JIM DE BOOM -- Community & Clubs

WHITE CHRISTMAS: As you read this column, Barbara, Stacy, Jodi and I

have returned from celebrating a white Christmas (the first for Stacy and

Jodi) in Minneapolis with my brother, LeRoy.

Before we left for Minnesota, Barbara and I enjoyed a Christmas Boat

Parade party at the Balboa Bay Club home of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Jackson on

Monday with many members of the Balboa Bay Club’s Six O’Clockers. It was

especially good to see Barbara’s friend Lloyd Winburn, who is well on his

way to recovering from recent health problems.

Early Dec. 19, I attended the “December Magic” program at Pomona

Elementary School to hear schoolchildren sing the songs of the season:

“Merry Christmas Santa,” “A Time for Love,” Over the River and Through

the Woods,” “Hanukkah Time” and “Good Things Come in Little Packages.”

How inspiring! Similar programs were held at elementary schools

throughout Newport-Mesa, much to the delight of parents and grandparents

of the participating students.

That evening, we boarded the Christmas Boat Parade’s lead boat, a

57-foot yacht named Pilothouse, skippered by Garret Martin and provided

by McKinna Yachts of Southern California to host VIPs (as chief executive

of the Orange Chamber of Commerce, my wife was the VIP). Our host was

Judy Woolen of The Gas Co., a presenting sponsor of the parade along with

the Los Angeles Times and Dyson & Dyson Real Estate. Chamber Vice

President Jeff Parker served as the master of ceremonies for the evening,

and Karin Graves coordinated the evening’s food, which was catered by

Chimayo Grill.

The view of the Ring of Lights -- the homes surrounding the parade

route -- was magnificent. More homes than ever were beautifully

decorated. The Balboa Pavilion never looked better. The Balboa Bay Club

was bright with 300,000 lights. The Ring of Light judges must have had a

difficult time choosing the winners of the various categories.

I understand that restaurateur Clayton Shurley, one of the Ring of

Light judges, won the first Brett Hemphill Award (Brett is this year’s

boat parade chair and also a judge), as he forgot the address of his new

home in Newport Heights.

Some of the 28 people on board included Duncan and Madelynn Forgey,

Robert and Kristin Burns, Mark Slymen, Danielle Shedd, Marie Case, Doug

Stuckey, Jean Bradley and Melisa Hansen.

The Dec. 20 Amigos Viejos luncheon was the best attended of the year,

said Rudy Baron, luncheon coordinator. More than 80 members enjoyed the

humor of Bob Robins, Gordon Bowley, Judge Robert Gardner, Jim Wood, Al

Irwin, Art Gronsky, Bob Wilson and Roger Neft, to name a few of those who

shared their favorite childhood Christmas story.

On Dec. 20, the four of us attended the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa

annual Christmas party held at May Garden Restaurant. The evening of fun

and fellowship with new and longtime friends made through the service

club was enjoyed by all.

READING BY NINE: Keep those tax-deductible contributions coming. We

have raised more than $5,700 for the Reading by Nine fund-raising drive

to buy books for three Costa Mesa Elementary schools -- Pomona, Whittier

and Wilson. Contributions have ranged from $10 to $1,500, and we seek to

match the $7,800 challenge money provided by Fountain of Youth Funds from

the Rotary Clubs of Newport-Balboa, Newport-Irvine and Newport Sunrise.

Contributions have been received from Mr. and Mrs. Richard Holmgren,

Mr. and Mrs. Hal Gray, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Rennie, Lisa K. Rivera, former

Costa Mesa Mayor Mary Hornbuckle, Mr. and Mrs. Ward Munson, Mr. and Mrs.

Roger Gilbert, Rajendra G. Desai, Thyme Hampton, Mr. and Mrs. Terry

Rousselot, the first-grade students and teachers from Andersen Elementary

School, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Lenahan, Steve Phair, Mr. and Mrs. Robert

Stamper, The Cocroft Family, Kathryn Haze, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Wood, Robert

and Diana Leaverton, Mary Bemis, Mr. and Mrs. Millard MacAdam, Harry

Weissenberger Doctor Jaguar, Barbara Gilmore, Kathryn Byrd and three

anonymous gifts.

Reading book orders must be placed by Sunday, and your contributions

are welcome as we still must match $2,100. Make your check payable to

Rotary 5320 Foundation and mail it to Daily Pilot Promotions Department,

Reading by Nine Book Drive, P.O. Box 1560, Costa Mesa, CA 92628.

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK: Want to get more involved in your

community, make new friends, network or give something back to your

community? Try a service club. You are invited to attend a club meeting

this week. Many clubs will buy your first guest meal for you.

WEDNESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The Costa Mesa Orange Coast Breakfast Lions Club will meet

at Mimi’s Cafe for a program by William Dewarzan on “Drinking Water

Problems,” the South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet at the Center

Club, and the Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the University

Athletic Club.

Noon: The Orange Coast Exchange Club will meet at the Bahia Corinthian

Yacht Club for a business meeting.

THURSDAY

Noon: The Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa will meet at the Holiday Inn for

a program on the Salvation Army, the Newport Beach-Corona del Mar Kiwanis

Club will meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, the Exchange Club of

Newport Harbor will meet at the Riverboat Restaurant for a business

meeting, and the Newport Irvine Rotary Club will meet at the Irvine

Marriott Hotel. You may visit the the Newport Irvine Rotary Club’s Web

site at https://www.nirotary.org.

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot. Send

your service club’s meeting information by fax to (949) 660-8667, e-mail

them to [email protected] or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol, Suite 201,

Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.