More care comes to Newport

JIM DE BOOM

Last October, the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa hosted a barbecue for

the Junior High Exchange Students from Okazaki, Japan and their

American host families at Hamill Park on Private Road in Newport

Beach. During the cleanup, club member Roger McGonegal injured his

fingers. Blood gushing out, he yelled out that he need emergency

medical treatment.

Rather than calling for an ambulance, I moved Roger to my car,

wrapped his hand in a towel and we headed off to the emergency room

at Hoag Hospital. I probably broke a few traffic laws getting to

Hoag.

Upon arrival Roger checked in along with 30 or so others seeking

medical treatment. We knew it would be several hours of waiting

before he was admitted to the emergency room. When Roger’s wife

arrived, I returned to the park to help with the clean up of the

event. As it turned out, Roger started to go into shock and was taken

ahead of most of those in the emergency room. Many people in the

emergency room had to wait five or six hours before they could see a

doctor.

Many nights the emergency room at Hoag is over crowded, often to

the max. Hospital officials note this occurs because of the

Government requirement that emergency rooms treat anyone comes

through their doors, insured or not, emergency or not. In many ways,

the emergency room has become the primary physician for many people.

Veteran emergency room doctor Robert Amster saw a need in the area

and has opened the Newport Urgent Care Center. And today, the center

in town that is having it’s grand opening from noon to 5 p.m. at 1000

Bristol St. North, Suite 1-B. It is in Plaza Newport, across from

Pascal’s restaurant. There will be refreshments, live music, health

fair, free gifts for every attendee and raffle prizes.

The new center is open seven days a week and can be reached by

calling (949) 752-6300 or visiting the website at

https://www.urgentcareinc.com. Have a visit and familiarize yourself

with the location and staff. I don’t think you will find the lines

that one would at Hoag, but you will find experienced and competent

medical staff. Welcome to Newport Beach.

A HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

The Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council Wednesday luncheon will

focus on the religious holidays our different faith communities

celebrate. Representative of the Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Bahai and

Unitarian religions will give a brief overview of their springtime

holidays followed by round table discussions.

The meeting will be held at Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist

Church with Rev. Karen Stoyanoff serving as host. The day will begin

with an 11:45 a.m. reception, and lunch at noon. It’s scheduled to be

over by 1:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. The cost

including lunch will be $7.50 per person with reservation, $10

without reservation. Reservations must be made by Monday. Call (714)

921-8665, ext. 3 or e-mail to nmiinterfaith@aol.com

GOING TO MISS HIM

Newport Beach resident and big-band-era singer Harry Babbitt died

this past week at the age of 90 and we are going to miss him. I think

the first time I met Harry he was leading the singing of “White

Christmas” at the Hoag Hospital Christmas Carole Ball. He was active

in many community organizations, serving as an officer, a master of

ceremonies or a committee member.

A few years back, I was watching a big-band pledge drive program

on KOCE-TV that was recorded in New York and it featured a number of

big-band singers, including Harry. The first 20 minutes of the

program dragged on, but that changed when Harry took the stage to

sing three or four songs. Harry brought the crowd to its feet when he

asked them to sing along “Three Little Fishes” and other number. He

always had a warm smile and a warm heart. I give my condolences to

Betty and the family.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for Today, provided by Greg Kelley of the

Newport-Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council:

“Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don’t

have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your

subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace.

A soul generated by love.”

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

MONDAY

6:30 p.m. The Harbor Mesa Lions Club will meet at the Golden

Dragon Restaurant.

TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 46-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will

meet at Five Crowns Restaurant (https://newportbeach

sunriserotary.org).

6 p.m.: The Newport Harbor Costa Mesa Lions Club will meet at the

Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club.

WEDNESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 10-member South Coast Metro Rotary Club will meet

at the Holiday Inn and the Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at

the University Athletic Club.

Noon: The Exchange Club of the Orange Coast will meet at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Kathryn Haze of the Child Abuse

Prevention Center.

6 p.m.: The 50-member Rotary Club of Newport- Balboa will meet at

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club to hear Arthur Goldstein talk crafts.

(https://www.newportbalboa.org)

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 (https://www.kiwanis.org/

club/costamesa); the 85 member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor

meets at the Nautical Museum for Youth of the Year presentations by

Charlie Anderson (www.nhexchangeclub.com); the 100-member Rotary Club

of Newport Irvine will meet at the Atrium Hotel to hear Chuck Gather

of MMFX Steel discuss new technology. (https://www.nirotary.org).

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

Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655

or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.