Boy Scouts

Our family, the Kapkos, is overwhelmed with loss. We want nothing more than to see Brian again. We long for that phone call that will never come, the deep soulful voice we will never hear. My brother and I will never get to buy him that first legal beer. It's still difficult to talk about him in the past tense, but alas that (and our memories) is all we have. Bubba's untimely, sudden death has left a void in so many lives. But more importantly, and more powerful than that void, Brian's story has inspired many to change their lives for the better.

Regarding Peter Buffa's "Comments & Curiosities" about the Argus on May 2: To many tourists, boat parade attendees and Boy Scouts on their Catalina excursions, the Argus could evoke the aura and romance of a pirate ship. However, to many Newport Beach residents the Argus has served as a reminder of their city's heritage. The participation of the Argus in last year's centennial celebrations brought a tangible and visual reminder of the founding of this city. Visitors from all over the world participated in the centennial celebrations including two Danish Scouts from Marstal, Denmark, who were able to sail aboard the Argus in the Tall Ship Parade.

To most people it was just a hill overlooking a junkyard and a brick factory, but to Richard Warde it was a treacherous raceway, a blazingly fast track that could be conquered only with a rickety piece of wood on wheels. The place where Warde and friends used to race soapbox cars has since been fenced off and overrun with weeds and potholes. According to the 56-year-old private investigator, the small hill off Placentia Avenue used to be a popular speedway for racing homemade soapbox derby cars.

The Argus, a 101-year-old tall ship that's been a popular fixture at the Newport Sea Base for 35 years, will be put up for sale on eBay this week, officials said Monday. The Orange County Council of the Boy Scouts of America operates the sea base and owns the ship. Boy Scout officials decided last week to try to sell the Argus after learning in January that it would need as much as $1.5 million in repairs to keep taking paying passengers. The ship, a 92-foot topsail ketch, was built in 1905 in Denmark as a work boat that hauled grain and lumber.

It's that time of the year when the family sits down and starts taking a hard look at summer plans. "What will the kids do this summer?" the wife asks. In Newport-Mesa, the choices are many. Surf camps, sports camps, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Indian Guides, computer camps, science camps ? you name it, you can probably find it here. Which brings me to Big Boys Men's Camp. Gentlemen, this is your chance to slip one in and get the dates blocked out early. But let's be clear, this is not for little Johnny or little Suzy for that matter, as you can probably see by the name.

Sailing instructor joins Newport facility as executive director and sets to work on new programs for Scouts.With the addition of a new executive director this week, the Newport Sea Base is now fully staffed and preparing to launch new programs, base officials said Friday. Former sailing and windsurfing instructor Charles Abbot was chosen from among 60 applicants as the sea base's director. He replaces Catherine Malm at the helm, an educational sailing facility operated by the Orange County Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Argus, which docks at Newport Sea Base, is deteriorating -- so much so that, at least for now, it's out of commission.When you're 101 years old, some of your parts inevitably start to deteriorate. A century on the sea has left its mark on Argus, a 92-foot topsail ketch that's taught hundreds of Boy Scouts how to raise a sail and handle a ship. Argus, a wood-hulled ship, has begun to decay to the point that Newport Sea Base officials have taken it out of service, and now they're taking a hard look at its future.

Annual Christmas event in Newport Harbor is service work for some troopers.Over the last year and a half, Delana Stoica has raised $280 selling Girl Scout cookies. It wasn't pocket money, though: She recently spent it to buy lights and wreaths to decorate a boat in this year's Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. Still, the 12-year-old Fullerton resident will get something out of the 97th annual event this month. She expects her work on Blacksilver, a 58-foot racing yacht owned by the Bob Koll Sailing Foundation, to earn her the Girl Scouts Silver Award.

Becoming an Eagle Scout is an institution for young men in the Hall, Gamble family.Ken Hall followed in his father's footsteps when he became an Eagle Scout in 1944 at age 16. His father, William McKinley Hall, was an Eagle Scout and a Scoutmaster of his son's troop, No. 31 in Tatum, N.M. Ken Hall had been in the Boy Scouts since he was 12; achieving the rank of Eagle Scout was a challenging and interesting experience, he said. Now 77 years old, Hall and his wife, Nancy, traveled from New Mexico to watch their grandson, 17-year-old Matt Gamble, become a fourth generation Eagle Scout on Saturday.

Executive director Catherine Malm leaves her post just a week after the special events director departs.More personnel changes have occurred at the Newport Sea Base in the wake of former program director Knowlton Shore's resignation last month. Sea base executive director Catherine Malm left her post effective Wednesday. Her departure comes about one week after the facility's special events director's last day. Malm said Wednesday that it was time for her to try a new line of work and that she left her position with the Sea Base in order to author a children's book.