Community Commentary -- Michael Millikan

As noted in your Sept. 1 article (“Changes afloat for the boat

parade”), Dayna Petitt predicted that “there are going to be a lot of

people upset about the parade route change” if it is decreed that the

parade won’t pass the homes on either side of “the entrance to the

harbor.”

Furious would have been a better choice of word than “upset.” I phoned

three politicians whose names I’ll not print. None knew what “the

entrance to the harbor” meant, so I’m hoping the entire Newport Harbor

Area Chamber of Commerce is equally confused and will be able to

appreciate what I have to say.

I can assure Richard Luehrs, president and chief executive of the

chamber, I will be very perturbed if the chamber should decide to shorten

the parade route so that the parade will not go beyond the M Street pier.

Such a shortened route will eliminate from enjoying the parade all the

residents and guests of the homes on either side of the “entrance to the

harbor,” including the high density Channel Reef.

Additionally deprived will be the large number of people who always

watch the parade nightly from the West Jetty and its park, plus from the

East Jetty and the adjacent Corona del Mar bluffs. I’m sure these

visitors buy meals, mementos and other items that bring money to the city

coffers, which understandably is of paramount concern to the chamber.

I can understand why Councilman Steve Bromberg is “relieved” and

“pleased” that the original decision was changed so now the parade will

go by his home, which thereby will “keep the character of the parade for

Balboa Island.”

I am neither a member of the chamber nor a member of the City Council,

but I have intermittently lived on the waterfront of the peninsula for

more than 60 years and have enjoyed the parade probably as much as has

the councilman and possibly for more (taxpaying) years.

I’m sure that many residents, local guests and out-of-town visitors on

both sides of “the entrance to the harbor” will be very sad they cannot

enjoy this marvelous and historic Christmas celebration with the rest of

the bayside residents.

For more than 40 years, I’ve entertained guests intermittently

throughout the seven nights of this yearly pageant. I had planned to

continue this for many years to come: so I do not, and many of my annual

guests will not, “think, ultimately, this will be a fine compromise” as

stated by the councilman who also “entertains guests during the parade

each year.” Lost will be “the character of the parade for” “the entrance

to the harbor.”

Ever since I became old enough to appreciate the incredible effort

made by all the participants in the parade, I have wondered if these

hardy souls would fare better if they could run this long but beautiful

course on a fewer number of nights. I believe there is no other harbor in

the world that does such a long parade with so many participants for so

many nights. As you know, most harbors have a Christmas boat parade for

only one to three nights. (Can you imagine the Tournament of Roses Parade

being undertaken for seven days?)

Consequently, the answer to lessening the hardship and increasing the

enjoyment for all concerned will be to decrease the number of nights the

parade is put on, but maintain the route unchanged so the greatest number

of people around the harbor can witness this glorious and happy event.

In 1908, the eight lighted canoes and the single gondola did not go

all around the harbor because most of that perimeter was barren land.

Nowadays, revelers of all sorts, including taxpaying homeowners, eagerly

wait for at least one night of the parade. If here today, I bet neither

John Scarpa nor Joseph Beek -- the parade’s founders -- would let anyone

down along the full route: I also bet they wouldn’t do this for seven

nights in a row (so to speak, they’d have enough sense to come in out of

the rain).

The powers that be decide what nights they want eliminated. Then, on

the sensibly fewer number of nights when the Newport Beach Christmas Boat

Parade of Lights tours the harbor, they can be assured that the rest of

us will be there loving the spectacle and the spirit and happily cheering

on this historic tradition that truly belongs to Newport Harbor.

* MICHAEL MILLIKAN is a Balboa Peninsula resident.