COMMUNITY & CLUBS -- jim de boom

Retired school principal Scott Paulsen turns 60 years old Sunday and,

says his wife, Liddy, is ducking any public celebration of the historic

date.

I received a call about the lack of celebration of Paulsen’s birthday

from a frustrated Doris Chekouras, a retired school nurse who noted

Paulsen is loved by everyone for his acts of kindness.

It was Paulsen who organized Chekouras’ retirement party several years

ago and opened it up to everyone in the district to attend. It is Paulsen

who bakes cookies and sends care packages to former students around the

country. Paulsen was recently honored by the Newport-Balboa Rotary Club

for his continued support of public education and the Ethnic Forum which

builds bridges of understanding between people. So, from Chekouras, the

de Boom family and a whole bunch of others, for all you do Scott, Happy

Birthday and good health!

TAKE TIME: Take time during the coming week to view the beautifully

decorated homes and businesses in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. Take time

between now and Thursday to enjoy the Christmas Boat Parade presented by

the Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce. Take time to visit the

church, temple or synagogue of your choice to get back to the real

meaning of the holidays we celebrate.

Jean Forbath of Share Our Selves reports that hundreds of volunteers will

take time this week to provide Christmas gifts and baskets of food for

some 1,498 area families. If you have the time this week to adopt a

family for the holidays, contact Friends In Service to Humanity at (949)

642-6060. The Soup Kitchen reports they have enough volunteers to serve

Christmas dinners.

BOAT PARADE FOR OLIVE CREST: Adventures at Sea Yacht Charters will be

hosting children and house managers of Olive Crest Homes for Abuse

Children on the yacht “Dream On” in the Christmas Boat Parade this coming

week. According to Kathy Leek, the yacht crew will be cruising and

entertaining the children with parade views, holiday cookies and treats.

On Friday, led by Adventures at Sea president Greg Mohr, employees will

be on a flotilla of gondolas that will gather and cruise the islands in

the harbor from 5 to 7 p.m. while singing Christmas carols to the local

residents.

A CHRISTMAS TRADITION: Tad Devine carried on the tradition of giving the

Christmas message at Wednesday’s holiday luncheon of Amigos Viejos. Tad’s

father, the late actor Andy Devine, and Warren Finley gave the message in

years gone by, said Amigos president Judge Robert Gardner.

Eighty-five Amigos from Costa Mesa and Newport Beach roared at Bob

Robins’ presentation to Gardner and Amigos’ vice president Les Steffenson

of a “Boot Saver,” a cane-sized, crutch-like devise that is too hard to

describe here. With the crowd’s response, Robins could have sold a dozen

or two of them to establish a new Christmas tradition.

WORTH REPEATING: From the newsletter of the Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club, the

Kiwaniscope ... “Life is like a game of tennis; the player who serves

well seldom loses...”

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

community, make new friends, network, or to 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.

TUESDAY -- 7:30 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at the

Balboa Bay Club.

WEDNESDAY -- 7:15 a.m.: The South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet at

the Center Club. Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at the University

Athletic Club. The Exchange Club of Orange Coast meets at the Newport

Beach Yacht Club. 6 p.m.: The Newport Balboa Rotary meets at the Newport

Harbor Chamber of Commerce to prepare holiday gifts for a needy family.

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

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

o7 jdeboom@aol.comf7 or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol, Suite 201,

Newport Beach 92660-1740.