Balboa Island News – BIIA.
LEE’S MESSAGE FROM THE BALBOA ISLAND IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
CONCERT IN THE CHURCH-OMILOS TRIO
Date: December 2, 2025
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Place: St. John Vianney Chapel, 314 Marine Avenue
Tickets: $20 BIIA.org OR May also be purchased at Balboa Museum – Starting Nov 2nd
27TH ANNUAL BALBOA ISLAND HOLIDAY HOME WALKING TOUR
The home tour will be Saturday, December 13th, 2025, from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Tickets are $50.00 dollars. To purchase NOW please visit biia.org and click “Home Tour”!
BALBOA ISLAND WALK OF GRATITUDE
A group of Island residents are organizing a community event, and they are inviting you.
Join the Balboa Island Walk of Gratitude.
Celebrate Our Love for Island Life Together.
Saturday November 15, 9:30 am.
The Balboa Island Walk of Gratitude is a joyful celebration of everything we love about our Island — its beauty, charm, and sense of community. This beautiful walk on the Bayfront invites residents, families, and friends to come together and share their gratitude for the special place we call home. It’s a simple, morning walk with friends, celebrating our love for Balboa Island, our connections, and the everyday beauty of Island life.
Starting at the Ferry on Agate Avenue at North Bayfront. Enjoy a beautiful fall morning, walking on the Bayfront with neighbors and friends. Let’s make this a new Balboa Island Fall tradition! For information contact Sandy Keedy sandykeedy@gmail.com
Membership to the BIIA go to biia.org to join
30th Annual Balboa Island Parade Selects Jeff Boyles as it’s Grand Marshall
Welcome, everyone, to the Balboa Island Parade! It’s an honor to serve as this year’s Grand Marshal and celebrate our incredible community together. As we enjoy the festivities, it’s also a great time to reflect on our local history. Nearly 30 years ago, the Balboa Island Fire Station (Station Four) relocated from its longtime home on Marine Avenue to a modern facility at the opposite end of the street. For over 75 years, Station Four was a cornerstone of fire protection on the island, evolving from a small garage in 1927 to a dedicated station built in 1931. Staffed by paid-call firefighters and even volunteer high school students in its early years, the station played a crucial role in safeguarding the island. Though the original building gained historical landmark status, its fire engines did not survive. However, a beautifully restored 1920 American LaFrance engine now stands as a tribute to Newport Beach’s rich firefighting history. Today, we celebrate both our vibrant community and the legacy of those who have protected it for generations. Enjoy the parade!
A MESSAGE FROM THE BALBOA ISLAND IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM AT THE FIRE STATION
Balboa Island friends: Please join me this Saturday September 28th 9:00 a.m. for a General Meeting at the fire station. This will be a Newport Beach City Council Candidate Forum sponsored by the BIIA, Balboa Island Merchants Association and the Little Balboa Island Homeowners Association. Three City Council seats will be decided in November. Our Council seat is also up for reelection. Both Noah Blom and Jeff Herdman want to be your next City Councilmember. Free doughnuts and coffee. Send your questions to: Ken Yonkers LBIPOA, Cynthia Shafer Balboa Island Merchants Association, Dan Abbott Balboa Island Improvement Association. I will forward your question to them through my email smartpearl1@hotmail.com. Thanks, Lee Pearl event moderator.
MUSEUM 4TH ANNUAL FUN ZONE COWBOY CARNIVAL
Friday October 18th 6 pm. Tickets at the Museum or www.bimcowboycarnival.org for more information.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM LEE PEARL smartpearl1@hotmail.com
West End underground project from Agate to Collins Island is nearing completion: What an amazing difference! I can’t remember what the alleys looked like before, then I go home and look in my alley.
The Big Island underground contractor is on Balboa Ave and alleys. Award of the final phase will be at a City Council meeting soon. Some of the phasing of construction in this final phase has been changed to create a smoother transition with cable and power off the poles in the future.
The underground information on the City website can be found on this link Assessment District Status | City of Newport Beach (newportbeachca.gov). Questions Mike Sinacori msinacori@newportbeachca.gov
CONCERT IN THE CHURCH
October 22nd is our next concert in the church. More details to follow.
PARK AVENUE MURAL UPDATE
You will see work starting on the Irvine Ranch Market wall. The completion is scheduled the end of October. We are thrilled by the overwhelming response, with over 240 generous sponsors gracing our donor list. Please visit our website which highlights the project. parkavenuemural.com. Donor list as of September 8th is now published on the wall and website. Please review to make sure your name is correct. The QR code descriptions have also been added to the website. The QR codes will be at the bottom of each of the seven picture panels allowing you to click on the code for more information and history.
Fundraising is co-chaired by Lee Pearl smartpearl1@hotmail.com and Georgie Fenton georgiefenton@msn.com
HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
The annual Balboa Island Home Tour is December 8th. For information contact Annette Giermann balboalover@gmail.com
KRISTINE TAFT, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH/CRIME QUESTIONS CONTACT ktaft1018@yahoo.com
Cowboy Carnival | Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach
https://www.bimcowboycarnival.org
A MESSAGE FROM THE BALBOA ISLAND IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
SUMMER CONCERTS
There will be three more summer concerts at Balboa Island Park hosted by the BIIA. Bonus to attendees this Friday, a short but informative construction update by Lee Pearl. Come and enjoy the British Invasion, one of my favorite summer bands.
The British Invasion August 23rd Kenny Hale (Neil Diamand) August 30thGrateful Dads September 6th
OTHER ACTIVITIES
SEPTEMBER CITY COUNCIL FORUM AT THE FIRE STATION
Please put Saturday September 28th 9:00 a.m. on your calendar for a General Meeting at the fire station. This will be a Newport Beach City Council Candidate Forum sponsored by the BIIA, Balboa Island Merchants Association and the Little Balboa Island Homeowners Association. Three City Council seats will be decided in November. Our Council seat is also up for reelection and Noah Blom and Jeff Herdman both want to be your next City Councilmember.
MUSEUM 4TH ANNUAL FUN ZONE COWBOY CARNIVAL
Friday October 18th 6 pm. Tickets at the Museum or www.bimcowboycarnival.org for more information.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM LEE PEARL smartpearl1@hotmail.com
Soon there will be no poles on the Westend project and the roller coaster alleys will start replacement with new concrete after October. Contract will be awarded next Tuesday at the Council meeting. What an amazing difference!
The Big Island underground contractor is gearing up for after the summer activity with one additional underground crew. With the work away from Marine Avenue and no more water line construction crews, this should only have local impact in the areas under construction.
The underground information on the City website can be found on this link Assessment District Status | City of Newport Beach (newportbeachca.gov). Questions Mike Sinacori msinacori@newportbeachca.gov
PARK AVENUE MURAL UPDATE
Production of the glass tiles will be completed soon, and you will see work starting on the Irvine Ranch Market wall. The unveiling is scheduled this fall. We are thrilled by the overwhelming response, with over 200 generous sponsors gracing our donor list. Please visit our website which highlights the project and show a nice example of a similar mural and the process to create a glass tile mosaic. parkavenuemural.com
Fundraising is co-chaired by Lee Pearl smartpearl1@hotmail.com and Georgie Fenton georgiefenton@msn.com
HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
The annual Balboa Island Home Tour is December 8th. For information contact Annette Giermann balboalover@gmail.com
KRISTINE TAFT, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH/CRIME QUESTIONS CONTACT KTAFT1018@YAHOO.COM
biia.org
Larry Kallestad is the Membership Director for the BIIA. His contact information is below:
Membership Levels:
Join at the Gold, Silver or Diamond level and you will receive a Balboa Island flag.
Payment Instructions:
- After clicking on your preferred donation amount above, you will be re-directed to the payment page.
- It is very important to fill out all of the fields completely so we get your address to send out letters & decals.
- After submitting the required information a receipt will automatically be emailed to you.
- Any questions can be directed to me; Larry Kallestadbalislelarry31@gmail.com
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!