Pride

Steve Virgen It was known as the 13th-place game of the Pride of the Coast tournament. However, for the players involved, the contest had added meaning as a majority of the competitors were familiar with one another since they are in the Newport-Mesa District and also battled against each other in Pony League action. There was a certain pride of the coast for Newport Harbor High, which, led by senior Joey Cantarella, defeated Estancia, 2-1, on the Sailors' diamond Wednesday.

When I was a kid, one of my favorite comic books was "What If … "What If Phoenix Had Not Died?"?" If you remember the movie "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006), you might recall that Jean Grey/Phoenix (Famke Janssen) dies in the end. The comic book dealt with what would have happened if Phoenix had lived. Long story short, her fury swallows up the entire universe. With that in mind, I'd like to play, "What If …" with the cities of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. "What if … Costa Mesa and Newport Beach outsourced their fire departments?"

What is the purple-blue flowered shrub that I seem to be seeing everywhere? It is a large, rounded plant and has large spikes of flowers that stand above the gray-green leaves. TIM Newport Coast You're describing Echium fastuosum or Pride of Madeira. It is a signature plant of coastal Mediterranean gardens. As you've probably noticed, it is also quite large and is there- fore best situated on slopes or in a large area where it can grow without pruning. It will tolerate ocean cliffs, salt spray and strong winds.

The Newport Harbor High baseball team took an early lead and was able to hang on for a 6-5 victory over visiting Ventura in the first game of pool play in the Pride of the Coast tournament Saturday. The Sailors scored four runs in the third inning thanks to a two-run double by P. J. Errington and an RBI singles by Drew Harris and Chris Thompson. Thompson also pitched the fifth inning to earn his first victory of the season. Jeff Sanchez struck out the side in the seventh to earn his first save.

By painting a mural depicting a soaring eagle next to New York's Twin Towers, students at Burbank's Community Day school had a chance to show not only pride in their country but pride in their own accomplishments and creative work. The mix of high school and junior high students spentlast week painting the images underneath the words "never forget" onto a large white king-size sheet that will be a portable mural for the school as part of Patriot Day, declared by President Bush to honor the victims of the Sept.

Sue Clark I'm grateful for the local businesses and employees who love their jobs and take pride in them. It's so appealing to see a person who is cheerful, interested and professional, no matter what their occupation. They aren't afraid to chat briefly with a customer, while not keeping the next one waiting too long--a special art. They pick up the phone but tell the person on the other end that they have a customer (me) and may they call back. They put their personal problems on hold and maintain a cheerful demeanor.

Newport Beach native Michael "Mike" Wade was elected as the new American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) National President. He was named by the voting delegates and leaders of the 650,000 player organization in New Orleans during the National annual business meeting on May 27. In his many years as a volunteer with the organization, Wade has established an impressive resume, holding positions varying from Regional Commissioner in Corona Del...

If anyone could take pride in a baseball tournament, it was Corona del Mar High's Kevin Stuart, a 6-foot-6 pitcher/infielder who dominated in the springtime. Dizzy Dean was the Pride of St. Louis and Lou Gehrig the Pride of the Yankees, but Kevin Stuart was the Pride of the Coast. In Stuart's four years, CdM compiled a 15-1 record in the annual tournament played during Spring Break. Stuart pitched shutouts and hit game-winning home runs in a sometimes awesome display of individual power.

Whether you call it the Pride of Newport or the Reuben E. Lee, get ready to say goodbye to the old riverboat that housed the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum for 10 years. Dismantling of the boat could begin as soon as next week, officials said Wednesday. After a decade on the boat, the museum was relocated to the Balboa Fun Zone earlier this year. Officials tried for a year to sell the Pride of Newport — "we had a hundred interested parties," museum Executive Director David Muller said — but it wasn't seaworthy, and moving it entailed enough issues that prospective buyers dropped out. He said he's working out some details with the city to get a demolition permit.

Tony Altobelli So how are you holding up as the Olympics draw to a close? Tired of hearing the results before seeing the contest of television? Are your fingers bleeding from trying to access information on the computer superhighway because NBC refused to show live coverage? "I tell you what," Corona del Mar High cross country Coach Bill Sumner said. "I started to watch the Mexican television stations because they were more up to date. I understand some Spanish, but anything I didn't understand, I'd figure it out by seeing the action.

For more than 25 years, the gardens that gave the Memorial Gardens Building its name served as a quiet respite for a growing city. The nonprofit Orange County Memorial Garden, dedicated to all veterans, was established in 1953 and erected the following year. The garden took up a small space within the Orange County Fairgrounds, which during World War II was part of the massive Santa Ana Army Air Base. The base occupied a large chunk of present-day Costa Mesa. The 1.4-acre garden is described in early documents kept by the Costa Mesa Historical Society as "two circular flower beds within the form of a figure eight.

Alfred Molina accompanied Joseph Kibler at the AIDS Walk Los Angeles last year. This was no ordinary partnership. The actor, with roles in "Frida," "Spider-Man 2," "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "Chocolat" to his name, offered support to Kibler, who is HIV-positive and paraplegic, but was determined to successfully complete the feat. "There's no event or way greater to show that not only am I proud of what it's taken to get to where I'm at, but what it's taken to get an entire community of HIV/AIDS survivors to that day," said the 24-year-old Glendale resident.

Loren Roberts went to Newport Beach Country Club on Nov. 5 for a special day in his honor. But he also wanted to make it a meaningful day for a select group at the golf course. Roberts was being inducted into the Toshiba Classic Hall of Fame. He also conducted an exclusive putting clinic for friends and sponsors of the annual tournament. Those people were learning from one of the best with the putter. Roberts, a.k.a. the Boss of the Moss, is known for his expertise and deftness in the short game.

In many ways, their journey began at the destination. Now, four years later, Vanguard University seniors Rachel Rucireta, Amanda Couch, Lauren Evans and Charlotte Wisniewski will once again fly just more than 2,000 miles and play as many as four games in an attempt to retrieve their destiny. The four friends, teammates and roommates since arriving at the Costa Mesa Christian school as women's soccer recruits, have, in many ways come full circle as they prepare to compete in the round of 16 at the NAIA Championships in Orange Beach, Ala. They have also come of age, both on the field and off, forming roughly one-third of the lineup for the winningest team in the program's history.

The aspect I remember best about Conrad Tao was the atypical way that his fellow musicians admired his onstage playing. I saw several of them - who are usually quite the stoic bunch - giving looks reminiscent of proud grandparents as Tao, then the 16-year-old prodigy pianist, performed Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6" as an encore. It was great. And, of course, so was Tao . The Chinese American musician, now 18, returns to Costa Mesa next week to perform with the Pacific Symphony once again.

The Harbor Mesa Lions are sponsoring a new student club, University High School Leos. The Leos are the teenage branch of Lions International. Their Charter Night took place late in June with 20 members. Leo club members worked at the Fish Fry in Costa Mesa and are planning to hold some fundraisers and service projects. Their school Leo advisor is Nora Seager. "Being a Leo is an opportunity for young people to experience community service and many continue that in adulthood," said Club Leo advisor-sponsor Carol Van Holt.

When I was a kid, one of my favorite comic books was "What If … "What If Phoenix Had Not Died?"?" If you remember the movie "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006), you might recall that Jean Grey/Phoenix (Famke Janssen) dies in the end. The comic book dealt with what would have happened if Phoenix had lived. Long story short, her fury swallows up the entire universe. With that in mind, I'd like to play, "What If …" with the cities of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. "What if … Costa Mesa and Newport Beach outsourced their fire departments?"

Mary O'Hara's popular novel "My Friend Flicka," a beloved, coming of age family classic about a rider's passionate connection with a wild horse — has enchanted children and adults for more than 70 years. And now, the next chapter of the saga unfolds with "Flicka: Country Pride," the third installment of the contemporary film adaptations. Back by popular demand, "Flicka: Country Pride" galloped on to Blu-ray and DVD on May 1 exclusively at Walmart, Sam's Club and Walmart.com , courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

As beautiful as homes are in Newport Beach, it can be incredibly daunting to find replacement parts for that turn-of-the-century plumbing. Crown Ace Hardware has made this its specialty. Having grown and expanded in the community for more than 60 years, the small hardware chain has developed a reputation for customer service and carrying those hard-to-find parts and fixtures for older homes. "What we know is our customers," said Mark Schulein, Crown Ace Hardware president.

Among the works of literature recognized as classics finding their way to the stage, it would be difficult to find a more overrated example than Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice. " Yet it continues to enjoy its 200-year shelf life, with two local colleges having produced it over the past few years. Now South Coast Repertory has given this well-ripened chestnut the full-blown professional treatment, adding a modern character to the mix and mounting a visually entrancing version as the opening production of its 48th season.