EDITORIAL

Most people, faced with the task of raising an extra, unexpected $2.5

million, might be tempted to throw up their hands in defeat.

But members of the Balboa Performing Arts Theatre Foundation are doing

everything but giving up on their dream of resurrecting the historic

theater.

This month, the foundation learned that the $1-million price tag for

renovating the theater will come in closer to $3.5 million because of the

extensive construction required to meet federal standards under the

Americans with Disabilities Act.

“It’s not so much money,” said foundation president Dayna Pettit.

And it’s not, compared to $200 million being raised by the Orange County

Performing Arts Center. But it’s still a lot, especially for a small,

grass-roots foundation that has spent three years raising $480,000.

The ballooning cost isn’t stopping them. And this weekend the community

has a chance to help bring live performances and independent films back

to the old theater. A charity 5K run and walk will be held Saturday,

which will offer a scenic course through Peninsula Point and past the

Wedge, for just $18.

To take part in the race, just show up at Washington Street and Bay

Avenue. It’s a small price to pay to save the theater.

Across the harbor, Balboa Island residents have started their own

preservation campaign. Their focus: turning the island’s old fire station

into an island museum. Their need: $2 million.

In many ways, they’ve got even further to go than the Theatre Foundation.

They’ve raised just $15,000.

Like their peninsula counterparts, members of the Balboa Island Museum

and Historical Society are on a noble quest. For five years, the 1932

building has stood empty as its owner has been unable to get permits to

put in a sushi restaurant.

As much as we love sushi, we think our community will be better off

saving an important piece of its history. Buildings like the fire station

are becoming rarer and rarer as older houses are torn down and replaced

with even larger dream homes.

It will be wonderful for the people living in them to have a sense of

their island’s history.