‘Christmas is not a bad shift’

Loved ones help bring some cheer to those working the holiday.Susie Stephens stood on the steps of the Newport Beach Police Station early Sunday with a heavy homemade pot of chili.

Inside, her fiancé, Sgt. Lloyd Whisenant, was in the beginning stages of a 10-hour Christmas Day shift.

“I’m low on the seniority list, so it’s my turn to work today,” Whisenant said. “I don’t mind. “It’s quiet. There’s minimal phone traffic and not a lot of activity out there.”

Much of the activity, in fact, consisted of people dropping off food at the station. Whisenant said every Christmas, officers’ spouses, restaurant owners and city residents bring in homemade dishes as a sign of goodwill. The on-duty officers take a break during the morning or early afternoon to have a potluck highlighted by honey-baked ham and turkey.

Supervisors often bring in dishes. On this day, Whisenant said, there are few distractions from the food.

All across Newport-Mesa on this Christmas Day and first night of Hanukkah, there were few disturbances on the roads and few cars in the parking lots. Residents seemed to be content enjoying a day inside their homes.

But some, like Tully’s manager Sarah Smith, couldn’t avoid heading into the office -- even if for only a few hours. After all, people still need their morning jolt.

Smith, who works at the store near MacArthur Boulevard and Bison Avenue in Newport Beach, agreed to be the manager for every holiday this year. She and her co-workers made the best of their shift. They hung stockings in the window and wore Christmas T-shirts and Santa Claus hats.

The store was only open for 4 ½ hours, and that was enough for the employees.

“We’re happy it’s a short day,” Smith said. “We all want to go home and celebrate Christmas.”

That was the case at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, as many of the patients asked to be discharged on Sunday so they could be with their families. Mona Dave, a volunteer who helps wheel patients from their hospital rooms to the main entrance, said she was busy transporting during her shift.

It wasn’t a short day for Joseph Ostunio and Briton Frisbie, crewmen aboard the Balboa Island Ferry. Frisbie, a captain who lives in Newport Beach, said he didn’t mind working on Christmas.

“I need to make some money,” he said. “We don’t do the family thing until the evening, so I’d just be sitting around otherwise.”

Ostunio, a Costa Mesa resident, said he and his father were both working 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. shifts and planned to resume traditional activities later in the day.

“We agreed we’d never do it again,” Ostunio said.

Only two ferries -- one fewer than normal -- were in service Sunday, and it appeared to be more than enough. The Newport Beach Police Dept. also had a reduced staff at the station, though Whisenant said there was a regular number of patrol officers.

He and his fiancé opened presents last night. Whisenant said he and his fellow officers try their best to accommodate everyone on staff.

“Some guys work Christmas because they know other offices have kids,” Whisenant said. “We try to balance things out so that everyone can benefit.”

“Really, Christmas is not a bad shift.”

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter. He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at elia.powers@latimes.com.

20051226is2x7fnc(LA)Lazara Frampton laughs with a customer as she works a cash register at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian on Christmas Day.20051226is2x3wncPhotographs by KENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Simon Paredes arranges a menu on the cafeteria counter while on duty at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.