NEWPORT BEACH Attendance at 95th annual Christmas...

NEWPORT BEACH

Attendance at 95th annual Christmas Boat Parade reported at 1

million

A reported 1 million people turned out over the five-day Christmas

Boat Parade to see about 100 elaborately decorated boats parade

through Newport Harbor.

The event, which just wrapped up its 95th year, included the “Ring

of Lights” home decorating contest and awards for the best-decorated

boats in a number of categories. El Navegante, a dazzlingly decorated

boat owned by Sasco Electric, took top honors this year.

* City leaders got some welcome news when Gov. Arnold

Schwarzenegger announced he would use emergency powers to pay cities

millions to make up for lost car-tax revenue. Money experts, though,

remained wary that Sacramento’s budget crunch could hurt cities next

year.

* Adventures at Sea Yacht Charters announced it would ring through

the harbor with its annual Christmas Contrare, caroling on gondolas.

A dozen gondolas will depart from the Mariner’s Mile area at 4 p.m.

today , heading north for a 1 1/2-hour singing tour of area

restaurants.

-- June Casagrande