Harbor Cruise Casts Off Moorings

Now, that was a parade! In fact two parades, as the Huntington Harbour Committee of the Orange County Philharmonic Society kicked off its annual “Cruise of Lights” benefit with 57 boats that shimmered, glittered and dazzled on Huntington Harbour waters Saturday and Sunday nights.

To watch the annual flotilla, thousands of sightseers squeezed cars into every inch of legal (and illegal) parking space in the Huntington Harbour area, and after sundown, the only moving vehicles belonged to the Huntington Beach Police Department.

But the parking inconvenience did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the cheering crowds, who waved and offered season’s greetings back and forth across the water, delighted with the spectacle of lighted boats in a “Salute to America,” the parade theme.

After cheers faded into the night and boats were docked, it was party time for many of the 350 committee members. They had worked for nearly a year under the leadership of committee chairman Joanna Chase to make the nine-night “Cruise of Lights”--a boat tour through Harbour waterways to view Christmas-lit homes--their most successful fund-raiser. In 1985 the group turned over $80,000 to the Orange County Philharmonic Society. Proceeds are used for musical enrichment programs in Orange County schools.

Committee leaders convened for their party in the home of Sandra and Dr. Robert Clouse. This year, Chase said, the committee hoped to top the 1985 figure. “But it all depends on the weather. Fog or rain can cancel a cruise, so it’s up to Mother Nature now.” Chase was keeping her fingers crossed with cruise chairman Bobbitt Williams.

Williams, assistant chairman Missy Prowell and a 14-member committee worked 12-hour days and on weekends for two months to make the “Cruise of Lights” a sellout. According to Williams, the cruise attracts visitors from around Southern California and elsewhere in the West, Canada and Europe. “We are already taking reservations for Christmas, 1987,” she said.

At the Clouses’, there were special cheers for boat parade grand marshal Michael Stitzinger and his wife, Shirley. For both nights, the couple had stood on the bow of the lead boat, waving to the crowds. Joanna Chase and husband George also received kudos, as did Jane Green, boat parade chairman. Missing from the apres -parade bash was Vicki Marx (she handled all the publicity), who was having a party of her own.

Also among those on hand at the Clouses’ were Dick and Sue Hodgson (she narrated the parade for Channel 6), Gerry and Joe West, Tom and Nancy Kasabali, Don and Angela Hartfelder, Doris and Dr. Burton Willis, Bob and Carol Webster, By and Jane Dod (they started the whole thing back in 1962), Dick and June Frandsen, Pat and Yvonne Kelley (she was Philharmonic chairman last year and Pat was grand marshal), Mark and Joyce Weiss and Barbara and Dr. Carl Agliozzo.

The “Cruise of Lights” runs four times nightly from now until Dec. 23. For information call the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee offices at (714) 840-7542.