(June 26, 2010) -- A stream of wellwishers that included long time friends, newfound internet acquaintances, VIPs and bargain hunters, visited in-person and online at a Saturday (June 26) garage sale held by friends of an ELB man critically injured in a motorcycle accident earlier this week.

Friends and neighbors of Shelley Boyle organized the garage sale to help her with daily expenses after husband Hugh Boyle (photo right) was hit by a car while riding his motorcycle at midafternoon Monday June 21 at Palo Verde Ave/Stearns Street. Mr. Boyle remains hospitalized with very serious injuries.

Ms. Boyle (foreground, below) said she's overwhelmed by the outpouring of support she's receiving. She's created a blog with updates on the life-changing events of the past week; to view it, click here.

She gave special credit to those she calls her "angels," including Andrea Turner Easley and Melissa Keyes who worked non-stop as the event unfolded.

Word spread via the internet, including Facebook, and by 8:00 a.m. Saturday, items ranging from old clothes, to snow and water skis and books (from Thomas the Tank Engine to Suze Orman) filled the lawn on Killdee Street just east of Clark Ave.

In the driveway, children staffed a table selling home baked cookies and brownies and a tangy fruit drink and water.

LBReport.com learned of the grassroots neighborhood event via the internet barely a day before it took place and decided to cover it as news, using a live video webcast to tell the story.

Dan Halverson (photo below), owner/operator of LBOCEAN Internet/Surveillance Svcs. (www.lbocean.com), volunteered the use of his video and computer equipment to provide a live online video link, carried live on LBReport.com.

Mr. Halverson mapped out signal strength and video/audio parameters at the location a day earlier, resulting in uninterrupted video stream. Using the UStream.com platform and teaming with LBReport.com publisher Bill Pearl, the pair (visible in insert in webcast screen save below) interviewed volunteers, visitors, shoppers and familymembers from shortly after the yard sale's 8:00 a.m. start until the event wound down about 2:30 p.m.

In video webcast screen save below, one of Ms. Boyle's "angels," Melissa Keyes, chats with webcast co-host Pearl.

There were Frank Capra-type moments.

Charlie McDonald of Southwest Express delivery service (covers LA/LB/OC and beyond 24/7), a school-days friend of Ms. Boyle when they attended Millikan High School, donated four tickets to a July 3 Angels baseball game.

On seeing Mr. McDonald for the first time in years and witnessing his generosity, Ms. Boyle was overcome with emotion (below).

For his part, Mr. McDonald sought to avoid the limelight...and only reluctantly offered a few words on the webcast when asked about Southwest Express. "This is for Shelley," he said repeatedly.

Lisa Ramelow (right, in photo below), owner of La Strada Italian Restaurant (4716 E. 2nd St. in Belmont Shore), brought pizzas welcomed by volunteers. (A creation combining spinach and a delicate cheese topping received rave reviews.) (In photo below, Ms. Ramelow chats with one of Ms. Boyle's "angels," Angela Easley).

Familymembers in Florida viewed the webcast on LBReport.com, saw the crowds on the front lawn...and excitedly exchanged text and cellphone messages.

LBReport.com advertiser Bill Lovelace (who pioneered the use of live video to webcast a City Council candidate debate and a community meeting earlier this year on LBReport.com) said he heard KFI/AM 640 radio in Los Angeles report on the event during one of its Saturday local newscasts.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal (D. LB) and former 1st dist. Councilman Evan Braude stopped by...and Assemblywoman Lowenthal spent an extended period speaking personally with Ms. Boyle.

Following their meeting, Assemblywoman Lowenthal said the discussion was personal and emotional. Assemblywoman Lowenthal said that what happened to the family -- a sudden life changing event on what was expected to be a routine day -- could happen to anyone and that this was a time when friends and the community could come together for the family.

Among those who saw the LBReport.com webcast and stopped by was Daryl Supernaw (title for identification: chair of LB's advisory Sustainable City Commission). Mr. Supernaw noted that 1970s TV classes at CSULB taught that the powers of video are immediacy and intimacy...and the live webcast showed this. Mr. Supernaw brought along a dependable, old-school-style camera-ready sign to display the location of the event.

LBReport.com community correspondent Joe Mello (without hat in webcast screen save insert below), who provided LBReport.com with cutting edge live on-scene audio coverage on April/June election nights, said he viewed the webcast...and quipped that he'd "come by for the home baked brownies."

P.G. Herman, veteran community advocate and supporter of multiple local causes, came by and did some shopping herself. "I bought a few things I don't need," she quipped as she set aside various items. Ms. Herman also brought two large umbrellas, welcomed by webcast co-hosts Pearl & Halverson baking in the midday summer sun.

For the past week, Ms. Boyle and her "angels" have also provided updates and dispatches via Facebook. At roughly 11 p.m. Saturday [June 26], Ms. Boyle put a dispatch on Facebook, saying the event had raised $1200 and she added [smoothed text below]:

First off, words "thank you" just don't seem enough. How does one say "thank you" for the generous donations and efforts, time, you all did for my yard sale. It frustrates me because they [the words] just don't seem enough..."thank you". So, I AM FOREVER IN DEBT TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SELFLESSNESS, GENORISITY, LOVE, AND SUPPORT. [emphasis in original]

To view the video coverage, click link below: