Community & Clubs: Pastor Short retires
On July 24, my wife, Barbara, and I had the honor to attend the retirement dinner for Dennis Short, the pastor at Harbor Christian Church in Newport Beach for the past 15 years, who was retiring from the active Disciples of Christ of ministry after 41 years of dedicated service. It was a full house of church members, leaders from other faith communities, family and friends for dinner in Harbor Christian Searcey Hall. In fact, additional tables were set up outside to handle the overflow crowd who came to pay tribute to Short.
After dinner, a number of people talked about his life,including his high school coach, colleagues from Chapman University, leaders of the Interfaith Peace Ministry of Orange County, Newport-Mesa-Irvine Interfaith Council, Planned Parenthood, and past and current regional ministers for the Pacific South West Region. What a wonderful job Nan Collett, Jeanne Funnell, Elaine Quick, Sandy Everett, Brian Barr, Dave Everett and Jack Golden did in organizing an outstanding event to honor Short.
After the dinner, Barbara wanted to see if the new Arches restaurant was open. We found the Arches on the corner of Dover and Westcliff, and greeting us at the front entrance was none other than owner Dan Marcheano. The Arches is beautifully decorated with Marine Happy Hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The dinner menu is extensive and prices are reasonable. Good food and great service in the Arches tradition.
On Sunday morning, we left out of Newport on the Catalina Flyer for a week’s vacation in Avalon. On the way, Capt. Steve Forbath slowed the boat down so all could enjoy the dozens of dolphins swimming in the boat’s wake. On Catalina we found that the Pavilion Lodge has been redone and renamed the Pavilion Hotel. During the winter months it underwent extensive remodeling, adding suites, a walk front lounge and wine bar. The Island Co. brought in an experienced hotel general manager in Lubos Pech. The Avalon Grille is a new fine dining restaurant that imported all of its staff from the mainland. Great steaks, fish and burgers. I tried the lobster burger, and it was delicious!
Gone is the Busy Bee restaurant, but you can still get a good breakfast at Sally’s or Joe’s, a hamburger at Coney Island West or enjoy the Happy Hour at the El Galleon. A new attraction was the six-platform zip line that ends up at the upgraded Descanso Beach which has new white sand, beach loungers, cabanas and an excellent Friday and Saturday night barbecue for $15, where you bring your entrée and they provide the salads, trimmings and entertainment.
Daughter Stacy and her husband, Kyle, and daughter Jodi and her husband, Zach, and son Parker spent the better part of the week with us in Avalon in a 100-year-old three-bedroom house close to the beach. I made up my missed Rotary meeting with the Avalon Rotary Club and enjoyed renewing friendships that I have made over the 34 years that our family has visited Avalon in the summer months.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
— Albert Schweitzer
SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK
You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week to learn more about opportunities for service. Most clubs will buy your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.
TODAY
7:30 a.m.: The 10-member Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Denny’s Restaurant, 290 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.
Noon: The Exchange Club of Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 1601 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar, for a business meeting.
5:15 p.m.: The 10-member Rotary Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Ramada Inn & Suites, 1680 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa. Visit https://www.costamesarotary.org.
6 p.m.: The Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Clubfor “Craft Talks” by A.J. Thielen and Dr. Steven Dominguez, Visit https://www.newportbalboa.org.
THURSDAY
7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at Mimi’s Café, 1835 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa.
Noon: The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Newport Beach-Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. For more information, visit https://www.newportbeachkiwanis.org.
Noon: The 95-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting. For more information, visit https://www.nhexchange.org.
Noon: The 65-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the University Club, 801 E. Peltason Drive, UC Irvine for a program by Irvine City Manager Sean Joyce. Visit https://www.ni-rotary.org
Noon: The 45-member Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa meets at the Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club. 1701 Golf Course Drive, Costa Mesa. https://www.costamesakiwanis.org
TUESDAY
7:15 a.m.: The Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets at the Five Crowns, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, to hear Kim Farthing, Operation Home Front. For more information, visit https://www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org.
COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Wednesdays. Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655 or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.