Love strikes

June Casagrande

If all vandals were valentines, lots of people would be as happy as

Julie Gooding.

The Newport Beach resident awoke in the middle of the night Wednesday

to a neighbor’s insistence she come outside and take a look at what had

been done to her house. The entire back wall of her Corsica Street

townhome was covered with love notes. Most were from her boyfriend, James

Scherer, but her 6-year-old son, Chad, had a hand in it too.

The sentiment didn’t stop at her backyard, though. Scherer’s love

spilled over into the street, stretching from Gooding’s garage all the

way to the entrance to her townhome complex. Love notes written in chalk

on the street listed his promises: “to love you,” “honesty,” “to cherish

you.”

“My God, how incredible,” said Gooding, 47. “I mean, what a heartfelt

impact.”

Some neighbors were witnessing Scherer in the act as he toiled quietly

outside his love’s home. By midmorning Thursday, the whole neighborhood

had enjoyed the Valentine’s display as well.

“Everyone was outside, reading the devotionals in the street,” Gooding

said. “My son and I walked down the street reading the devotionals

together. It’s amazing.”

Scherer, 47, could not be reached for comment Thursday. But to anyone

near Newport North Townhomes on Thursday, his feelings are

well-publicized and a matter of public record: James loves Julie.

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .