Swan

A Hawaiian paddle-out ceremony will be held today for Rupert, the black swan accidentally killed this month by a Harbor Patrol boat rushing to an emergency call. The ceremony is organized by the Imua Outrigger Canoe Club. The group will meet at 8 a.m. at the United States Coast Guard station, 1911 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar. The procession will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the ceremony at the mouth of the bay scheduled for 9 a.m. American Legion garage sale today The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 291 in Newport Beach is holding a garage sale today from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 200 E. 20th St. in Costa Mesa.

An unnamed male Australian black swan meant to replace the beloved Rupert, who was accidentally killed this month, will indefinitely remain in an animal hospital after the California Department of Fish and Game put a stop to plans to release the bird into Upper Newport Bay. An anonymous local man bought the swan to essentially replace Rupert, the Australian Black Swan killed by a Harbor Patrol boat racing to an emergency call, said Dr. Jim Rich,...

The accident that killed Rupert the swan could have been avoided. The Harbor Patrol boat should have slowed down to avoid hitting the swan, the same way they would slow down to avoid hitting a kayak, canoe or any boat. The rules should be changed to allow the patrol boat operator to slow down when they see a possible collision with a large bird. CHRIS GEOHEGAN Balboa I agree that the Harbor Patrol speeds around the harbor too often. I live in Irvine Terrace, and I hear their sirens going all the time.

Woman's life worth more than swan's I was wondering if anyone noticed that a woman was found dead the same day that Rupert died?   I was amazed that the two stories were even boxed together on the cover of last Thursday's Daily Pilot; and the article in the Los Angeles Times' California section is headlined "Newport's Black Swan Is Killed" without a reference to the real loss of human life. Are we saying that Rupert and this slain woman have equal value? I am sad that Rupert is gone and acknowledge that he put a smile on many faces, my family's included.

After surviving so many near misses, Newport Beach's unofficial mascot, Rupert, finally ran out of time last week. Rupert, the black swan who made a pleasant nuisance of himself — gently attacking swimmers, floating up to boats in search of hand-outs and getting in various misadventures during the 15 or so years he was here — finally was done in by his curiosity. Always attracted to red boats, Rupert swam in front of a Harbor Patrol cruiser on its way to a crime scene Wednesday afternoon and was killed.

"I personally grabbed the congressman in front of me, and I said, 'Look, the two of us are going to sing "God Bless America" right now,' and he said, 'I'm with you.' It was almost like a movie ? everybody starts turning around and coming back and joining hands?. We sang 'God Bless America' right there on the Capitol steps." ? U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher , remembering Sept. 11, 2001, when he and some 300 congressional officials gathered on the Capitol steps just hours after the terrorist attacks "Because of you, arts and music will continue to flourish in California."

Newport Harbor Patrol officials on Thursday defended their response to an emergency call, after a patrol boat racing across the harbor accidentally killed a swan beloved in the community. On Wednesday afternoon Orange County Sheriff's Harbor Patrol deputies were rushing to the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, where a body was reported in the water, when Rupert the swan crossed the boat's path. The accident reignited general concerns about the speed and other operations of patrol boats in Newport Harbor.

As those who loved Rupert the black swan prepare to remember him in a ceremony on the bay, a Newport Beach businessman has offered to buy the city new swans. Rupert, who lived around Newport Harbor and the Balboa Peninsula for about 15 years, died Wednesday after he was struck by a harbor patrol boat hurrying to an emergency call. The swan is being cremated, and a memorial will be held later, but no date has been set. The Newport-based Imua Outrigger Canoe Club has offered to lead a paddle-out ceremony with a traditional Hawaiian blessing to scatter his ashes.