Torched
Paul Clinton
Turning off Finley Avenue and hitting a concrete path leading to
Newport Beach City Hall in full stride, Richard Stuetzel met a boisterous
crowd cheering for the Olympic torch.
The torch, carried by a handful of runners, headed through Newport
Beach on Tuesday morning before briefly trekking through Costa Mesa on
its way to Salt Lake City for the Winter Games, which will begin Feb. 8.
At a raucous ceremony at City Hall -- the building’s front lawn
blanketed with gathered onlookers -- city and Olympic officials paid
homage to the traveling flame.
“It’s of great significance for us to join in this event,” Mayor Tod
Ridgeway told the crowd. “The Olympic flame traveling through the United
States is a prime example of our country’s spirit to keep the spirit of
togetherness.”
Stuetzel, 70, was one of 39 runners to carry the torch in Orange
County. It started in San Juan Capistrano early Tuesday, hitting Dana
Point, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa before heading to Los
Angeles via a pickup truck.
The runners were chosen because they have been an inspiration to those
around them. Those who ran in Newport Beach said they were honored to
carry the torch.
Gabriela Bedolla, a 27-year-old from Long Beach, carried the flame
across the Arches Bridge at Newport Boulevard and West Coast Highway.
Bedolla was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease.
“It was an honor for me to have the privilege to be a torchbearer,”
Bedolla said. “For me, it symbolizes a light of faith to achieve all my
goals.”
Another runner, Fabie Combs, a Tustin resident who graduated from
Corona del Mar High School, ran on Cliff Drive.
“It was so exhilarating,” Combs said. “You’re carrying something that
is unifying the world.”
Lance Bass, a member of the teen group ‘N Sync, carried the torch into
Costa Mesa.
Children from Andersen Elementary School in Newport Beach and Harbor
View School in Corona del Mar took a field trip to the event.
Newport Beach resident John Ekdale, 27, said he was impressed by the
turnout.
“I had the day off and heard about it on the news,” Ekdale said. “I
can’t make it to the Olympics, so I guess this is the next best thing.”
Cherie Miller, 33, drove up from Laguna Niguel to attend the event,
which took on a decidedly patriotic feel when organizers handed out
American flags.
“The whole event was awesome,” Miller said. “It was wonderful to see
how many people showed up and how many people are so patriotic.”
* Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may
be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7
paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .
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