1. The Chuck Norris legend continues
If you believe in the power of Chuck Norris, look no further than what occurred at a recent Newport Beach Planning Commission meeting.
The owners of Woody’s Wharf, a popular restaurant and nightspot along the Balboa Peninsula, came to the commission Sept. 5 to get a permit to allow dancing at the longtime establishment. It was a last-ditch attempt after the commission denied the request last year.
It didn’t look good. Residents complained that allowing dancing at the restaurant would bring loud noise, calls to police and over-inebriated people loitering after-hours.
Then a resident approached the podium and mentioned that dancing was allowed at Woody’s in the days when Chuck Norris owned the place.
Commissioner Kory Kramer’s ears perked up when the famous actor’s name was mentioned.
“If Chuck Norris used to own the place, I have to support it,” Kramer said.
Mark Serventi, co-owner of Woody’s, confirmed the action star owned the restaurant in the 1980s. According to Woody’s website, Norris owned the restaurant and hired another martial arts action star, Jean-Claude Van Damme, to work as a bouncer.
At the end of the meeting, the commission voted to allow dancing at Woody’s.
Was Norris’ name a contributing factor in the decision? Who knows?
It just adds to the legend that is Chuck Norris.
– Joseph Pimentel
2. Read all about ‘Naughty Newport’
Got a hankering for tales of Newport Beach back in the day?
Judge Robert Gardner, a local fixture until his death in 2005 and the father of Councilwoman Nancy Gardner, brings them to you in the just-released book “Naughty Newport,” a sequel to his 1992 tale, “Bawdy Balboa.”
Gardner serves up an early history of the area with a cast of characters that includes “crusaders and con men, surfers and sots.” He recounts surfing with legendary Duke Kahanamoku as a kid and presiding on the bench in his bathing suit trunks.
Gardner wrote the book before dying at age 93, and some chapters have appeared in various newspapers. Now Newport Beach Historical Society Press has published the entire tale. It’s for sale on Amazon.com for $17.99 and will be available at Lido Village Books and Martha’s Bookstore on Balboa Island next week.
– Nicole Shine
3. Great Scott! Newport man gets hole-in-one
A Newport Beach resident got lucky in Kohler, Wis., while golfing, sinking a 92-yarder in one stroke.
The man, Gregory Scott, got the hole-in-one Tuesday while on a trip to Wisconsin.
On the 12th hole of the Whistling Straights golf course, Scott chose his sand wedge, lined up the shot and aced it.
Whistling Straits is a luxury golf resort on the coast of Wisconsin, with extensive shopping and dining options. The resort is modeled after the rugged rawness of Ireland.
– Aaron Orlowski
4. Little old ladies, unite!
On Saturday, the 40th annual sailing of the Little Old Ladies and Gents Regatta takes place in Newport Harbor, hosted by the Balboa Yacht Club. The boats are 8-foot long Naples Sabots, often used for teaching young beginning sailors, but they are also great for adult competitions.
If you have a Sabot tucked away, feel free to dust it off and join the regatta.
Members of the Southern California Women’s Sailing Association and others attend the event, coming from San Diego to Long Beach.
Racing is held in the harbor between the Pavilion and Balboa Yacht Club. Trophies to be awarded include one that was first awarded in 1974. The list of winners of the Bank of Newport Perpetual includes many names that are familiar to Newport sailors.
For more information, email Nancy Mellon at nansailor@aol.com or visit balboayachtclub.com.
– Brantley Watson
5. Strap on your boots, jeans for veterans
Don your boots for some toe-tappin’, line-dancing fun to support veterans.
Costa Mesa’s Working Wardrobes will host its annual Blue Jeans and Fast Cars celebration on Sept. 21 to benefit its VetNet program, giving veterans career workshops and placement assistance.
There will be casino tables, dinner stations with barbecue and all the fixings, line-dancing lessons from professionals and silent and live auctions. Dick and Priscilla Marconi’s collection of historical, classic and exotic cars will be on display.
Tickets: $150. The party starts at 5 p.m. at The Marconi Automotive Museum, 1302 Industrial Drive, Tustin. For information, call 714-210-2460.
– Morgan McLaughlin
