Time for the turkeys, take three

JIM DE BOOM

For the third year in a row, I deviate from the traditional Community

and Clubs format to present the Turkey Awards for Costa Mesa and

Newport Beach.

In 2002 we honored Turkey of the Year runners-up Gray Davis (who

was recalled as Governor of the state of California), Irvine Mayor

Larry Agran (for the “Great Park” hoax) and gave the Turkey of the

Year award to campaign consultant Dave Ellis.

In 2003, the Turkey of the Year runner ups were Dennis Rodman, the

Newport Beach Parks & Recreation Commission, the Costa Mesa City

Council (who developed a policy to hold the grocery stores

responsible when customers steal grocery carts), wetlands discoverer

Jan Vandersloot (always trying to save a bird or a plant, always

fighting against any development), Dick Nichols (the Newport Beach

city councilmember who said enough) and Greenlight leader Phil Arst.

The 2003 Grand Turkeys of the Year were the grocery store strikers

who spent the 2003 Thanksgiving on the losing end of a picket line.

For several weeks now, the nominating committee, consisting of

environmentalists, business and community leaders, clergy, elected

officials, retirees and college students -- all residents of the

Newport-Mesa communities -- has been reviewing the pages of the Daily

Pilot from 2004 to find people who have had an affect on our

communities, to be nominated for Turkeydom.

The nominations for 2004 are in! The runners-up for the Turkey of

the Year Award include Newport Beach Parks and Recreation Commission,

on the list once again for its policy of not honoring the living or

dead by naming a park or facilities after an individual or group. It

is disappointing that we don’t honor by naming a park or a facility

after those Newport Beach residents who live exemplary lives and are

known for their positive contributions to our community. Case in

point: former NBA great, the late George Yardley!

The November 2004 election campaign saw many a campaign mailer

pushing half-truths and just plain dirt. Some of the mailers were

done by campaign consultants, others by the candidates themselves.

Greenlight’s Arst is on the runner-up list for the second year, who

along with Tom Billings is recognized for their sleazy attack on

developer Stephen Sutherland and the proposed hotel development.

The drum roll please. The 2004 Turkey of the Year is Armando Ruiz,

a member of the Coast Community College District Board, who took

advantage of a loophole that will cost the hard-pressed district

dollars. Three days before the election, Ruiz resigned his position

on the board to turn a $9,800 a year job into a $50,000-plus

retirement boost and won reelection to the same post. What Ruiz did

was legal and in his self-interest, but it wasn’t in the best

interests of the public.

The second annual Eagle of the Year Award is given to the men and

women of the armed forces for their exemplary acts of selfless

service as volunteers to our country at home and overseas. While we

enjoy this Thanksgiving with family and friends in the comforts of

our home, they spend their time on duty, in danger and their

sacrifice not fully understood or appreciated by many.

WORTH REPEATING

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

Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: “You have it easily in your power to

increase the sum total of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving

a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or

discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say

today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”

-- DALE CARNEGIE

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

TUESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The 48-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club will

meet at Five Crowns Restaurant to hear Mike Stephens, president & CEO

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. (www.newportbeach

sunriserotary.org).

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: 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.

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

the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club (www.newportbalboa.org)

THURSDAY

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

Club will meet at Mimi’s Cafe. (www.cmoclions.org)

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

Holiday Inn (www.kiwanis.org/club

/costamesa); The 50-member Newport Beach-Corona del Mar Kiwanis

Club will meet at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club; The 85-member

Exchange Club of Newport Harbor will meet at the Nautical Museum

(https://www.nhexchange

club.com); The 100-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine will meet

at the Radisson Hotel to hear Bill Laningham on the history of air

traffic control (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.