Fourth was din before the calm

Elia Powers

Call it opportunism, call it creative enterprise. Either way, Balboa

Peninsula resident Tom Cozad got his point across Monday.

Making the most of his apartment at Balboa Boulevard and 33rd

Street -- a hotbed of Fourth of July activity -- he hung a banner on

the side of his building that advertised NewportSurfShots.com, a

webpage he manages.

Every year he pulls out the promotional poster for the summer

holiday to attract a few additional hits to his site, a mixture of

Newport surf news and photography.

Cozad, who has lived in his Peninsula apartment for eight years,

said the banner helps attracts a few hundred viewers to the website

each summer.

He doesn’t collect advertising revenue, but the publicity could

help pull in a few extra dollars from surfers looking to buy his

photographs.

“If I wanted to attract advertisers, this is the perfect place to

be,” Cozad said of his street-side location. “I’ve heard of companies

paying good money for spots on buildings.”

Next to his banner hung a sign for the apparel line Peninsula

Pride Coastal Clothing Company, run by his friend, Khari Johnson.

Cozad didn’t charge Johnson, and Johnson said about 10 other

Newport Beach residents hung his company’s banners on their

balconies.

“I look at it as exposure and name recognition,” Johnson said.

“It’s another avenue of marketing.”

Early Tuesday, both posters remained on the edifice facing Balboa

Boulevard. Cozad said if he leaves the banners up too long, police

will ask him to remove them.

All across the Peninsula last weekend, residents looked for

creative ways to take advantage of the influx of visitors.

The award for most audacious venture went to Brandon Hallock, who

parked his white Chevrolet Blazer across the street from his house on

34th and Lake streets and taped a sign to the vehicle: “Park Here.

Will Move My Car. $100.”

“I happened to find a place where there was space in front of me

and space behind me,” Hallock said. “I was thinking of parking in

Costa Mesa, but if I was going to move my car, it would be at a stiff

price.”

Over the course of Monday he received only one phone call -- from

a woman offering $5 and an immodest flashing from one of her friends.

Hallock said he declined the offer and thought of lowering the

price, but instead offered the space to one of his friends.

On Tuesday morning, Peninsula resident Larry Michael made his

annual “Fifth of July” collection. With two of his grandchildren,

Jenna and Westin Michael, in tow, he combed the beach with a yellow

metal detector.

Larry Michael makes beach rounds a few times a week. He said the

day after major holidays can be the most lucrative.

Over the years he has found bracelets, engagement rings, diamonds

and wedding bands.

He estimates his beach searches have turned up $400 worth of

change and 35 rings -- many of which he gives as gifts to his

grandchildren, if he cannot find the original owners.

While Independence Day is profitable for some Newport Beach

residents, July 5 is a headache for many others.

Peninsula resident Walt Seastrom spent the morning brushing trash

off his sidewalk and onto the street in time for the weekly Tuesday

morning cleaning.

“It’s nice to see everyone with their flags out celebrating,” said

Seastrom, a Newport homeowner for 40 years. “It would be more livable

if people would be a bit more considerate.”

Cozad said the weekend was wild but that Monday was calmer than

usual, likely due to the long weekend of partying. He keeps it calm

for the Fourth of July, inviting his family for a small celebration.

“You have to stay here to watch over your property,” Cozad said.

“We can stay above it all and be at a safe distance.”

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623.