Boat parade on the top 10 list for the holidays

The 94th annual Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade, “Celebrating

America with Lights,” sponsored by the Commodores Club of the Newport

Beach Chamber of Commerce, will run nightly from Wednesday through

Dec. 22.

Many months of planning have gone into this world-class event,

said boat parade Chairman David Janes of Janes Capital Partners.

More than 75 boats have paid the $25 registration fee to be in the

two-and-a-half-hour parade, said Doug Stuckey, public affairs

director for the Chamber of Commerce. That’s up about 25% more than

last year’s parade.

The highly decorated boats will compete for a variety of awards,

including sweepstakes, best adherence to theme, best use of music,

best boat under 30 feet, best new entry, best sail and power boats,

as they participate in one of the top 10 holiday happenings in the

nation, as the New York Times describes the parade.

Homes, restaurants and commercial establishments on the parade

route are eligible for the Ring of Lights Awards, which include

sweepstakes, best adherence to the theme, most traditional, best

lights and animation, most original and best commercial

establishment.

Working with Janes on the Parade Committee are Commodores Seymour

Beek, Duncan Forgey, Art Gronsky, Brett Hemphill, Jim Dale, Bill

Mountford, Bill Pierpoint and Mike Whitehead, as well as Peggy Fort,

Rick Kaufman, Georgia Messemer, Jim Muhic, Gregg Russell, Mark Silvey

and Pat Swope.

The parade will start at Collins Island at 6:30 p.m., and will

pass the Villa Nova restaurant at 7:12 p.m., Lido Isle Yacht Club at

7:30 p.m., American Legion Yacht Club at 7:37 p.m., Newport Landing

Restaurant at 7:56 p.m., Peninsula Point Beach at 8:09 p.m. and the

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club at 8:17 p.m., before returning to Collins

Island at 8:40 p.m.

The best place to view the parade? Try one of the bay front

restaurants, a charter boat, the American Legion Yacht Club or the

shoreline.

Call the Chamber of Commerce at (949) 729-4400 to find out the

phone numbers for restaurants and charter companies that have parade

seats left.

Rain is expected this weekend through Monday, and it should be

clear Wednesday night. Dress warm and enjoy the parade!

SANTA OR UFOs?: A local nonprofit UFO group will meet Wednesday to

hear William F. Hamilton report on Project Aquarius and the apparent

evidence about a biology lab and scientist studying alien tissues.

Hamilton, a founder of Nexus and a seasoned UFO investigator for many

years, will reveal the latest, including a video interview with the

scientist.

MUFON Orange County will meet at the Costa Mesa Community Center,

1845 Park Avenue, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. First-timers free this

year.

SAVE THE DATE: The 22nd annual Mayor’s Dinner, sponsored by Speak

Up Newport, is set for the evening of Feb. 18 at the Newport Beach

Marriott Hotel and Tennis Club. This event will sell out, so watch

your mail for the invitation to celebrate what’s right with Newport

Beach!

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SERVICE CLUBS: Marcel Pahmer, sponsored by

Bill Barrington, who joined the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor.

WORTH REPEATING: From “Thought for the Day” provided by Greg

Kelley of the Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council ... “If you are

humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because

you know what you are.” -- Mother Teresa

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS COMING WEEK

TUESDAY

6:30 p.m.: The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club will meet for

a business meeting at a location to be announced.

WEDNESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 20-member South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet

at the Center Club (www.southcoastmet rorotary.org); and the Newport

Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at the University Athletic Club.

Noon: The 40-member Exchange Club of the Orange Coast will meet at

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

6 p.m.: The Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa will be joined by the

Rotary Club of Newport Sunrise Rotary Club at the Bahia Corinthian

Yacht Club for their Christmas party and boat parade viewing.

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-plus member Costa Mesa-Orange Costa Breakfast Lions

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe for a business meeting.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the

Holiday Inn; the 50-member Newport Beach-Corona del Mar Kiwanis Club

will meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a program by the

Orange County Water District (www.kiwanis.org/ club/costamesa); the

80-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will meet at the Newport

Harbor Nautical Museum to hear from Norm Killingsworth about his

marvelous flying machine; and the 100-member Newport-Irvine Rotary

Club will meet the Irvine Marriott Hotel for the Club Christmas Party

(www.nirotary.org).

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by Fax to (949)

660-8667; e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com or by mail to 2082 S.E. Bristol,

Suite 201, Newport Beach, CA 92660-1740.