Parker: 2-year-old basketball star

Barbara and I drove to Chico to celebrate grandson Parker's second birthday last Thursday and to spend the July Fourth weekend with daughter Jodi and her husband, Zach Drysdale, and their friends. Our weekend included a traditional barbecue with hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob and the Chico Outlaws baseball game and post-game fireworks show at Chico State's Nettleton Stadium.

Parker, being our only grandchild, received for his birthday a BMW toy car, a bike, a Radio Flyer scooter and from his aunt, a 54-inch high basketball standard, among other things.

Boy, does Parker know how to shoot a basketball.

At the same time, daughter Stacy and her husband, Kyle Howard, who were married in February, left for the East Coast to celebrate the holiday with his family and for their two-week honeymoon trip to New England and Eastern Canada.

Skype is one great invention, for it allowed us to visit with Barbara's sister in Palm Desert and my brother in Minneapolis via live video on our computers and for them to catch Parker shooting the basketball.

We, the Howards and the Drysdales, will all be together later this summer as we travel to Avalon for a week's vacation and to celebrate family once again.

NEW OFFICERS FOR EXCHANGE CLUB

The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor has new officers for 2010-11. Gary Eckles was installed as president and Bob Wood, president-elect, and Leo Fracalosy, vice president.

Newly installed board members include Tom Naughton, Alan Staniforth, Bill Bechtel, Ted Davis, Neil Kessel and Jack Valley. Continuing as club secretary is Tuck Rabbitt and Treasurer Tom Norton. Jerry Nininger, whose term was completed June 30, is the immediate past president.

The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at 12:15 p.m. Thursdays at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club for lunch and is known for the annual movie benefit held each fall and Americanism programs.

NEW OFFICERS FOR LOBSTERFEST CLUB

The Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise won't miss a beat with its Aug. 1 Lobsterfest at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort with the installation of new officers and directors for 2010-11. Reniero Franciso is the new club president, replacing Tim Brown, whose term expired. Serving with Franciso are Cynthia Cowell, president elect; Donna Cody, secretary; and directors Gordon Bagne, Kimberly McKinney, Tom Egan, Carl Lachman, David Bahnsen and Willis Longyear.