r i v a t e T o u r L e t u s h e l p y o u l i v e t h e d r e a m . p h r .
S c h e d u l e Y o u
Nellie Harris Ritter
Lift & Sculpt: Sculpting Facial Massage Buccal I Myofascial Massage
Detox & Glow:
Advanced Custom Facials
Lymphatic Drainage Facial Dermaplane
Renew & Restore: Stem Cell Technology
Advanced Peels
On the cover: Rocks in front of the Hotel del Coronado. Photo by Rita Bowcock
The time has arrived when Summer is waving us farewell in our rear-view mirror as the exit to Fall looms ahead on the freeway.
School is back in session in Coronado, Hattie does her best to clue us in to the new and trendy (and no, I’m not getting a Labubu). It is also the season for storytelling at the Coronado Public Library. Be sure to come out for the Fall Writing Workshop Series. Chris exports us all to “let it go and start new” .. with a little help from a Limoncello.
Marceline Missouri
Seventy years later, Disneyland still echoes Walt’s childhood in Marceline
The change in season is sure to be stressful for some, but Joe has it all covered with the best therapy in the world: a movie at the Village theater, just be sure to avoid the ghosts. Island Icon George Lanman might be enjoying the best retirement ever, attending lawn bowling and beer club … if only we could all be so lucky. Fall is also the time for High School Football and the time-honored tradition that is Homecoming. It’s coming early this year; make sure your calendar is marked. A scavenger hunt is always a fun time in the community and the “Race The Rock” is no exception. Get your costumes ready. For the kid in all of us, Kris takes through the echoes of Disneyland with a visit to Walt’s childhood home, guaranteed to be an E-ticket ride.
The change of season is a great time to be here in Coronado. Grab yourself a movie and a Limoncello and enjoy a Friday night football game: you won’t regret it.
Dean K. Eckenroth Jr Editor & Associate Publisher
PUBLISHER
Dean Eckenroth
publisher.eaglenews@gmail.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Dean K. Eckenroth Jr. editor.eaglenews@gmail.com
Alessandra Selgi-Harrigan
alessandra.eaglenews@gmail.com
Lauren.eaglenews@gmail.com
kel.eaglenews@gmail.com
Christine Johnson christine.eaglenews@gmail.com
eaglenewsbrooke@gmail.com
PHOTOGRAPHER
Hattie Foote
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Patricia Ross
patricia.eaglenews@gmail.com
Renee Schoen
renee.eaglenews@gmail.com
PRODUCTION
Andrew Koorey
PRINTING
Reed
DISTRIBUTION
Roberto Gamez
Copyright
All
New Year, New Everything
By HATTIE FOOTE
School is back in session, and with a new year comes new style trends and new terminology. Just when we finally understood what “slay baddie” means, BAM, “nobody says that anymore, Mom!” I am no expert; I rely heavily on listening to my kids and their friends’ conversations and TikTok to stay informed.
All I can do is spread my limited knowledge to my fellow parents, in hopes that we collectively can get a grasp on what the youth are up to this year.
We are going to start off strong with a doozy, Labubus! La what-what you ask? Labubus are the so-ugly-thatthey-are-cute stuffed animal (monster?) that are hanging on everything from high-end Louis Vuitton bags to kids’ JanSport backpacks. The allure is that they are sold in blind bags, so you never know which one you will get. As they have become insanely popular, the “Lafufu” emerged, which is the knock-off version that is easily found here in town. I must admit that at the beginning of the craze, we begrudgingly ordered our daughter a Labubu as a graduation gift. The minute she ripped open the bag, I felt a familiar rush, and I was immediately transported to my childhood hobby of collecting Beanie Babies. To this
day, I am devastated I never got the Princess Diana bear, but this feels like something I should bring up to my therapist instead of the local magazine. With the Labubu secured, it was off to the mall for back-to-school shopping.
The only acceptable way to fuel for Fashion Valley mall is the tomato basil soup from Nordstrom. It doesn’t matter if it’s a hot summer’s day, because in the Nordstrom Café, it is always soup season. As my kids have gotten older, I have had to reluctantly give up my creative director role when it comes to shopping. Long gone are the days of cute matching sets from Old Navy. I follow their lead now, even when it takes me to stores that frighten me. If you have a
preteen/teen daughter, I am sure you have heard of or been to Edikted. It is a fever dream of a store, as in you are walking into an episode of Love Island. It’s loud, busy, and generally overstimulating. We had little brother in tow on our last shopping trip, and when the wave of perfume hit us in the face, he kept loudly exclaiming, “Why does it smell like this?” to the horror of his sister. On the flip side, my daughter has fallen in love with thrift shopping. She and her friends like to go to the different shops in town and find some insanely great and affordable closet staples. She came home with a brand-new pair of Lululemon leggings in her size for $3 from the Opportunity Shop on 9th. They also love the Second-Best Shop
on 3rd and Thrift Cottage on 10th. There are some exciting treasures to be found.
Aura Farming, bruh, bet, no cap, delulu, menty b, rizzy, if you are noticing these are in alphabetical order, it’s because I’m reading them off of a list of Gen-Z slang. Some I can explain, and some I simply cannot. Hop on the internet to attempt to familiarize yourself with this strange language in hopes that you understand what the latest scoop from school is. Whether your family is just starting school, in the thick of it, or nearing the finish line, I hope everyone has an amazing school year, and report back to me if you decipher any new phrases. We parents must work as a team, because it takes a (Coronado) village.
A Season For Storytelling:
Fall Writing Workshop Series
This fall, the Coronado Public Library and the San Diego Writers Festival invite writers of all levels and genres to sharpen their pencils, open their laptops, and embark on a creative journey. Together, the two organizations are presenting a series of interactive Zoom workshops, each designed to provide fresh strategies, professional insight, and the chance to transform inspiration into polished craft.
From the deeply personal world of memoir to the timeless structure of myth, from the challenge of writing a first novel to the art of promoting one’s work, the series promises something for everyone. Best of all, attendance at any workshop qualifies participants for a unique perk: the entry fee will be waived if
they choose to submit their manuscript to the Acorn Publishing Debut Author Contest, an exciting national platform for emerging writers.
The series opens on Thursday, September 4, 2025, with Memoir Writing Essentials, led by Tracy J. Jones—developmental editor, writing coach, and president of the International Memoir Writers Association.
Jones has built a career helping writers uncover the heart of their stories. As co-producer of the San Diego Memoir Showcase and co-editor of the award-winning anthology Shaking the Tree: brazen. short. memoir., she understands how storytelling connects lived experience with universal meaning.
A memoir is more than a record of past events—it is the art of shaping personal experience into a narrative that resonates with others. Unlike autobiography, which often traces a life from beginning to end, memoir focuses on moments of transformation, themes that define identity, and scenes that reveal universal truths. In this interactive session, participants will learn to distinguish memoir from autobiography and personal essay, discover the right “container” for their story, craft a character arc from real life, and highlight universal themes within personal experiences. Jones will also provide a practical checklist for writing vivid, scene-driven prose. Writers will leave with tools to shape their life stories into page-turners—and perhaps into submissions for the Acorn contest.
On Thursday, October 16, 2025, bestselling author and Acorn Publishing co-founder Holly Kammier leads The Hero’s Journey: Unlocking the Power of Myth. Named 2025 Publisher of the Year by the San Diego Writers Festival, Kammier has guided countless authors in shaping stories that reach audiences both artistically and commercially.
The Hero’s Journey is a timeless framework that underlies countless myths, novels, and films. By tracing a protagonist’s departure from the
familiar, their confrontation with trials, and their transformative return, this structure provides writers with a powerful storytelling blueprint. Kammier’s workshop will demonstrate how to build protagonists with six essential heroic traits, weave in themes that tie stories together, and structure interlocking stories that keep readers engaged. Writers working on novels, screenplays, or even memoirs with epic arcs will gain a toolkit for crafting stories that entertain, inspire, and endure.
For many writers, finishing a manuscript feels like the finish line—but in truth, it is only the beginning. Success in publishing requires the ability to share one’s work and connect with readers which are skills that can feel daunting to introverts. On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, award-winning urban fantasy author Dennis K. Crosby leads Write Your Story: Networking & Marketing for Introverts, which is a session tailored to those who find self-promotion overwhelming.
Since earning his MFA in Creative Writing, Crosby has published three novels and more than a dozen short stories, while also becoming a familiar presence at national literary conferences such as WonderCon, Comic-Con International, and StokerCon, where he served as Co-Chair in 2024. Honored with the Jonathan Maberry Inspiring Teens Award in 2025, he has mentored young writers with passion and authenticity. In this workshop, Crosby will help participants identify their introvert type, use natural strengths to grow readership, and approach networking as an extension of storytelling. Extroverts are welcome too, but introverts will leave with a marketing approach that feels genuine and sustainable.
The series concludes on Thursday, November 20, 2025, with Crafting Your First Novel: From Idea to
Manuscript, led by bestselling novelist Lisa Brackmann. Known for her fast-paced thrillers such as Rock Paper Tiger, an Amazon Top 10 Best Book of the Year, Brackmann has taught and published widely, with her novels translated around the world.
Her session will guide writers through the process of transforming an initial spark—an image, a character, a “what if”—into a fully developed manuscript. Participants will explore how to shape a strong premise, build layered and believable characters, balance plotting with discovery writing, and avoid common pitfalls that derail first novels. Brackmann also emphasizes developing a sustainable writing plan to carry a project through to completion, offering both creative inspiration and practical structure.
The workshops are free, fun and just may kickstart you to begin the book you always said you wanted to write. Together, these four instructors offer a spectrum of support for aspiring and experienced writers alike. Tracy J. Jones brings mastery in memoir craft, helping authors uncover the heart of their stories. Holly Kammier bridges storytelling and publishing with insider knowledge of both the creative and business sides of books. Dennis K. Crosby empowers introverted writers to market their work with confi-
Your story matters.
This fall, it’s time to tell it.
dence and authenticity. Lisa Brackmann provides the roadmap for shaping ideas into novels with depth and staying power.
Workshops are designed to be accessible, engaging, and versatile. Strategies cross genres, the sessions take place conveniently on Zoom, and participants receive an added incentive: the chance to enter the Acorn Publishing Debut Author Contest without paying the submission fee.
Launching in 2025, the Acorn Publishing Debut Author Prize offers a national platform for emerging voices in fiction and memoir. For new writers, it represents not just a competition, but a launchpad into the publishing world. The submission window opens on August 15, 2025, and closes on November 15, 2025.
Acorn Publishing is a respected hybrid press, blending the professional services of traditional publishing—editing, design, marketing, and distribution— with the flexibility and higher royalties of self-publishing. Authors benefit from professional editing, cover
design, and formatting; coordinated book signings and blog tours; NetGalley placements; promotional landing pages; and long-term marketing support, including foreign rights. Those who publish with Acorn often point to its collaborative spirit and its success in helping books reach both indie and mainstream audiences.
For participants in the Coronado Library and San Diego Writers Festival workshops, the contest is especially appealing: attendance waives the entry fee, making it more accessible than ever. Finalists gain entrée into a publishing process that balances creative control with professional visibility.
All workshops will be hosted on Zoom, making participation simple and convenient. Registration is required in advance, with details available through the Coronado Public Library’s online calendar. Whether you’re capturing memories, inventing heroes, embracing introverted strengths, or drafting your first novel, this fall’s workshop series offers the perfect place to begin.
One more opportunity ...
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 20, 2025, when the San Diego Writers Festival brings you Festival U – a full day of online learning for writers. From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PDT), seven interactive Zoom sessions will deliver fresh strategies, insider tips, and the chance to elevate your craft in a supportive and creative community. Whether you’re polishing a manuscript, exploring memoir, shaping your first novel, or simply curious about the writing life, Festival U is designed to inspire and empower writers at every stage. For $60, you’ll gain access to the entire day’s programming while helping support the Festival’s year-round free literary events that enrich our region’s cultural life.
The day launches with a keynote by Ed Begley Jr., Emmy-nominated actor, activist, and author, who will share candid, funny, and heartfelt stories from his extraordinary journey—his relationship with his iconic father, his work alongside Hollywood legends, the roots of his environmental activism, battles with addiction, and his enduring quest for common ground.
Following the keynote, industry experts, editors, coaches, and published authors will lead sessions on craft, publishing, and creative growth—offering practical guidance and inspiration you can put into action immediately. This is your chance to learn from the best, connect with fellow writers, and take your writing to the next level. Don’t wait— register today at San Diego Writers Festival and be part of a transformative day devoted to the art of storytelling.
Exiles
By Jane Harper
Book Corner
WHAT PEOPLE ARE READING THIS MONTH
Federal Investigator Aaron Falk is on his way to a small town deep in Southern Australian wine country for the christening of an old friend’s baby. But mystery follows him, even on vacation.
This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of Kim Gillespie’s disappearance. One year ago, at a busy town festival on a warm spring night, Kim safely tucked her sleeping baby into her stroller, then vanished into the crowd. No one has seen her since. When Kim’s older daughter makes a plea for anyone with information about her missing mom to come forward, Falk and his old buddy Raco can’t leave the case alone.
As Falk soaks up life in the lush valley, he is welcomed into the tightknit circle of Kim’s friends and loved ones. But the group may be more fractured than it seems. Between Falk’s closest friend, the missing mother, and a woman he’s drawn to, dark questions linger as long-ago truths begin to emerge. What would make a mother abandon her child? What happened to Kim Gillespie?
The Great Alone
By Kristin Hannah
Hard Cash Valley
By Brian Panowich
Dane Kirby is a broken man and no stranger to tragedy. As a life-long resident and ex-arson investigator for McFalls County, Dane has lived his life in one of the most chaotic and crime-ridden regions of the south. When he gets called in to consult on a brutal murder in a Jacksonville, Florida, motel room, he and his FBI counterpart, Special Agent Roselita Velasquez, begin an investigation that leads them back to the criminal circles of his own backyard.
Arnie Blackwell’s murder in Jacksonville is only the beginning – and Dane and Roselita seem to be one step behind. For someone is hacking a bloody trail throughout the Southeast looking for Arnie’s younger brother, a boy with Asperger’s Syndrome who possesses an unusual skill with numbers that could make a lot of money and that has already gotten a lot of people killed—and has even more of the deadliest people alive willing to do anything it takes to exploit him.
Alaska, 1974. Ernt Allbright came home from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes the impulsive decision to move his wife and daughter north, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.
Cora will do anything for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown. Thirteen-year-old Leni, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, has little choice but to go along, daring to hope this new land promises her family a better future.
In a wild, remote corner of Alaska, the Allbrights find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the newcomers’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.
But as winter approaches and darkness descends, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own.
As Dane joins in the hunt to find the boy, it swiftly becomes a race against the clock that has Dane entangled in a web of secrets involving everyone from the Filipino Mafia to distrusting federal agents to some of the hardest southern outlaws he’s ever known.
The Paris Architect
By Charles Belfoure
In 1942 Paris, architect Lucien Bernard accepts a commission that will bring him a great deal of money—and maybe get him killed. All he has to do is design a secret hiding place for a Jewish man, a space so invisible that even the most determined German officer won’t find it while World War II rages on. He sorely needs the money, and outwitting the Nazis who have occupied his beloved city is a challenge he can’t resist.
Soon, Lucien is hiding more souls and saving lives. But when one of his hideouts fails horribly, and the problem of where to conceal a Jew becomes much more personal, and he can no longer ignore what’s at stake.
By
SAMMY JOHNSON
Photo
IT’S
THE BEGINNING OF AUTUMN ... LET IT GO AND START NEW!
The month of September marks the beginning of Autumn and the last days of summer on this beautiful island we call home. The streets become less busy, and Coronado settles in for the rest of the year.
September has long been known as the month of transition where we let things go and have a fresh start. The weather is cooler, the sun brighter, and the colorful leaves begin to fall. Let’s not forget that our favorite coffee shops begin the push of pumpkin drinks, and the stores sell out of candles smelling of apple orchards and cinnamon.
While I am not sure about any
Fill a wine glass with ice cubes
Add Sparkling Wine
Add Limoncello
of those flavors or scents taking over my caffeine habit or love of candles, it’s a true phenomenon every fall.
So, when you celebrate National Coffee Day on September 29th, be the first in line for the pumpkin spiced latte!
Celebrate Labor Day on September 1st and honor and hug your Grandparents on September 7th. And never forget September 11th. It’s a day that will always be remembered with sadness for those we lost, but with gratitude and American strength for those who ran to the danger just to save others. There will never be enough appreciation given to our first responders. Thanks for all you are and what you do.
Last Fall I was fortunate enough to travel to Italy. While I was surrounded by great coffee (minus the pumpkin), better still was the incredible Limoncello. It is an Italian liqueur that originated on the Amalfi Coast and is made and sold by locals on every corner.
There is something special about sitting near the water and enjoying this refreshing drink. The color and fragrance allow for a relaxing and memorable experience that stays with you.
Now it is time to sit back and watch the September harvest moon (the fullest moon of the year), choose the prettiest wine glass and pour a Limoncello Spritz. A toast to what’s to come and to the special people in our lives.
Park Place Liquor & Deli 1000 Park Place (619) 435-0116
Peohe’s Ferry Landing (619) 437-4474
Roppongi
800 Seacoast Dr, IB (619) 631-4949
Rosemary Trattoria 120 Orange Ave. (619) 537-0054
Saiko Sushi 116 Orange Ave. (619) 435-0868
Sammy's Restaurant & Bar 800 Seacoast Dr., IB (619) 631-4949
Serea at the Del (619) 522-8100
Silver Strand Exchange At Loews Resort (619) 424-4000
Spiro’s Greek Café Ferry Landing (619) 435-1225
Stake Chophouse + Bar 1309 Orange Ave. (619) 522-0077
Savor Authentic Italian Flavors at Island Pasta Where Every Bite is a Delight!
Open Daily 11:00am-9:00pm Celebrating Over 30 Years! 1202 Orange Avenue 619-435-4545 islandpastacoronado.com
Subway 1330 Orange Ave. (619) 435-8272
Swaddee Thai 1001 C Ave. (619) 435-8110
Tartine 1106 1st St. (619) 435-4323
Tavern 1310 Orange Ave. (619) 437-0611
The Henry 1031 Orange Ave. (619) 762-1022
The Little Club 132 Orange Ave. (619) 435-5885
Trident Coffee 942 Orange Ave (619) 522-4905
Villa Nueva Bakery Cafe 956 Orange Ave. (619) 435-1256
Village Pizzeria Bayside Ferry Landing (619) 437-0650
Village Pizzeria 1206 Orange Ave. (619) 522-0449
Vom Fass Ferry Landing (619) 534-5034
Which Wich 926 Orange Ave. (619) 522-9424
Yummy Sushi 1330 Orange Ave. (619) 435-2771
Local Dining
The Best Therapy In The World:
The Village Theater marque before the 2011 renovation.
A Movie at the Village T heater
By JOE DITLER
What better medicine could there be than a visit to a movie theater? Scientific studies are now confirming multiple benefits from attending a movie at your local theater.
Recent findings show that, “A visit to the movie theater offers a unique blend of sensory engagement, social connection, and focused attention that can have significant benefits for your overall well-being.” Not to mention, just getting you out of the house.
For senior citizens, a trip to the movies can cure loneliness, evoke memories of one’s youth, and even stimulate the adrenal gland. Nothing like a good cry, whether happy or sad, to cleanse the soul.
It’s a fast and noisy world out there, but once you step off the Terrazzo and into the Village Theater, led by the smell of freshly buttered popcorn, you leave it all behind.
The Village Theater was built in 1947, post-WWII, with a scarcity of materials to work with. While the town was ecstatic about this new movie house, the builder felt unfulfilled.
Then, half a century later (2000), the Village Theater was shuttered and abandoned, when the owners just walked away. The town was devastated. Adding insult to injury, the owners left the final film’s promotional announcement on the marque – “The Grinch.”
We had to wait, but a decade later, The Village Theater was completely re-designed and re-opened. Today, the Coronado Vintage Village Theater sits as a proud testament and posterchild to Coronado’s Arts & Culture community. It’s no wonder old-timers on the island refer to it as, “our special little church.”
Movie theaters have come a long way since that first silent film (1888),
and then, lo, a talkie (1927). Who could have guessed? Now, sitting in a modern theater, watching a newly released movie, we are treated to the most advanced technological sights and sounds available to man. It’s a surreal experience that can literally lift you out of your chair.
Pause a moment, as you read this, and let your mind wander back to
One of the prettiest sights along Orange Avenue is the refurbished movie marque for the Village Theater.
those early days, and your first visit to an enormous, darkened movie theater; maybe you were watching a horror movie, maybe a Western. Were there cartoons? We’re your friends all around you – Little League team perhaps, or Cub Scout or Brownie troop?
Today, many of us sit at home, in our favorite recliner chair, a cocktail at our side, and all we have to do is push a button or two, and we have access to a dozen streaming channels, pre-recorded favorites on DVR, and a plethora of channel surfing options.
And yet, it’s that old movie house of our youth that keeps popping up in memories and conversations, a spacious
theater decorated like old Hollywood, where mom would drop you off and then pick you up two hours later. It gave you a thrill; it gave her time to clean the house or just relax without noisy kids around.
Here in Coronado it was different. In safe little Coronado one could ride a bike or walk to the Village Theater and parents didn’t have to worry. Those memories will stick with us forever.
The 9,000-square-foot Village Theater became the unofficial gathering place for young families and has remained so for decades. The magic of the movies continues.
The value of such a precious little
movie theater was so much more than just a place to see first-run films. Today, we sometimes take for granted that we have one of the most beautiful movie houses in the country, but it wasn’t always that way.
The history of our little Village Theater is fascinating. It was born March 18, 1947, with a studio preview attended by hundreds. The screening was so large, a second screening had to be arranged.
“...giant spotlights filled the sky over Coronado with bright beams of light that could be seen from Mexico, Alpine, Point Loma, and even the ships at sea.”
The town was ecstatic!
While we had an earlier theater, The Strand Theater, it dated back to silent films and wasn’t nearly the state-of-the art creation that the Village Theater was. Today it houses Lambs Players Theatre, where quality, live theater takes place on stage. Another, the Palm Theater (late ‘40s), was an open-air outdoor theater located where Smart & Final is today.
When the Village Theater opened, Coronadans were treated to a double feature, “Irish Eyes Are Shining,” and “The Well-Groomed Bride.” That same week they experienced “San Antonio” with Errol Flynn, “Rainbow Island,” with Dorothy Lamour, and “The Big Sleep,” with Bogie and Bacall.
The telephone number of the Village Theater that year was Henley 3-6161. That soon changed to 435-6161, which was memorized by every kid on the island. The building closed in 2000, but when it reopened in 2011, the new owners were able to acquire 437-6161, which remains the tradition to this day – “6161.”
That week in 1947, theatergoers lined up around the block to buy their tickets, night after night. The beauty of
Opening night in 1947. The entire town, it seemed, turned out for this special occasion. Photo courtesy of the Coronado Public Library.
the marble Terrazzo that so artistically tattooed the sidewalk in front of the new movie house was the talk of the town.
Who doesn’t remember the sensual thrill of walking into a movie theater on a busy night, leaving the crowds and noise outside, and finding yourself helplessly gravitating towards the popcorn machine?
The little Village Theater was indeed a homerun that year. Melody Morgan’s father was the man who built the Village Theater. When asked how exciting it must have been to hold her daddy’s hand at the opening night ceremonies, Melody said, “I was so proud of him. I
was thrilled at what he had done, but Daddy thought his creation was ‘stark,’ his word, not mine. He was frustrated throughout the process by a lack of good materials, due to the war effort.”
World War II had only ended two years prior.
While her father had hoped for more, the town was overjoyed with this fresh little movie house in the center of town, and, it had air conditioning!
Melody grew to have children and grandchildren, all raised in Coronado, and she proudly introduced them to the Village Theater. She still had mementos from that opening night – movie fliers, tickets, photos, promotional
The original décor of the 1947 Village Theater included such art as this. It was, of course, painted over for the 2011 remodel, now a layer of history for someone in the future to discover.
An epic capture of the extremely popular Coronado Village Theater in 1953. Photo courtesy of the Coronado Public Library.
material, etc. -- which she donated to the Coronado Public Library. While her father hid his own pride in what he had created, his daughter celebrated frequently, until her dying day. She admitted she couldn’t help but smile, all these years later, when walking or driving by her father’s movie house.
When the old owners walked away in 2000, they were exhausted from their efforts to operate the Village Theater in the black. Their solution was simply to shut the doors, and they remained shut for the next decade.
When they did that, food trash was left on the floor. Popcorn was still piled high inside the machine. Reels of film lay scattered throughout the projection room and some of the 600 seats had exposed springs poking up through the faded and torn fabric. The screen itself was old and torn. A giant hole was in the lower right corner from people throwing things at it. Your feet stuck to years of sticky food and drink on the screening room floor.
The hand-lettered marquee was left up for months showing the last movie screened, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” It appeared as though “The Grinch” had indeed stolen Coronado’s movie house. Needless to say, the place became a rat-infested haven.
Slowly, over a 10-year period of neglect, the yellow and blue paint faded out entirely. It flaked from the marquee like snow on passersby in even the slightest breeze. The once magnificent Terrazzo that made up the front sidewalk became cracked and faded. Abandoned shopping carts littered the entryway. The Village Theatre was nothing but a deserted and blighted building on Coronado’s main street. It’s difficult to convey just how sad this was to see, day after day, year after year.
When the old doors were pried open a decade later, Lance Alspaugh and his
“Village Theater for Sale.” Along with three neighboring stores. This broker sheet shares information that tells a lot about Coronado at that time. Courtesy of the Coronado Public Library.
team, the interested party that would lead the Village Theater into a new era, was greeted by an army of rats, some as large as cats, feeding and defecating on the trashed floors.
It took real imagination, and faith, on the part of Alspaugh to see what this little theater could one day be.
Alspaugh is the CEO of Vintage Cinemas in Los Angeles. He hired legendary theater designer Joseph Musil to design the second coming of the Village Theater. Musil was in charge
of restoring the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, a movie house from the glory days of movies (Roaring Twenties) that is now considered the benchmark for art deco theaters.
Sadly, Musil died before the project could be completed. His understudies, Brian White and Ronald Wright, didn’t miss a beat. They continued on in a way that would have made their mentor proud.
After ten years and a $3 million investment by Vintage Cinemas and the
City of Coronado, the Village Theater opened once again, and she has never looked so good. Then-city manager, Mark Ochenduszko, played no small role in bringing the parties together, through difficult negotiations, and acquiring the necessary funding.
The new management kept the exterior intact (something the City of Coronado and Alspaugh readily agreed upon ahead of time), but they totally revamped the inside. Gone was the
one, cavernous screening room. In its place were three screening rooms, each bracketed with hand-painted murals by noted Walt Disney muralist Bill Anderson.
The main screening room, Theater #1, is adorned with nighttime imagery of Coronado and San Diego’s skyline, blending history with today, featuring the Hotel del Coronado, the old Chart House restaurant, and the carcarrying Coronado ferryboats, again, in
staggering, ultraviolet brilliance from the paintbrush of Bill Anderson. It seats 190 people.
The first small screening room is called the Exposition Room, or, Theater #2, for short, and features images of Balboa Park 100 years ago. It seats 38 people.
The second small screening room is called the Balboa Room, or Theater #3, and features images of Balboa Park today. It also seats 38 moviegoers.
All three rooms are painted with U/V neon paint that lights up and appears to leap off the walls under the exotic black lighting that illuminates them before and after each movie (think black lights, from the ‘60s).
The historic Terrazzo in front has been restored. Etched glass doors were mounted, and elegant parting and dropping curtains were installed. If you look closely, subtle light color changes are constantly in motion, not only in the screening rooms, but in the snack bar and walkways – illuminating the filigree and torchiere columns.
The night before the celebrated re-
Preparations for the receiving of new seats in the main screening room. Photo courtesy of Vintage Cinemas in Los Angeles.
This interior shot of the port side of the good ship Village Theater really captures the beauty and elegance of the remodel.
Ghosts Of The Village Theatre
While discussing odd occurrences at the Village Theater, Manager Oscar Dominguez was reluctant to discuss too much detail, but admitted that occasionally, “People fall asleep and we have to gently wake them after the movie ends. Sometimes people sneak in alcohol and they have to be helped to the door. Sometimes teenagers sneak in, and sometimes young children get a little too rowdy.”
In the ‘60s, kids would roll glass bottles down the sloped screening room floor. They would flick bottle tops at the screen. While that has greatly diminished over the years, somehow the topic turned to the creepy things that have happened on his watch.
Photo Caption 1:
Former Disney artist, Terry Naughton, assisted in capturing the “ghosts” of the Village Theater.
Photo Caption 2:
“One lady, in her 50s, was just sitting there, staring at the blank screen,” said Oscar. “We had a late screening back then and it was about 11 pm., so I introduced myself and explained we were closing up.
“She asked me if I had seen the haunted spirits in the theater, the ghosts. That caught me by surprise. She said, ‘Yeah, there’s one right there,’ and pointed off in the distance. She assured me they were pleasant spirits, with good energy, and meant no harm. She explained that spirits seem to gravitate to movie screening rooms because of the cavernous atmosphere, the darkness, the late hour, and they like high frequencies and lots of electronics. She smiled, stood up, and walked out of the theater.”
Former Disney artist, Terry Naughton, assisted in capturing the “ghosts” of the Village Theater.
Stripped down to bare nothing, the Village Theater is seen on the operating table in this panoramic image, with her surgeons busy at work. Photo courtesy of Vintage Cinemas in Los Angeles.
Photo Caption 3:
With the dust cleared and the paint dried, the newly reborn Village Theater proudly greets guests. Photo courtesy of Vintage Cinemas in Los Angeles.
“I remember silly things about those days,” said Helen. “Like nights where the big storms came and the bridge and Strand were closed because of fallen trees and flooding. I was working at the theater one night, in the 1970s, and had to close with some friends who were stuck on the island, so we stayed up all night running the same movies. The reels were way too big and were carefully spliced with the trailers so they could not be changed. It took hours just to set those movies up.
VIP Ticket to the grand re-opening of the Village Theater in 2011.
Of course, ghostly tales and sightings surround older buildings here on the island, such as the Hotel Del, the Boathouse, and many old homes. Years before, while interviewing former Coronado resident Helen Wilson, who, like many young Coronado students, worked at the Village Theater, the following story emerged:
“We walked across the street and got take-out from Night & Day Café. We made popcorn, and actually had a silly teenage seance with a Ouija board on the stage, in the dark!
“We all swore, including a janitor and projectionist who spent time alone in the theater, that there were ghosts in the Village Theater. It was incredibly creepy at night, and not just because of the séance. No one wanted to be there alone with the doors closed.”
opening of the Village Theater, Brian White, understudy to Joe Musil, wanted to leave a tribute to Musil and asked me to accompany him. Joe had died a few months earlier, and Brian (along with Ronald Wright, who played a major role in designing the restored Vista Theatre in Los Angeles -- also part of Vintage Cinemas) had taken over his work. In fact, the lobby carpeting and paintings behind the snack bar were Brian White designs.
“You can’t tell anyone about this,” said Brian, walking through the darkened theater. As we entered the last screening room, Brian grabbed a ladder. He had a small paintbrush, a cup of black light paint, and some of Joe Musil’s ashes.
As I stood there dumbfounded, Brian climbed up the ladder and began to paint a small box-like drawing over
one of the Anderson murals. He then added words to a tiny marque atop the structure that said, “The Joe Musil Theatre.” The drawing may have been tiny, but the emotional satisfaction on Brian’s face was huge. If you look to the right from your seats, you can still see that little last-minute tribute to the late, great Joe Musil.
“This was a classic movie theater the likes of which you just don’t see any more,” said CEO Lance Alspaugh. “That’s what attracted me to this project. We loved the character of this structure, things that you don’t see in newer movie houses.
“What we’ve done here in Coronado is to create a vibe at the Village Theater, an experience to go along with the movie.”
“As a kid, theaters in my day were
800 seats or bigger, all had a character to them. They were cavernous. The experience in those days was much more exciting to me. Of course, we didn’t have iPods, cel phones, or DVDs. FM radio was just coming in. So, you had to go to see a movie to get that special experience. What we’ve done here in Coronado is to create a vibe at the Village Theater, an experience to go along with the movie.”
Alspaugh described the first life of the Village Theater as very generic. “The exterior, however, had a lot of charm, which we’ve retained. But we wanted to create a timeless experience of the old and the new combined, to create that old-world sensibility of great classic movie-going, while still offering such things as nice seats with lots of leg room, and state-of-the-art cinema and
sound.”
Alspaugh and his team shopped all the digital companies for two years before finally selecting Sony. He admits it was expensive, but Sony was particularly interested in this client, and they were willing to negotiate. A deal was struck. “Sony really wanted to be part of this project,” said Alspaugh, “and they brought in 4K digital, significant in lines of resolution, as opposed to 2K. We’ve got great text and great sound, and have quite the experience to provide.”
Today, in a little loft above the screening rooms, manager Oscar Dominguez operates the entire theater from a Sony computer central command. At night, with the computer screen the only light in the darkened loft, he sits in the
The newly designed snack bar at the Village Theater. One can almost smell the buttered popcorn.
Pcitured is a 3-D experience in the main screening room of the newly refurbished Village Theater. Photo courtesy Vintage Cinemas in Los Angeles.
glow, seemingly at the bridge of his own Starship Enterprise. Here he can send and receive digital film (as opposed to the old 35 mm boxed reels), and can set into motion all three movies, commercials and previews, including the curtain operations. The standard pre-movie fare includes “Let’s All Go to The Lobby,” “Coming Soon trailers,” and “Keep It Quiet.”
Lance Alspaugh continues to seek out old movie houses, with each subsequent project benefiting from the vast experience he and his design and construction teams have gained along the way.
Whether you’re seeking a little
entertainment, or some of that “therapy” being discussed, a visit to the Coronado Vintage Village Theater is just what the doctor ordered. On a personal note, I urge each and every person reading this story to make regular plans to visit the Village Theater at 820 Orange Avenue (www.vintagecinemas. com). Not just once a year, or even once a month, but make it part of your family tradition and lets all do whatever we can to keep this truly unique Coronado asset thriving by sharing the moviegoing experience with those we love. Once inside, you’ll realize why it’s described as, “Vintage Postcard Style,” and “our special little church.”
Happy 77th birthday, Coronado Village Theater!
[Editor’s Note: Joe Ditler has lived in Coronado since 1966. He is a Coronado historian, long-time writer and publicist. All photos, unless otherwise indicated, were shot by the author.]
The author, Joe Ditler, enjoying the view from the soon-to-be-opened, refurbished Village Theater. Photo by Brian White.
Village Theatre Memories
“I remember Pop Millar, the juvenile Coronado Police officer who looked after us in the ‘40’s and ‘50’s. He would sponsor a Saturday Matinee at his own expense. We would all meet at the Library and walk up to the Strand or Village Theatre for a free movie. We marched on the median strip, like children following their Pied Piper. That was a real treat! There was always a lot of cheering when The Lone Ranger and Tonto came to the rescue in the Village Theatre!”
- Dr. Vince Flynn
In 7th grade, 1953, I saw “House of Wax” with Vincent Price. It was my first 3-D movie. We wore the glasses and all. There was a paddleball (toy thing) at the beginning that was coming straight at us. Everyone was ducking. It was the scariest movie I had ever seen, and I almost wet my pants! I had been forbidden to see it, (along with “The Thing”) but Ky Winchester Roberts and I swiped a bunch of empty bottles from behind Piatt’s Market to cash-in so we would have enough money to see it. My parents never found out, but I was still punished by the nightmares I had for months afterward.”
- Kathy Clark, former schoolteacher, Miss Coronado 1959
“In 1943, I was going with Mike Flynn and all the other junior high couples would meet for the Friday (or Saturday) night movie and would settle into the metal rimmed seats in the junior high section. A lot of the couples held hands, and some of the boys would put their arms around their girlfriends. Week after week I hoped Mike would finally move his arm from the metal rim of the seat onto my shoulder. Months went by and I had almost given up hope. Finally, one night when we were in our same seats watching “Flicka,” his arm slowly lowered onto my shoulder. The screen went black and I truly saw stars. Talk about Cloud Nine. After that I hated living only one block from the Village Theatre ... the walk home was way too short.”
- Ky Winchester Roberts
“I used to work for Burt Kramer, manager of the theater, in the late ‘40s or early ‘50s. My job was to change the marquee wording outside when movies changed. I also used to pick up the large cans of film in San Diego when they weren’t delivered. I got 35 cents an hour, free movies, and one Suicide Sundae a week at the Beachcomber next door. Can’t beat that.”
- Pike Meade, retired Coronado school teacher
“Next door to the theatre was a popular hangout called the Beachcomber. It was the main place where High School and Junior High kids would meet. It even had its own door to the entrance of the theatre. It was a great place for lunch but only if you wanted Hamburgers, Sundays, ice cream or cherry Cokes, but what else was there to eat? When Burt Cramer, the owner of the theatre, wasn’t looking we would sneak our friends in thru the alley door of the theatre, but woe to the guy who got caught. One movie was very memorable. After watching “The Thing,” [1951] we were all too scared to walk home, and that was a matinee! The Village Theatre was really a great place of entertainment and provided some fantastic memories.”
- Dr. Vince Flynn
“I worked as the popcorn girl in 195657 for 75 cents an hour. I served plain popcorn for 10 cents and buttered (real butter) for 25 cents. Mr. Kramer wouldn’t let us sit during the quiet periods, so we always had to be cleaning the glass or something.”
- Marilyn Moyle-Rees, retired musician
“We used to ride our bikes up and down the aisles while they were putting final touches on the original theater (1947) and Mr. Kramer would get so mad at us. Those were the days.”
- Tommy Keck, former TV news photographer
“In the early fifties the left side of the theatre was for the junior high students, the right side for the high school students and the center was delegated for the ‘Old people.’ There were troublemakers on the junior high side that thought it was funny to roll glass soda bottle down the slope under the seats. Poor Burt Kramer, the theater manager. He hated the junior high section.”
- Ky Winchester Roberts
“My allowance for mowing the lawn was 25 cents a week in the mid 50’s, which got me a 15-cent ticket and two of the 5-cent items at the snack bar. At the Saturday matinee, often during the Flash Gordon serial, everyone would start throwing food at kids we didn’t particularly like. The projectionist would stop the film, and the theatre manager would come up front and, yell at us to stop, and threaten to throw us all out. His cue was usually when somebody threw a popcorn box at the screen. The screen was sacred! What fun!”
- Terence G Goodbody
“When we were kids (1960s) they would show surf movies. You never heard such noise from a crowd. We would flick bottle caps at the screen, sometimes sailing over the heads of the crowd up into the screen. The longest trajectories got the most applause.”
- John Gillem, retired contractor
“There was a great ice cream parlor called the Beachcomber next door where the dry cleaner is now. They specialized in ‘Suicide Sundaes.’ If you could eat two, you got the third for free. My friend from high school Patty Murphy (Jepson) worked the box office at the Village Theater and snuck us in sometimes. We necked with our boyfriends in the back row and necked in the front row. It was a typical smalltown theater, which I’ve missed like crazy.”
- Jane Reynolds-Meade
Island Icon:
George Lanman
by LOUISA GALBO, Coronado Historical Association Volunteer
If you meet George Lanman at a cocktail party or volunteer event, you might think he’s lived in Coronado all his life. Seeing how fully entrenched he is in the social, community, and volunteer scene, it’s hard to believe he didn’t make his final return to his beloved city until after completing two back-toback 20-year careers.
George Maurice Lanman was born in Pensacola, Florida, in 1935 while his father, Charles Lanman—a 1932 Naval Academy graduate—was in flight school. After receiving his wings, Charles’ first duty station was NAS North Island, where he built a house on a lot he purchased on J Avenue. That historically designated house still stands today. In 1942, when George was in elementary school, Charles accepted a position in Washington, D.C., and moved the family to Chevy Chase, Maryland.
While in Maryland, Charles took on various WWII-related responsibilities such as planning the Doolittle Raid and commissioning the USS Intrepid, and earning a Bronze Star with Combat “V” for his service in WWII. Charles was later recognized for his service on Coronado’s Avenue of Heroes in 2018.
Despite frequent moves for his father’s Navy duties, George excelled in academics and sports, captaining the swim team at St. John’s College High School and graduating at just 16. Recognizing he was too young to attend the Naval Academy, George embraced the chance to enjoy a traditional college life first. He attended Catholic University in Washington, D.C., for a year, joining a fraternity and becoming the fastest swimmer on the team.
George entered the Naval Academy in 1953. After graduation, he was eager to return to the West Coast, but his father’s passing in 1957 put those plans on hold. As the oldest child, George stayed on the East Coast to help with family matters. Following advice from his father’s Navy colleagues—“Before you learn how to fly a plane, you should learn how to drive a ship”—he started his military career on the USS Lowry as an anti-submarine warfare officer. With ship-driving under his belt, George set his sights on flight school and the West Coast… until fate intervened.
He met Anne Louise Brown. The introduction came courtesy of high school friend and West
Point graduate, Jim Hamilton. One night, over pizza, the two men compared dating woes. George admitted he had a very particular wish list, including “a Catholic who could dance”—but kept meeting Protestants. Jim, meanwhile, wanted “a Protestant who could dance” but was dating a Catholic. Laughing at the irony, they hoped to swap dates at an upcoming Christmas party.
When George met Anne, he was immediately taken with her “Dinah Shore looks, her intellect (a math major and computer programmer), and her damn good dance moves.” To keep her in his life, George stayed on the East Coast after flight school.
They married in 1961, welcomed daughter Anne in 1962, and son Charles 15 months later.
In 1964, George was selected for the Post Naval Graduate School in Monterey, California. The Lanmans enjoyed two years on the West Coast before returning to Washington, D.C., for his Pentagon posting. In 1969, they made it back to Coronado, renting a two-bedroom house. With their third child, Mary, on the way, they sought something bigger. Following a neighbor’s tip, Anne inquired about a nearby house. Though its curb appeal was lacking and the price was steep for a lieutenant commander’s $12,000 salary, they saw its potential. George agreed—by telegram from a ship in Vietnam.
But barely settled, they were off again—back to the Pentagon in 1970, then on to London, where George served as special assistant to the Commander in Chief U.S. Naval Operations Europe. London life meant the theater, weekends in Paris, and skiing in Switzerland—“the best shore duty of my life,” George said. Later adventures included a Canadian train trip and a camping journey down the West Coast before returning to Coronado as executive officer of the VS-21 Squadron.
In 1977, George retired from his 20-year Navy career and began another 20-year chapter—first with the Intelligence Community Staff, then the CIA in Langley. Asked about his CIA work, George liked to joke, “We gathered intelligence to make the NSA look good.” He retired in 1997 and started planning his final return to Coronado. In 2000, at last, he fulfilled his MacArthur-like promise—“I shall return”—just in time for his 65th birthday, celebrating with eight of his Naval Academy ’57 classmates. George and Anne’s latest Coronado chapter has been packed with friends, family, sports, and community fun. Their daughters, Mary and Annie, now both live here, while Charlie pops in often from Texas. Between them, they have six grandsons, one granddaughter, and two great-grandbabies on the way. Ask “PG” (Papa George) for his favorite Coronado memory? No hesitation: “The four months my three little grandkids moved in with us. They were cute like puppies," he said.
These days, you might spot Anne on the tennis courts, or George at the lawn bowling green—2024’s top winner. Weekly Island Beer Club meet-ups and Meals on Wheels keep George busy, and together they’ve served as Eucharistic Ministers at the NAS Chapel and Sacred Heart Church, support the Coronado Hospital Foundation, and were lively members of the original Crown
Club. On the Fourth of July, you’ll find George weaving his bike among the parade floats at the starting line, clipboard in hand, doing his “parade judge” thing. George has never met a stranger he couldn’t connect with— and he’ll tell you the best thing he ever did was marry Anne, who always knew she wanted to come home to Coronado.
Coronado High School will celebrate its annual Homecoming on September 26th. The Islanders refer to the many events around this celebration as HOCO. Weeks out from the event, the student body elects a homecoming court. Members of the court divide into pairs and invite friends to be part of their studentchoreographed dance routines, which are the highlight of the morning pep-rally The parade follows in the afternoon. The CHS homecoming parade is an iconic community event that brings out Islanders of all ages to cheer on the class floats, homecoming court, band, dance teams, and of course, the football team. The fun continues at halftime of the football game where the King and Queen are crowned.
Float building has evolved over the years from flatbed trucks to the golf carts used today. Each class builds a float related to a theme. Local families host float building at their homes and the competition is fierce, with faculty judges announcing the winner during the football game
Friday September 26
CHS
Homecoming
4pm: Parade
(down Orange Avenue from Adella Ave to 7 Street) th 7pm: Islander Football game
(King and Queen crowned during half-time
The tradition of homecoming has its origin in alumni football games held at colleges and universities since the 19th century Many schools including Baylor, Illinois, Missouri and Southwestern have claimed that they began homecoming Trivial Pursuit and Jeopardy! give the title to the University of Missouri's 1911 football game during which alumni were encouraged to attend It appears to be the first homecoming event which included both a parade and an intercollegiate football game; such was the response and success that it became an annual event.
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COMMUNITY: ANGELICA MOSER
The Annual Community Scavenger Hunt
Don’t be alarmed if you see people in funny costumes riding bikes around town, shopping in the grocery stores, or walking dogs on September 20. The third annual Race the Rock, community scavenger hunt race full of silly challenges and friendly competition, is returning to Coronado this fall with 100 participants set to compete. Race the Rock’s mission is to raise money to support local schools, their students, resources, and programs.
The event will begin at noon, with the race running from 1:00–2:00 p.m., followed by an award ceremony for first-place contestants and best costume winners, and an after party from 2:30–4:30 p.m.
Race the Rock began when Liz Merrill, owner of Sweat Circuit and B Long Pilates in Coronado, discovered a love for The Amazing Race, a reality television show where teams travel the globe completing challenges as they race to the finish line. Merrill recreated her own version while living in Seattle as a scavenger hunt for family and friends, and the event was such a hit that she was encouraged to continue the tradition after moving to Coronado.
Originally held in May, Merrill moved the race to September this year because the slower pace of the season made it a better fit, she said.
Each year has followed a specific theme.
This time, it’s centered around being a Well-rounded Child, focusing on Coronado students’ physical, mental, and scholastic health. Merrill incorporated three organizations as beneficiaries: the Islander Sports Foundation (ISF), which supports Coronado High School (CHS) athletics by funding equipment and coaching needs; Coronado Schools Foundation, which raises money for programs like STEM and the arts; and Safe Harbor Coronado (SAFE), which provides counseling, education, and prevention programs to promote youth and family wellness.
“All of the theme’s aspects play a vital role in building the foundation for healthy kids and setting them up for success,” Ashley Degree, the CEO and President of CSF, said.
Kris Collins, the President of ISF, noted that the aspects align with the heart of the organizations. “I really like the theme because that is what we all focus on right now,” she said. “Merrill has chosen the right organizations to work together because we work so closely within the schools already to help support the kids and students to be successful. Without these organizations, they may not have [the same opportunities].”
Participants enroll in pairs, forming a total of 50 teams, and are encouraged to wear costumes and come up with a team name. They ride their bikes from station to station to compete in various activities. Stations in past races have included taking cold plunges, learning cheers with CHS cheerleaders, kayaking, riding surreys, playing “fish out of water” games, being timed to buy items from the grocery store, building cup pyramids, playing golf, tennis, or corn hole, and even walking someone else’s dog.
Merrill said the biggest challenge of organizing Race the Rock is less about logistics and more about safety. “It’s about making sure to keep people safe and that everything gets executed the way it’s supposed to,” she said.
Race the Rock has partnered with a variety of businesses across the island to make this event possible, including B Long Pilates, Bungalow 56, Coronado Concierge, Nicky Rottens, Park Life Compass Real Estate, Sweat Circuit, and the Kato Family. To raise money, tickets are $315 for returners and $350 for new participants. The enrollment closed last week.
Another fundraiser that Race the Rock hosted this year was “flamingo flocking.” For a donation, a team of volunteers secretly planted flocks of pink
To amp up the fun, participants are encouraged to wear costumes while completing each challenge, making the race as colorful and entertaining as it is competitive.
Building A Foundation For Healthy Kids
plastic flamingos in the night across the lawns of last years’ participants. They added a sign that said, “You’ve been flocked!” The flock only disappeared once the homeowner bought a ticket to participate, donated to have them removed, or paid it forward by sending the birds to someone else’s yard. The money goes straight back into supporting the race.
This year’s event is projected to raise $100,000 for the three beneficiaries. Each organization has plans for the funds they will receive.
“The money raised for CSF will go directly to fund STEM & Arts learning opportunities for our students and classes like Innovation Lab, Robotics, Broadcast Journalism, Band, Computer Science and Ceramics, just to name a few,” said Degree. “We are so lucky to be one of the original beneficiaries and we are thrilled every time [Merrill] continues to support us.”
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ISF is currently in the process of purchasing new uniforms for over twenty sports teams, from the middle school to the high school. The funding received will go towards athletic equipment and scholarships for three CHS seniors and “those who are in need of assistance to play at the middle school level. What our main objective will be with this money is to see what’s missing with our sports teams because they are becoming more and more competitive,” Collins said. “I am very thankful that Merrill chose ISF as one of the organizations because sports are very near and dear to my heart. I appreciate that she sees the value in our organization because it means a lot.”
The proceeds also will go towards Safe Harbor’s youth prevention programs, including early education classes like Turtle Time (teaching young students self-regulation through the story of Tucker the Turtle), Pause Power for grades 5–8 (helping kids connect emotions to physical responses and learn coping skills), as well as Wellness Wednesdays and internships for high schoolers. Danielle Maske, Executive Director of Safe Harbor Coronado, said, “We are going to direct the money right to our youth program [because] the fees we currently receive for all of our prevention programs only cover less than half of the cost of running them.
“Safe Harbor Coronado is excited and honored to be one of the beneficiaries of this year’s Race the Rock, alongside the Coronado Schools Foundation and the Islander Sports Foundation. We are deeply grateful to Liz and Nick Merrill, the Race the Rock organizers, for their vision and devotion to Coronado’s kids and families, and to the sponsors and participants for creating such a joyful event that uplifts our entire community while supporting programs that strengthen and inspire Coronado’s youth and families.”
Although the enrollment is closed, if you sponsor $1,000 or more, you can still participate in the race. Participants can visit racetherockcoronado.com
Merill said she continues to put on the event each year because she loved “seeing the community come together for a day of fun. It is a unique Coronado event put on by local businesses and residents to benefit the kids of our community.”
Ryan and Julie King got “flocked” prior to the Race the Rock event, which is a fundraiser where volunteers secretly place pink plastic flamingos on participants’ lawns until a donation is made to have them removed or sent to someone else’s yard.
Planning Your Business Exit:
If you own a business, you’ve probably spent countless hours thinking about how to grow it, manage daily operations, and serve your customers. But have you thought about how you’ll eventually step away from it? While it might seem premature, planning your successful exit from your business is one of the smartest moves you can make as an owner.
The reality is that most business owners have 80% to 90% of their net worth tied up in their companies, according to the Exit Planning Institute. That’s a significant investment that deserves careful planning to protect. Unfortunately, 70% to 80% of businesses put on the
market don’t sell, and about half of all business exits are involuntary due to unexpected circumstances like health issues, family emergencies, management disputes, or economic downturns.
Exit planning is more than preparing for retirement. It’s taking control of your future and ensuring you can transition away from your business when and how you choose. You can start with the end in mind – a proactive approach that can inform your current business decisions and help increase your company’s value and marketability.
Begin by articulating your personal goals for both the transaction and your life afterward. Maybe you
want to sell only a portion of your business, stay on as a paid consultant, or use the proceeds to start your next venture. Understanding your vision helps shape everything else.
You’ll want to calculate how much money you’ll need to fund your desired retirement lifestyle, accounting for expenses that may be currently covered by the business, like your cellphone, vehicles, travel, and health care. Don’t forget about your legacy goals, too – what you want to leave for your family or charitable causes.
Getting started requires building a strong professional team. At the center should be a financial advisor who can help you through
Start with the End in Mind
the planning, execution, and postsale phases. You’ll likely also need a tax professional, legal advisor, commercial banker, and business valuation expert. Depending on your exit strategy, you might later add specialists like business brokers, investment bankers, or employee stock ownership plan advisors.
Understanding your business’s current value is crucial. It’s a good idea to get a calculation of value at least three to five years before your planned exit. This isn’t as formal or expensive as a qualified appraisal, but it gives you a realistic range of what your business might be worth. This step may reveal a gap between what you need financially and what
your business could sell for. If so, don’t panic. You have several options: work longer, adjust your spending expectations, save more outside the business, or focus on increasing your company’s value. You can boost value by increasing profits through higher market share, new products, better pricing, or reduced costs. You can also improve intangible assets like employee expertise, operational systems, and customer relationships.
Finally, consider who your successor might be. Selling your interest to family members, business partners, or employees often provides more control over timing and lower transaction costs, though they may result in lower sale prices.
Selling the business to third parties typically brings higher proceeds but less control over the process.
The key message is simple: it’s never too early to start planning your exit. Whether you’re thinking about stepping away next year or in the next decade, taking proactive steps now puts you in control of your business’s future and your own financial security.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Edward Jones, Member SIPC
Edward Jones, its employees, and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.
Seventy years later, Disneyland Still Echoes Walt Disney's Childhood in Marceline, Missouri
By KRIS GRANT
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Disneyland, the Anaheim, California theme park that was the longtime dream of a Midwest visionary, Walter Elias Disney.
I’m not sure when my first visit was to Disneyland, but I suspect it was 1956, the year after the park opened. My family lived in Los Angeles, and Disneyland was the talk of the town, as well as the nation. We were within an hour’s drive of the Magic Kingdom, and we went annually for the first few years of the park’s existence. For a youngster, it was pure joy, from the pack mule rides (yes, they had live mules in those early days), to encounters with bad-guy Black Bart on Main Street (he’s gone now) to the eye-popping Jungle Boat ride with animatronic hippos, elephants and crocodiles, all state-of-the-art in the 1950s.
Over the years, I watched Disneyland evolve, as the rocket ships gave way to the Carousel of Progress and we were treated to the Monsanto House of Tomorrow. As early as the ‘70s, GE showed us that someday we’d be able to talk on the telephone and see the person on the other end.
Then as today, we all passed through Main Street USA, which opened up to the many lands beyond – Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland and Adventureland. That was where our annual sojourns began, perhaps with hot chocolate at the Carnation House, and a ride in a horsedrawn carriage or stagecoach – yes, they all existed when Main Street first opened. On the way out, we’d stop at the Penny Arcade, where you could view silent films and then go next door to the Candy Palace to load up on treats for the ride home.
I thought you might enjoy a peek at Walt Disney’s hometown, Marceline, Missouri, where he lived from the time he was 4 until he was almost 10, and where his “imagineering” spark was first lit.
I stumbled upon this small town –today its population is just 2,223 – on a trip across Missouri State Highway 36, as I was heading toward Hannibal, Mark Twain’s hometown. When I spied a highway marker reading “Marceline, Walt Disney’s Hometown,” I made the quick decision to go exploring. What a treat!
A highlight of the town is the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, housed in a renovated and restored Santa Fe Depot, so fitting because Walt Disney loved trains, (and you’ll soon learn how that came to be.) The museum houses a large, unique collection of Disney family artifacts.
Confession: I haven’t been to Disneyland in years, well, make that decades. But after writing this story, I’m planning a return trip to the Magic Kingdom this December, and I plan to hang out a lot on Main Street USA.
The “happiest place on earth” marked its 70th anniversary this summer. Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort.
Street banners in Marceline, Missouri salute their hometown hero, Walt Disney.
Photo by Kris Grant.
Walt Disney was 54 years old when he unveiled the first map of his new Magic Kingdom. Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort.
Marceline, Missouri was founded in 1887 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The railroad needed towns about every 100 miles to house maintenance yards, including a roundhouse and coal chutes. Its location on the Santa Fe line made it a strategic stop between Kansas City and Chicago. The town quickly developed around the railroad, with shops, hotels and businesses springing up to serve railroad workers and travelers. Agriculture –particularly corn, apples and livestock – also supported the town economy but the railroad remained dominant.
Walt Disney’s father, Elias, was a man who never shied from hard work but whose restless pursuit of opportunity rarely paid off. A carpenter by trade, he followed his brother Robert to Chicago from Florida to help construct the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, better known as the Chicago World’s Fair.
After the exposition work was completed, Elias stayed in Chicago and built homes. Yet, Elias always felt the grass was greener elsewhere. When
his brother Robert who had moved to Marceline to work as an engineer on the Santa Fe Railroad, told him of the fertile land there, Elias was intrigued. Dreaming of a life in the country and thinking it a more moral way to bring up his family, he bought a 45-acre farm for $3,000 with money he made selling the family house he had built in Chicago in 1893. (That home has been recently restored and is the site of the Walt Disney Birthplace House Museum.)
And so, in the spring of 1906, the Disney family, led by Elias and including Walt’s mother, Flora, a former schoolteacher, brothers Herbert, Raymond, Roy and Walt and younger sister Ruth moved to Marceline. Alas, the soil was not as productive as Elias hoped, pests plagued his orchard, and he had neither the specialized knowledge nor the patience to turn a profit. The older boys, Herbert and Raymond, were pressed into long hours of labor. This created resentment, and they soon headed back to Chicago, initially taking positions as clerks. From
that point on, the older sons limited their association with their father, and it has been suggested that his stern discipline and strong temper had driven a wedge into their relationship.
Yet, while Elias encountered mud, pests and endless labor, Walt saw wideopen streets, horse-drawn wagons and the rhythmic pulse of small-town life: a place where community, imagination and childhood magic could thrive.
In Marceline, Roy, Walt and Ruth became especially close. For young Walt, the short five years in Marceline became an idyllic memory, shaping his vision of Main Street USA.
It also spurred his love of trains. Walt loved watching the trains, hearing the hiss of steam engines and clatter of wheels and riding the locomotives. When his uncle Mike Martin, also a railroad engineer, steered his train into town, he would give a special toot of his horn, then stop the train to allow Walt to climb into the cab. Walt would then ride with him into the railroad yard.
Marceline’s Santa Fe Depot, constructed in 1913, faced the threat
Locomotive No. 2546, an oil-burning 2-8-0 “Consolidation” steam locomotive, was built in 1911 and has been a fixture in Marceline’s E. P. Ripley Park since 1955. The train was donated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which founded Marceline and also donated the land for the park, which is named after Edward Payson Ripley who served as the railroad’s president from 1895 to 1920. Walt and Roy Disney posed with the engine on their 1956 visit to Marceline. The “Santa Fe & Disneyland R. R.” was painted on the engine before their arrival, reflecting Walt’s love of railroads, which he traces back to his childhood days in Marceline. Photo by Kris Grant
of demolition in 1998, the last Amtrak passenger train having passed through in 1997. Recognizing the historical significance of the depot, a group of dedicated local citizens and organizations rallied to save the building. Their efforts culminated in the establishment of the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in 2001, housed within the restored depot. While trains no longer stop in Marceline (unless by prior arrangement for a special event), more than 70 freight trains pass by the depot daily.
The museum not only preserves the architectural integrity of the depot but also showcases exhibits that honor Walt Disney’s childhood in Marceline and the railroad’s history.
The Walt Disney Hometown Museum is housed in the former Santa Fe Depot in Marceline. Although more than 70 trains, mostly freight, pass by daily, the depot closed to passenger service in 1997, when Amtrak discontinued its Southwest Chief stop there. In 1887 the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe founded Marceline as a division point for locomotive servicing, crew changes and yards. The company built the brick depot building in 1913. Upper photo courtesy of Walt Disney Hometown Museum; bottom photo by Kris Grant.
Museum cofounder and director Kaye Malins picks up the story.
“It was in Marceline that Walt experienced many ‘firsts,’” explained Kaye, who grew up in Marceline and over the years became close with the Disney children. “This is where Walt first went to school, saw his first play, Peter Pan, which he later made into a movie, and watched his first motion picture. It’s also where he began to draw. His Aunt Maggie (his father’s sister, Margaret Disney) gave him his first drawing materials and encouraged his artistic side. He began sketching animals around the farm, especially his neighbor’s horses. He sold his first drawing when Doc Sherwood asked him to draw his prize stallion, Rupert. Walt told him, ‘I don’t think I can.’ ‘Of course you can,’ Doc Sherwood told him. And when Walt gave him his drawing, the doctor paid him 25 cents. Roy said Walt was so proud of that quarter that he clung to it all the way home. Today, Doc Sherwood’s office is commemorated in one of the windows on Main Street in Disneyland.
“Walt watched his first fireworks in Marceline,” Kaye continued, noting
that every 4th of July the town continues to have a major fireworks show. “Walt always said ‘fireworks are like a kiss goodnight,’ which is probably why he insisted that Disneyland have a fireworks show every night throughout the summer. (Today, special fireworks displays also take place around Halloween and Christmas.)
“I truly don’t think Walt Disney would have been Walt Disney without
Marceline,” Kaye said. “He thought of Disneyland as one big family and that is how he remembered Marceline.”
Kaye should know. She is a former Disneyland “Cast Member” as Disney employees at all the parks are called to this day.
Kaye’s lifelong Disney adventures began when she was just 8, and it was all because her parents had just built a new air-conditioned house. “It was the 4th of July weekend in 1956, the year after Disneyland opened,” she said. “Walt and Roy had agreed to come back to Marceline to dedicate the new Walt Disney Swimming Municipal Pool and Park. Our hotel in town did not have air conditioning and town officials asked my parents if they could host Walt and Roy and their wives. My dad was immediately thrilled but when my mom heard about it, not so much. She was mortified because she didn’t believe our hand-me-down furnishings would meet the moment. But her friends, hearing of her plight, quickly outfitted our home with fine furniture, China and crystal.
“I met Walt and his wife Lillian in our living room. Being quite precocious at the time, I asked him, ‘What room are
Downtown Marceline is only two blocks long but still retains several buildings that were present when a young Walt Disney walked its streets and first began drawing. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Hometown Museum.
Kaye Malins, founder and executive director of the Walt Disney Hometown Museum.
Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Hometown Museum.
you sleeping in?’ and he then asked me, ‘Well, you tell me, what room should we sleep in?’ ‘The pink room,’ I told him because that was my room. So, my claim to fame is that Walt and Lillian Disney stayed in my room.”
In addition to attending the opening of the Walt Disney Municipal Pool and Park, Walt also attended the dedication of Walt Disney Elementary School on Oct. 16, 1960. “While there are several schools named in his honor, we are to my knowledge the only one where Walt attended the dedication,” Kaye said.
Walt Disney died Sept. 11, 1966. Just two years later, the U.S. Post Office issued a commemorative six-cent stamp honoring him, and Marceline’s post office was awarded the honor of first-day issue. “Of course, Burbank and Anaheim and even Chicago also wanted that honor,” said Kaye. “But Walt’s wife, Lillian, insisted it be given to Marceline because Walt regarded our city as his true hometown.”
In recognition of this honor, on Aug. 23, 2004, the Marceline Post Office by an Act of Congress was officially renamed the Walt Disney Post Office, making it the only federal building in the United States named after Walt Disney. Today, visitors can request a special cancellation or postmark that bears Walt Disney’s name at this post office.
Walt and Roy Disney received a warm welcome when they visited Marceline over the 4th of July weekend in 1956, just one year after opening Disneyland. In 1956, Roy O. Disney (Walt’s older brother) served as co-founder of Walt Disney Productions (today’s Disney Company). His official title then was President of Walt Disney Productions, while Walt was Vice President in charge of Production. While Walt dreamed up Disneyland and oversaw its design and creative details, Roy made sure the money was there to build it and keep it running.
In 1968, just two years after Walt Disney’s death, the U.S. Post Office issued a 6 cent stamp (standard first-class rate at the time). Surrounding Walt are colorful children from around the world, similar in theme to the Disneyland’s “It’s a Small World” ride. The first-day issue was held in Marceline, whose post office was officially renamed the Walt Disney Post office on August 13, 2004.
The return visits to Marceline rekindled Walt’s fondness for the town and strengthened the bonds between Kaye’s family and the Disneys, especially when Kaye’s father and Walt began a collaboration on what Walt called his “Marceline project.” Walt envisioned turning his former family farm – plus additional acres surrounding it – into a living history park where children could learn about the nation’s farming heritage. “He thought there would be a time when children didn’t know what a bushel or a peck or an acre of land was. They wouldn’t know about seeds,” said Kaye.
“He asked my dad to put the farm in our family’s name, to avoid the press getting wind of his plans,” Kaye shared, noting that she lives on the farm today.
The Disney Farm is open to the public and it’s free to roam the grounds, visit “the Barn,” a replica of the original Disney barn, where visitors can write their autographs on barn interior walls and beams. Visitors can also sit under a special tree, called “Son of Dreaming Tree.” The original Dreaming Tree, a cottonwood, under whose shady limbs young Walt would often sit and dream, was hit by lightning in 2008, leading to its gradual decline, and finally falling in a windstorm in 2015. “Son of Dreaming Tree,” now forty feet tall, was a sapling
descended from the original tree planted in December 2004 by Walt’s grandson Bradford Disney Lund, along with Walt Disney World Ambassadors. This tree was nurtured with soil from the Magic Kingdom and water from the Rivers of America (the river that surrounds Tom Sawyer’s Island.)
“In the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, Walt would call our house regularly. The phone would ring – we had one phone then and it was tethered to the wall –and I’d answer it and hear, ‘Hey, Kaye, it’s Walt. Is your dad there?’ As soon as Dad got on the phone, Walt would tell him about yet another idea he had for the Marceline project.”
In addition to his publicized trips to Marceline, Walt made many spontaneous visits. “He would call my dad and ask him to pick him up at the station,” Kaye said. “He loved to ride trains and would make detours into town when he was traveling to or from New York or Chicago.”
Kaye and her family would also travel to California to stay with the Disneys, and Walt and Roy would personally escort them to Disneyland. “I never knew what a line was in those first visits,” Kaye said, “although I love to stand in the lines now and tell stories.”
After Kaye graduated from high school, Walt encouraged her to join the
The Disney Barn on the Disney Family Farm is open to the public, as is the entire acreage of the farm, including the site of the former “Dreaming Tree” where Walt would spend time drawing and dreaming. He and Roy visited the Dreaming Tree in 1956. Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Hometown Museum.
“To tell the truth, more things of importance happened to me in Marceline that have happened since – or are likely to in the future.” - Walt Disney
Disney siblings alive, she was frequently asked to speak for the family or attend openings, but she was uncomfortable doing so, as she was a quiet and private person. When Disneyland opened, she told her brothers that she preferred to stay home, rather than deal with the crowds. Walt sent her a new television, so she could watch the opening festivities. That TV set is one of our museum exhibits.”
Ruth lived to age 91, passing on in 1995. Upon her death, her only son Ted Beecher, Jr, contacted Kaye. “Ted told me ‘Mom wanted you to have her stuff. She wanted it all to end up in Marceline.’
“I flew out to Oregon. It was before 9-11 when you could fly with empty suitcases, so I took two with me. As soon as I arrived, I knew I was in over my head. There was so much – letters, telegrams, personal gifts, photographs, documents – that I contacted a museum for help in collecting, cataloguing, scanning and archiving all of it. There were more than 3,000 artifacts. It was a true treasure trove.
“Ruth wanted us to tell the story of Marceline. She knew how important it was to Walt and Roy. She kept personal journals all her life. In her personal address book labeled ‘My Marceline friends,’ she scratched out her friends’ addresses and put in new ones throughout her entire life. It was amazing.”
Disneyland team, which she did in 1967, becoming a guide at the Carousel of Progress, which moved to the park after its debut at the New York World’s Fair. She later worked in guest services.
Kaye met Ruth through Walt and Roy and over the years their friendship grew and deepened. “Ruth eventually moved to Portland, Oregon. She would often call me for support. Being the last of the
Ruth’s artifacts became the seed collection that made the creation of a museum not only possible but compelling. Additionally, the museum has a Collector’s Gallery featuring items donated and loaned by Disney collectors from around the world. There is a reproduction of Park School, Walt Disney’s elementary school, scale models of Disneyland, and memorabilia of The Great Locomotive Chase (1956) and The Spirit of Mickey (1998), two films that premiered in Marceline.
A mural in downtown Marceline depicts the town’s downtown and the Disney Farm, just a mile away. Photo by Kris Grant.
Displays within the Walt Disney Hometown Museum include scale models of Disneyland, much of Ruth Disney’s personal letters and memorabilia, plus donations and loans of materials from Disney collectors worldwide. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Hometown Museum.
Today, the two-block downtown of Marceline has a few buildings that hail from Walt Disney’s childhood, including the Zurcher Building that was his prototype for the Coca-Cola Building on a Main Street corner. “It wasn’t until this century when a fire in an adjoining building that had been built in 1913 exposed a mural for Coca-Cola 5 cents that had gone up in 1905,” said Kaye. “Walt would have definitely seen that throughout his years here.”
Marceline’s Walt Disney Municipal Park features the original Midget Autopia Raceway track, which the Disneys donated to the town along with the cars in 1966 when the ride was closed at Disneyland to make way for “It’s a Small World.” The cars operated for 11 years in Marceline but were closed when it became difficult to obtain replacement parts for the one-of-a-kind vehicles. One of the cars is now part of the museum’s collection and the track has been refurbished into a walking trail.
Walt’s idyllic years in Marceline ended in 1911 when the family moved to Kansas City where Walt’s father acquired a newspaper route and enlisted his young sons to deliver papers at pre-dawn hours. The grueling work left little time for play, yet Walt found moments to nurture his imagination, sketching whenever he could and discovering a natural gift for drawing and storytelling. He even took Saturday art classes at the Kansas City Art Institute, experiences that laid for groundwork for his creative career. Though his path was far from easy, Walt’s persistence and vision ultimately carried him into a future beyond anything he could have dreamed.
The Zurcher Building in downtown Marceline was Walt Disney’s inspiration for the Coca-Cola Building on a corner of Main Street USA, Disneyland. A mystery as to the Coca-Cola affiliation came into focus when an apartment annex attached to the Zurcher Building burned down in 2004, revealing a long-hidden Coca-Cola mural, dating back to 1906, there during Walt’s childhood years. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Hometown Museum.
When the Midget Autopia ride at Disneyland closed in 1966, Walt donated the cars and the track to Marceline, which operated them for the next 11 years, before they were retired due to maintenance issues. Today, the track is a walking trail in Walt Disney Municipal Park and occasionally the museum puts an autopia on display. Photos by Kris Grant.
When You Go
Missouri Highway 36
If you’re heading west across Missouri, consider taking Highway 36 from St. Joseph to Hannibal, dubbed “The Way of American Genius.” The names of entrepreneurs and notables who grew up along the way include J. C. Penney, Gen. John J. Pershing, Dr. A. T. Still, DO (founder of the first school of osteopathic medicine), Walter Cronkite, Mark Twain, and, of course, Walt Disney. You can also tour the Pony Express National Museum in St. Joseph and the Missouri Quilt Museum in Hamilton.
Lodging
There are limited hotels in Marceline, although there are several VRBOs. One VRBO occupies the second floor of the Zurcher Building on Main Street.
Best Western Brookfield
This hotel is approximately 7.5 miles west of Marceline. www.bestwestern.com
Shopping on Main Street
Hazel & Grace Boutique
Women’s clothing and accessories (660) 413-2407
OliveSage Emporium
Clothing and Gifts
www.olivesageemporium.com
The Paper Station
Paper products, art supplies, gifts and souvenirs of Marceline
www.thepaperstationusa.com
The Dreaming Tree Gala
The gala that benefits the Walt Disney Hometown Museum will be held on the Disney Family Farm under a giant tent on September 20, 2025. Tickets and full information on the Walt Disney Hometown Museum website.
Magnolia Antiques & Tourist Center
Antiques including Disney memorabilia since 1990; also functions as the Chamber of Commerce office. 209 North Main Street (660) 376-2332
Restaurants on Main Street
Ma Vic’s Corner Café
Offers daily specials and if you show your museum stub, you get to have a Dusty Miller for dessert.
J&J on Main
Bar & Grill (660)376-9028
Los Chimas
Mexican restaurant (660) 402-5050
Attractions
Walt Disney Hometown Museum: Open Tuesday – Sunday
Adults, $10; Children 6 – 12, $5.00; 5 and under, free. You’ll find many specials when you show your museum stub throughout town. www.waltdisneymuseum.org
Disney Family Farm
275 West Broadway Street
Marceline
Open free to the public for wandering during daylight hours.
Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Napolitano & Associates
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