STEVE SMITH -- What’s Up

Our group does not have a meeting room, dues or rules.

We know of each other but most of us are not buddies. We are called

the “FOL,” or, “Friends of Linda.”

“Linda” is Linda Schulein, the first pick on my short list of those

not mentioned in the Daily Pilot’s 103 Most Influential People edition

that appeared Wednesday.

I have had the great honor of calling myself a “FOL” for at least 10

years. During that time, I have watched Linda get involved in many good

organizations around Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, giving both her time

and resources to help people in need, or to inspire those with potential

to reach new heights.

It is her work at Costa Mesa’s Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter, in

particular, that has made a difference in the lives of so many people

struggling to get back on track.

If there are fewer homeless families where you live, or no visible

homeless, or if there are kids who got back on track at school through

inside or outside help, I’d say the chances are good that there’s a touch

of Linda Schulein there somewhere. In the local world of helping

others, the six degrees of separation leads back to Linda Schulein.

Just behind Linda is her husband, Jeff, our good family friend and

Cay’s employer. Over the years Jeff has served as my sounding board on so

many things. He’s told me not what he thinks I want to hear, but what I

need to know. Everyone needs a Jeff Schulein in their life.

And there are others who I believe belong on this list.

Newport Beach serves as the headquarters of Churm Publishing, which

produces the successful OC Metro and OC Family Magazines, only two of the

many they create each month.

My association with Churm dates back to June 1998, and since then I

have contributed at least one story or column for a Churm publication

every month, except one.

Steve Churm, publisher, Craig Reem and Kevin O’Leary, editors, are as

professional a team as I’ve ever encountered.

Their strong journalism backgrounds have helped define the Orange

County business community and taken the lead, a sometimes unpopular place

to be, on issues that other, similar publications work hard to avoid.

That six degrees of separation is at work here, too, in the local

business and family writing world. In that world, everything leads back

to Churm Publishing.

Then there are Dorothy and Zane Leshner of Newport Beach. Zane is, to

me, “Mr. Restaurant,” for he has developed some of the area’s finest

eateries. Dorothy is another person who devotes her time and resources to

helping others. Together, they have made our community a better place to

live.

Also on my list would be my friend, and the managing editor of Costa

Mesa’s OC Weekly, Matt Coker, a former Daily Pilot features editor and

columnist.

In the five years that the Weekly has been around, it has developed an

impressive list of investigative stories and the staff has won many

awards for their efforts.

Anthony Pignataro’s “Airport Watch” was a big reason behind the

passage of Measure F earlier this year. Over the years, the words “It’s

someone from OC Weekly on the phone,” have become the local version of

receiving a call from Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes.”

My list would also include our neighbors for the past 13 years, Norman and Lucille Fricker.

Norman has been inspiring students as a championship debate coach at

Orange Coast College and recently attended a fund-raiser for Sal

Tinajero, a former student who is now a teacher and a candidate for a

seat on the Santa Ana school board.

At OCC, Sal earned numerous national and regional speech and debate

awards, with the help and inspiration of Norman Fricker. Norman and

Lucille have been Estancia boosters for years, even now, long after the

graduation of their youngest daughter, Cari.

It is interesting to note that although Supt. Robert Barbot, assistant

superintendent Mike Fine, district literacy guru Julie Chan and teacher’s

union president Linda Mook all made the list, not a single school board

member was designated.

My criticism of the board is no stranger to this space, but I’ve

applauded them when they succeed, as they did recently with the higher

SAT scores and higher number of Scholastic Assessment Test participants.

I’d put Dana Black on my list and Jim Ferryman, too.

Take a good look at the 103 list.

If you need help understanding why they made the list, pay close

attention to the words accompanying the photo of Mark Schultheis, this

year’s No. 1.

These are the people who are making a difference around town, who have

busy lives just as you do, but still seem to find the time to help.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer. Readers

can leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at (949) 642-6086.