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 .