember for all of us!! Please see their flyer for all their Grand Opening Specials!!!


BALBOA ISLAND ICONS . Doris Lee, Coldwell Banker

“RUTH BARDEN and her vintage (1935) cottage are classic examples of what makes Balboa Island the place of charm and character it is today.  You realize this is no ordinary lady or house when you visit her; as you step into an eclectic world of yesteryear and her life! 

From soaring wood ceilings, antique clocks, pictures of family—world travels and horses—to a huge real Moose Head—antlers and all—hung on the wall!  (A Mother’s Day present at her request!) Her house is full of treasures!

Born into a family of baseball fans; Ruth was named after Babe Ruth.  She graduated from Harvey Girl’s College.  Her lifelong philanthropic work dates back to the World War II, where at the age of 20, she drove Red Cross trucks full of soldiers to Fort Dix.

Later, while visiting friends in California, she fell in love with the state, moved here, married and settled in Sierra Madre.  There Ruth was very active in the Civic Club, “Rose Parade”, and named “Citizen of the Year in 1965”.  While vacationing on
Balboa Island she joined the famous “Ruby Street Mob” for
Barbeques and fun on that North Bayfront Beach.

Ruth purchased the cottage where she still lives in 1969 for $46,000.  She raised three children there and often took them on extensive trips to Africa, Greece, France, Italy and China to further their education.
image
Still a horse lover, Ruth owns and boards an Appaloosa horse, “Red Cloud”; rides him four times a week, and loves horse races.  She also enjoys her children and eight grandchildren, plays “Bridge” at Newport Yacht Club or reads mystery books and Harry Potter at home with her Scotch Terrier “Parker”.  Little wonder that Balboa Island became a place of charm and character with “ICONS” like RUTH BARDEN.

Would you like to be saluted as a Balboa Island ICON—please call Doris Lee @949.280.0607 or e-mail dorislee@coldwell banker.com.


REFLECTIONS by Faith Bowlus
Subtle Patterns
Watch closely---
Small things seeming insignificant
Sometimes are just this.
Yet, as with a slipped stitch,
Unraveling may follow.

Watch closely--
To redo may leave a pattern
Incomplete:
A needless missing link.

Tapestry
I like to search
For small openings
Within the fabric
Of a gripping, ongoing
Problem in life;
Small openings through which
A bit of fresh air
Can pass.

Life!
Our entire life
Can burst
At a given moment.
Life!  May it be
A jewel to treasure!

So often what it
Does to us
Stems
From what we do to it.



LOOKING FOR POSITION ON BALBOA ISLAND

I have lived on Balboa Island twice and would love to live there once again.  I would like to offer “care giving” - being a companion, transportation, errands, cooking and light cleaning in exchange for a bedroom and bath with kitchen privileges.  This would be for 15 hours a week of work.

I have excellent local references from friends who have lived in Newport Beach for 30 plus years.  I came to live in San Clemente in 1961 married to a Marine and have raised my family here in Southern California.  My daughter and her family have lived in Newport Beach for the past 20 years.

I will be happy to come visit with any interested parties.

Irma Nichols
949.650.1352



MY FIRST YEAR ON THE ISLAND . . . . Ralph Velasco
(from the Internet)

My roots are in Chicago, a wonderful place in its own right, but to have the opportunity to live on Balboa Island has been fantastic.  Having been away in Chicago for over 5 years I just moved back to Southern California about a year ago and thanks to a friend who lives on the Island I was able to search for, and find, just the right living situation for myself.  I have made great friends up and down my street and in my immediate neighborhood.

Since my arrival in late 2005, I have been exposed to the spectacle that is the Christmas Tree Lighting, the Christmas Boat Parade, the Balboa Island Parade, the All Island Garage Sale, the Balboa Island Art Walk and of course, Balboa Bars and the world famous Balboa Island Ferry.  image

I truly enjoyed Halloween for the first time in years when this past October we dressed up and handed out candy to the kids and their parents.  I have enjoyed walking around the Island, admiring the architecture of the homes, and taking in the harbor views.  People watching on Marine Avenue and enjoying its many restaurants has become a regular pastime of mine.

imageAs a photographer I have explored the Island and the surrounding areas and documented the first year with some images.  A photograph records a moment in time and with the Fun Zone’s being changed forever, I have attempted to capture it as it changes.  If you take a minute to browse my website at http://www.balboaimages.com you will notice I have concentrated on a group of images of this landmark that are designed to preserve some of this history.

Please feel free to visit my websites and to offer comments via e-mail.  If there is something you don’t see, let me know that as well, and I will do my best to capture it soon.  I offer my services by appointment should you need pictures of your home, boat or any other subject.

Thanks to all of you who have welcomed me as a resident and have made me feel very at home on the Island.
Ralph Velasco

http://www.balboaimages.com
http://www.RalphVelasco.com


THE BALBOA ISLAND WALK FOR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
Hi, my name is Marianne Parry and as a Personal Fitness Trainer I strongly support the American Heart Association’s efforts to increase their heart disease and stroke research and education programs that help the public become more aware of the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.
image
On September 16, I will be participating in this year’s Heart Walk (the American Heart Association’s signature fund-raising event) and am currently raising funds.

Please join me in a Balboa Island Walk fund-raising event on September 8, 2007, in which we, as a team, will take a leisurely walk around the big island We will be meeting at 9:00 am in front of Starbucks Coffee on Marine Avenue where we will enjoy a free cup of coffee before we start out.

Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated.  If donating by check, please make it payable to the American Heart Association.
Thank you for your support!
See you there!!

TIPS OF THE MONTH
Recently I was asked about how I accessed the internet and if I was happy.  I am extremely happy because I took the advise of my computer guru, Tom Stanton, when I moved here to Agate four years ago. 
Prior to that I had what was then Adelphia Cable (Now Time Warner) for my TV and computer.  The TV was ok I guess—I don’t watch TV, so I don’t really know.  Mike does and was happy for the most part.
When we moved to Agate I decided to try Direct TV since they had a terrific offer at the time and they didn’t charge me for every box in the house like cable did.  Mike didn’t like the change at first, but when he also got a free DVR and the cable never went down he was also very happy!
I have been ecstatic.  Tom recommended I get DSL through the phone company—at that time Pac Bell.  As a result I no longer have to call my neighbor to find out if it is the cable or if my computer that is down.  My DSL has NEVER gone down!!!  I love it. 


You Can’t Let One Bad Moment Spoil a Bunch of Good Ones!. . . .  Dale Earnhart


NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . . . .

ISLAND FLOORING
118 Agate Avenue
Balboa Island, CA 92662
949.675-3456
949.675-4348 (Fax)
949.422-8569 (Cell)

SOLID VERSUS ENGINEERED WOOD

Many people ask us the difference between solid and engineered wood flooring.  Recently the flexibility and versatility of engineered as well as its environmental benefits have led to rising sales. 

Engineered floors are more stable—due to their construction, they will generally expand and contract less from moisture, making it more forgiving in wider widths and in areas of high humidity.  Since we have a marine environment here that is extremely important.  Even when we put a floor in a barge in France—we used engineered wood!!
Engineered woods are more versatile in installation—they can be glued, stapled or locked and they normally don’t require an expensive wood sub floor—they can be installed over the concrete slabs that are so common in Southern California.
Engineered floors are easier on the environment.  They use less of the tree versus a solid wood product and also use less of the valuable face veneer for each plank. 
All in all—”Due to their layered constructions, they tolerate temperature, moisture and relative humidity changes much better than solid alternatives which makes them more functional and ‘forgiving’ as site conditions change during the course of a year.

Come in to Island Flooring and see our vast assortment of engineered floors—from Anderson, Garrison, Old Masters, Bruce, The Rhone Company, Diamond W, Robbins, and many others.  We even can custom make a floor !!!!



ISLAND STYLE
118 Agate Avenue
Balboa Island, CA 92662
949.675.6511

New at Island Style this August:
NEW DYNASTY BANNERS—USC, UCLA

FABULOUS LUGGAGE TAGS -
COLLEGE
NFL
MLB
NBA
Only $6.00—and I know you don’t want to hear it yet . . . But they will make great stocking stuffers!!!
Also Refrigerator Magnets for Colleges!!

NEW SCHOOLS in OUR EVER POPULAR RUG LINE!!!
ARIZONA
ARIZONA STATE
CAL STATE FULLERTON
CAL STATE LONG BEACH
FRESNO
SAN DIEGO
SAN DIEGO STATE
UCI
MARYLAND
MISSOURI
NORTH CAROLINA