BurgerFi/Urbun appears to have backed out of opening in the old KFC location sources say

StuNewsLaguna has been informed by two sources that the new burger eatery, known by both BurgerFi and Urbun (its name was never confirmed), has pulled out of plans to open a new restaurant in the old Kentucky Fried Chicken location near S. Coast Hwy and Cleo Street.

David Maniero, Jr had claimed that he would open the restaurant patterned after a successful chain, BurgerFi, in Florida founded by his father who goes by the name of David Manero, Sr.

Staff photo by Cliff Getz

The KFC location has been gutted and abandoned according to our sources who spoke to us on a guarantee of anonymity. This photo was taken on Thursday

We learned that Manero, Sr has been accused in three Florida lawsuits by his former financial partners who claim Manero a total loss of more than $1,000,000, which the suits claim was diverted by Manero and his wife for their personal benefit.

Manero (Maniero, Sr) filed a countersuit last week and denies the accusations.

In an email Thursday, he declined to comment on the Laguna Beach operation saying, “I’ll forward your email to my son David. I can’t speak on his behalf. I only aid him in [a]n advisory capacity from time to time.”

Repeated attempts to reach David Maniero, Jr have been unsuccessful.

His Facebook page says he is living in Boca Raton, Fl and that he has been accepted at Harvard Law School this fall.

Readers will recall that we were the first news source to identify David, Jr as the man who left $10,000 in cash in a wallet on a bench at Main Beach on March 30. The wallet was found and eventually returned to Maniero who was living in Newport Coast at the time.

The recent Dartmouth grad had said at the time that he had been to the bank earlier to get the cash to pay a contractor.

In the month and a half since, he has left Orange County and work has come to a complete halt at the KFC location.

We were unable to reach the owner of the property for a comment.

Hikers discover body on trail off Morningside Dr

Update – 9 a.m. Police said this morning that the deceased male was 20. His name is not being released until all next of kin have been notified

Callers to StuNews Thursday afternoon reported that police, fire and OC Coroner personnel were in the wildland near a walking trail next to Morningside Drive in Bluebird Canyon.

Police have released few details other than to confirm that the deceased body of a male, said to be a Laguna Beach resident and thought to be in his early to mid-twenties had been located before three o’clock Thursday afternoon by hikers.

We have learned that there was a handgun at the scene.

The name of the man had not been released as of midnight.

Dennis’ Tidbits

May 18, 2012

By Dennis McTighe

Odds and Ends on Thursday Evening…

We’re almost at 14 hours of sun time. Today’s sunrise was

5:48 a.m. and tonight’s sunset is 7:46 p.m. The summer solstice is just over a month away with maximum sun time of 14 hours 26 minutes with a sunrise at 5:41 and a sunset at 8:07.

There’s a total solar eclipse this evening over parts of the Southwest, but down here we’re too far south from the path of totality, which can be viewed from southern Oregon and northern California and extending through northern and central Nevada and continuing through northeast Arizona, northern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle. Here at the coast we wouldn’t be able to see it anyway due to the gloom.

Due to a visit from the “enemy” (strong northwest winds) earlier this week, surface ocean temps locally have plunged back down to 58-60 degrees after last Friday’s short stay in the comfortable mid-sixties. Today, however, with the developing Catalina eddy from an approaching low pressure trough up north, winds will be southerly for the next couple of days so water temps will rebound somewhat.

Now that it’s mid May, most low pressure troughs are weaker and affect places much further north. Any precipitation associated with these lows is all about extreme northern California, Oregon, and Washington. Their effect on us down here is in the form of extensive stratus cover from the coast sometimes as far inland as the coastal facing slopes of our local mountains.

If the marine layer is thick enough, say five or six thousand feet, light precipitation will fall in the form of heavy drizzle or very light rain. Totals will rarely exceed one or two tenths of an inch, even in the foothills.

It’s your basic May Gray and June Gloom. With a trough now approaching our coast, don’t expect much sunshine on Friday. Once the trough slides off to the east, things should improve by Sunday.

With two more whale sightings last Friday, yours truly has counted upwards of fifty whales seen since last December, the most I’ve ever seen in a season, more than the last ten years I’d say, collectively.

Things have been really quiet, seismically. Outside of a 3.8 near San Juan Capistrano and a 3.9 near Hemet last month, local faults have been pretty much dormant. That makes me nervous. There was a 4.3 shaker yesterday in of all places, extreme eastern Texas, breaking some windows and dishes due to its shallow origin (only 4 miles deep).

And finally, this week’s weather vocabulary…Lenticular Cloud. A species of cloud whose elements have the form of more or less isolated, generally smooth lenses, saucer shaped, or almonds. These clouds appear most often in formation of orographic  origin, the result of lee waves, in which case they remain nearly stationary with respect to the terrain (standing cloud), but they also occur in regions without marked orography (mountaintops).

That’s all for now, see you next Tuesday, ALOHA!

Mistake by alarm company sends Laguna cops to a possible burglary in progress – in Palm Springs

Police were called by an alarm company Monday night reporting that a silent alarm had been activated in the 2200 block of Crestview Drive.

Responding officers found an open front door and had the police dispatcher call the residence. There was no answer.

Police began to enter until they heard a voice coming from inside the house. Additional patrol units were called to the scene and a perimeter was set up before officers entered the house. Their guns were drawn as is normal protocol.

A second call to the residence was made at the direction of the Watch Commander who had also responded to the house. That time, a man answered and told the dispatcher that he was the homeowner. He was instructed to walk outside with his hands over his head.

After he had been outside answering questions from police for three minutes, the Watch Commander signaled “Code Four” indicating all was under control.

The alarm company called back about then – and apologized to police – the activated alarm was in the same owner’s Palm Springs home.

The potential when several officers surround a home with guns drawn after hearing voices after an alarm company reported an activation is alarming.

“Fortunately, the officers took the appropriate amount of time in securing the perimeter of the residence, and getting him out, after hearing a voice inside,” said LBPD Lt. Jason Kravetz.

If you took the Mayor’s Water Conservation Challenge, you might win a Toyota Prius at Wyland Galleries Saturday

The Wyland Foundation will host a live prize drawing at noon Saturday May 19 at Wyland Galleries, 509 S. Coast Highway, for Laguna Beach residents who participated in the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Participating guests for the event include Laguna Beach Mayor Jane Egly, Artist Wyland, and Michael Rouse, Vice President Corporate Philanthropy for Toyota.

Laguna Beach was the #1 City in the US with a population under 25,000.

Laguna Beach and LA County coastal community Manhattan Beach were both honored as two of 12 national winners in the campaign, which encouraged residents in 50 states to make online pledges promising to conserve water, save energy and reduce pollution over the course of the next year. The two cities accounted for water reduction pledges of 272 million gallons and reducing waste to landfills by 500 tons.

The Wyland Foundation, founded by local artist and environmentalist Wyland, created the challenge with national presenting partner Toyota in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the primary federal law protecting water resources in the United States.

Organizations spearheading the effort also included KCAL/KCBS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water, U.S. Forest Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, WaterPik, Rain Bird, Lowe’s, STERLING Plumbing, PADI and Project AWARE.

Participating residents from winning cities are eligible to win more than $50,000 in prizes, including the Grand Prize of a Toyota Prius c Hybrid, custom-designed sprinkler systems from Rain Bird, Eco-Flow Showerheads from WaterPik, water-saving toilets from STERLING Plumbing, and 1,000 gift cards for Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores.

The live drawing will select the winner of the Prius. The winner could be from any of the twelve winning cities and not necessarily from Laguna Beach.

An additional drawing for a Wyland artwork will be held exclusively for Laguna Beach and Manhattan Beach residents in attendance who participated in the challenge. All individual prizewinners, with the exception of the Prius and Wyland artwork, will be notified May 22.

Mentally Sensitive Trail – there’s a lot to it

Edie Bouc sent us this photo that she took along the dirt trail off Moulton Meadows Park, which appeared in our May 11 edition. We wondered about the details of the sign and we found out.

Laura McGowan wrote: “I’ve been waiting for that sign to show up in Maggi’s photo puzzler...I hike down into the canyon below Top of the World to the Wood Canyon trail three times a week and the relatively new trail called Mentally Sensitive requires mental strength as well as physical.

“At either end the beginning of MS seems fairly innocuous but it quickly becomes so steep it requires careful foot placement on the sandy boulders, which make up the hilly part of the trail.

“Find it by looking for the sign as you approach Moulton Meadows park from TOW, or at the bottom it is also marked by a sign off of the Meadows Trail.  Good luck!”

We also received an official response from Max Borella, Executive Director of Laguna Canyon Foudation, spelled it out for all of us:

“The picture shows the new sign for the Mentally Sensitive trail near Moultan Meadows in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Originally an old “Environmentally Sensitive Area” sign was next to the trail and this name was adopted by the local biking community.

“For years, this was a seldom used, unauthorized bike trail trail. The new resource management plan for Aliso and Wood Canyons has allowed the opening of new trails and the closure of other unauthorized trails.

“For more information visit www.ocparks.com/alisoandwoodcanyons/.

“The sign was officially dedicated on October 16, 2011.

“Dogs are not allowed on mentally sensitive trail. They are predators and have severe impact on the native habitat. Please respect the rules of the park that we have worked so hard to protect and preserve. We appreciate your support in preserving the open space that makes Laguna Beach so wonderful.”

Local Republicans new headquarters – grand opening May 27 will be attended by who’s who amongst Laguna and OC GOP

Submitted photo

Outgoing LBR president Amy Kramer with incoming president Michele Hall in front of new Laguna Beach Republican Headquarters at 1464 S. Coast Hwy

Laguna Beach Republicans announced that Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Laguna Beach City Council Candidate, Steve Dicterow and Assemblyman Allan Mansoor, OCGOP Chairman, Scott Baugh, and Laguna Beach Republican President, Michele Hall will attend the grand opening of their Laguna Beach Headquarters on Sunday May 27.

Laguna Beach Republicans and Conservatives are invited to help kick off the 2012 Campaign at the new HQ with a precinct walk from 12 – 3 p.m. Afterward, all are welcome to join in for a no-host cocktail reception on the patio at French 75 from 3 – 5.

The new Laguna Beach Republicans headquarters is located at 1464 S. Coast Highway (between Mountain Rd. and Calliope St. - next to French 75). For more information, and to RSVP, contact lagunbeachgop@gmail.com or call 714-655-9420.

Candidates Forum to be held in Laguna Beach Assembly District 74 May 25 at City Hall

The American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters, and the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach will co-sponsor a candidate’s forum for Assembly District 74 at 7 pm on Friday, May 25, at City Hall, 515 Forest, in Laguna Beach.  These groups are non-partisan, and offer the Forum as a public service.

The Primary Election to be held on June 5 of this year is a special challenge.  Citizens need to be informed about how this election is unlike previous primaries.

First, voting in an open primary is a new experience for most.  When people ask, “How did that happen?” – the answer is, “We voted for it.”

In the open primary names of all candidates for state offices and Congressional offices are placed on the same ballot.  They may, or may not, list their party.  The two receiving the most votes will be listed as candidates on the November ballot, even if they are from the same party.

Second, redistricting has occurred.  With the change in district borders, many find their previous incumbents running in other districts.  It is important to know how candidates stand in their philosophy of government, what their priorities are in governing, and how they stand on specific issues.

The candidates will give opening and closing speeches, and there will be a question and answer period.  Questions will come from the audience, and will be screened to avoid duplication.  The moderator will come from outside the district, and will ask the submitted questions.

All good citizens are urged to attend.

Playhouse launches Volunteer Auxiliary open to all from high school students to senior citizens

The Laguna Playhouse has launched a Volunteer Auxiliary as a way for everyone to get involved in supporting our treasured Laguna Playhouse, according to Elizabeth Pearson, Director of Development. “Whether you’re a high school student, a senior citizen – or anyone in between – you will be welcomed as an Auxiliary Volunteer member,” she says.

“As a non-profit organization, we value the work our volunteers provide,” said Pearson. “The volunteers provide critical time and talent, at no cost to the Playhouse, and help us advance the Playhouse’s visibility and efficiency.”

Volunteers provide support to a variety of Playhouse departments with assignments including: participation on the Annual Gala committee, volunteering at events, assistance with mailings, hand- addressing, stuffing, sealing and stamping envelopes; helping to “spruce up” the Playhouse (painting, gardening, spring cleaning), computer help (including Excel and other software data input and report work), and office support (answering phones, filing, making phone calls, etc.).

The Development Coordinator in the Development Department of the Playhouse, Teryll Sindell, maintains a list of Auxiliary members who wish to volunteer. Those who have signed up with their e-mail address, snail-mail address and phone number are e-mailed notices to see if anyone is interested and/or available to help with needs as they arise.

Those who serve as Auxiliary Volunteers receive tickets to plays (space available) upon completion of each volunteer assignment (typically three hours for one ticket). Members also receive Seat Opening Alerts when there are nights where seats are not all filled for a performance. And members are recognized twice each year for their special support to the Playhouse.

There is no cost to be a member of the Auxiliary. If you are interested in volunteering at The Laguna Playhouse, contact Teryll Sindell @ tsindell@lagunaplayhouse.com or 497-2787, x225.

Food Truck Festival served 500 plates and raised money for Children’s Hospital Orange County Saturday

Photos by Albert Evangelista

Courtesy Gorjana-Griffin Foundation

The Flip Truck “really really good” was a claim that Fonda Eaton reports was “absolutely on the mark. I tried them all and they are all natural and organic. Chef/ Owner Heidi Barette is delightful and one amazing chef. I’ll find her again!”

The Laguna Beach Food Truck Festival held Saturday in the parking lot at Laguna Culinary Arts was fun – and, according to our Fonda Eaton, a foody’s dream come true.

“I tried every truck and was disappointed when I was too full to go back for seconds and in some cases, thirds!” Fonda added that she was so satisfied that she passed on eating dinner Saturday night.

Click on the image for a larger version

The volunteers were ready for the turnout at the Food Truck Festival Saturday

Mary Beth Pugh, Charity Coordinator for Gorjana-Griffin Foundation that hosted the festival reported:

The Laguna Beach Food Truck Festival was a great day – everyone had a blast – the weather was perfect and the trucks did not disappoint!

On average the trucks served up 500 plates of food from 11:30-3 satisfying hundreds of hungry festival visitors.

The event not only brought in a large sum for Children’s Hospital Orange County, but it also brought many visitors from all over Orange County into our beautiful town.

One woman from Mission Viejo said she is a total food truck groupie and saw they were in Laguna and brought her family down to ‘make a day of it’ hitting the shops and the beach for the day.

The trucks were super stoked at how organized the event was and at the amazing reception they received, and are looking forward to The Gorjana and Griffin Foundation’s Second Annual Laguna Beach Food Truck Festival! Aren’t we all?!

We would have to agree!

Laguna Beach Live! Cultural understanding through a new understanding and “definition of world music”

After recording several albums and becoming famous in Turkey in the field of traditional and classical ottoman music, Senem Diyici moved to Europe in 1982. Her open-mindedness led her to meet French and German jazz musicians, and she eventually created her own musical universe, a fusion of ottoman music and jazz. She regularly sings with different formations.

Laguna Beach Live! presents an exciting Turkish-French quartet that is in constant motion between jazz and traditional folk music on Saturday, June 9.  The Inside World Music series features Senem Diyici’s Mavi Yol 4tet at the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach for a 6 p.m. concert and wine tasting.

Music is like a bridge between cultures and people to Senem fusing the old and new, always searching for the spirit and the story that is within every human being. It has become her own heritage, through which she transmits and shares universal love and nostalgia with her audiences all over the world.

The artistic collaboration between Senem Diyici (vocals-percussions, Turkey/France) and Alain Blesing (electric and acoustic guitars, France/The Netherlands) began some 25 years ago. In 2010 Can Ömer Uygan (trumpet, Turkey) and Bruno Tocanne (drums, France) joined up the two to form “Senem Diyici’s Mavi Yol 4tet.” Everything in Mavi Yol 4tet’s music calls for a new definition of world music.

Tickets are on sale now: $20/adult and $10 /student under 21 presale and $25/adult and $15/student at the door. Buy tickets online at www.lagunabeachlive.org or call Laguna Beach Live! at (949) 715-9713. Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach, 286 St. Ann’s St.  The event is sponsored by Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association, Izmir-Long Beach Sister Cities Association and the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts Foundation.

Boutique Benefit raised $22K for Resource Center, Friendship Shelter, Women to Women in Congo and Impact Giving

More than $22,000 was raised as dozens of volunteers and local boutiques joined forces for the sixth year to make the annual Boutique Benefit a successful event that helps four charities, three local and one international. Boutique Benefit is a one-day shopper’s paradise stocked by the surplus of the closets and backrooms of Laguna’s residents and retail shops. Hundreds of shoppers descended on Laguna Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 5 to purchase designer and brand-name clothing, jeans, shoes, bags, jewelry and accessories at bargain prices. A boutique that had closed its doors offered its entire stock of brand-new unsold merchandise.

Evonne Kane, the event’s founder and organizer, said, “It just gets better with every year! We had an amazing selection of clothes. Everyone walked out with a ‘find’ and the good feeling having helped others.”  She is an acupuncturist and holistic healer by profession with a busy practice in Monarch Beach.

Beneficiaries include Women for Women International’s work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although a peace accord was signed in 2003 to end a devastating civil war there, violence still rages. Women for Women International is working with women in the Congo to rebuild their lives with programs that include direct financial aid, rights awareness classes, job-skills training and emotional support. www.womenforwomen.org

The Laguna Resource Center runs a food pantry used by 1,000 local families each month from its base at 20652 Laguna Canyon Road:  www.lagunaresourcecenter.org

The third and fourth Boutique Benefit recipients are new this year:

The temporary overnight shelter on Laguna Canyon Road for Laguna’s chronically homeless, run by Friendship Shelter. A portion of the funds raised by the sale will go toward dental and medical attention for users of this shelter. www.friendshipshelter.org

Impact Giving, an Orange County based women’s giving collective, impacts social change through giving grants to service organizations. In its three years, Impact Giving has awarded a total of $345,000 to 20 nonprofits, 11 locally and nine internationally.  www.Impactgivingnow.com

After the daylong sale, remaining items were collected by volunteers from the women’s philanthropic group, the Assistance League of Laguna Beach, to be sold in its thrift shop at 526 Glenneyre.

Boutique Benefit accepts donations of quality clothing throughout the year; to make arrangements, call Evonne Kane at 949-468-6831.

iPod touch brings technological teaching strategies into the second grade classroom at Top of the World

Photo by Kevin Yates, LBUSD

TOW second graders with their hand-held iPod touch devices

Each year, Top of the World Elementary School students enter Linda Barker’s second grade class with an increasingly advanced technological base of knowledge. Barker recognized this knowledge as an opportunity to integrate innovative instructional strategies into the classroom and introduced the iPod touch as a cutting edge mobile learning device that empowers and personalizes student learning.

Principal Ron La Motte comments, “As we look to the future of students’ use of technology, I believe we are seeing a natural progression in the use of hand-held technology. Students are already adept at using smart phone technology and they have a natural connection to small, hand-held devices. As we look for ways to increase student participation with technology, the use of iPods are not only efficient but also cost effective compared to the use of other equipment. We are also seeing more and more applications being created for the iPods, which will assist with differentiation of instruction.”

Barker attended two training workshops on how to best implement the devices in the classroom. She uses the learning tool to fine-tune her instructional strategies by differentiating and finding the best fit for the many learning styles of her students.

Barker said, “Technology is transforming the way we approach everything, including how we teach. This 21st Century teaching tool helps me to integrate my instructional strategies with critical subject matter and offer an effective means to provide my students with the best opportunity to learn.

“I address concepts across the curriculum in science, math, language arts, spelling and social studies in a variety of ways such as audio textbooks and student created writing themes, harnessing the power of the Web in the classroom.”

The iPod touches were made possible through a SchoolPower Endowment Foundation Teacher Grant.

“Rumors” expected to fly at LBHS around May 25

Final Artists Theatre curtain for several award-winning seniors, the production will also honor the memory and legacy of Andy Hedden

By TAD HEITMANN

Laguna Beach High School’s Park Avenue Players finish a remarkable year of drama with the staging of Neil Simon’s hit comedy Rumors. Rumors opens in the Artists Theatre on May 25 and runs through the first weekend of June.

“We pride ourselves on bringing a wide range of dramatic styles to our community,” explained Mark Dressler, director of the LBHS drama program.  “Everybody looks forward to the last show of the year because it is usually something contemporary and interesting, performed in a very intimate setting with the audience seated on the stage, almost within the scene.  The proximity of the players to their audiences heightens the intensity of the drama or, in this case, the comedy.”

Rumors is directed by Amanda Saunders, a professional actor, accomplished director, and LBHS alumna.  Other productions recently filling the end-of-year slot have also been directed by Saunders, including A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard and Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward.

Set in the late 1980s, Rumors tells the uproarious tale of four affluent New York couples that attend a sophisticated dinner party celebrating the tenth wedding anniversary of the host, who happens to be the deputy mayor of New York City.

As the couples arrive at the upscale home they discover that the deputy mayor has shot himself through the ear lobe, his wife is mysteriously absent, and no servants are there to help with the party.  The hilarious farce gains momentum as all of the guests, because of their upper class status and desire to preserve their political standing, decide to try to conceal the evening’s inexplicable events from local police and the media.

The cast includes LBHS Seniors Ryan Cavanaugh, Alex Hunt, EJ Kramer, Lily Rogers, and Jackson Tupy in their last performances as Park Avenue Players, along with continuing members of the company Haley Castuera, Zane Fair, Tatum Moore, Karina Parker, and Makenna Zur Schmiede.

“We have really showcased the versatility of this extraordinary group of young performers and the depth of our directing team this year.  We are so proud of the variety and quality of our productions and the enthusiastic support we got from audiences for all of our work,” said Dressler.  “This ranks as one of our most successful years ever.”  The 2011-2012 season included The Sound of Music, Into The Woods, Aladdin, and Up The Down Staircase, which was produced by the Thurston Middle School eighth grade drama classes.

The actors in Rumors have decided to dedicate their performances to the memory of adjunct LBHS teacher Andy Hedden, who passed away suddenly last week.  For several years, Hedden helped LBHS writers and actors present the annual Playwrights Festival, an inspiration for many aspiring Laguna dramatists.

Rumors will be performed May 25, 26, 31 and June 1, 2 at 7:30 p.m.; and June 3 at 2:30 p.m.

Students $10, Adults $15. Seating for each performance is limited. Ticket sales from the LBHS Box Office - call 497-7769 for more information.

Marriage & Family therapist Corie Skolnick appears at Laguna Beach Books this Sunday afternoon

On Sunday, May 20, at 4 p.m., Laguna Beach Books is pleased to welcome Corie Skolnick, author of Orfan. There is no charge for this event.

What happens when Jimmy Deane, a half-white, half-black infant, born amidst simmering racial tension on Chicago’s south side in 1969, is adopted by Carter and Susie Deane, a well-meaning South Florida couple who orphan Jimmy yet again before he even sets foot in kindergarten?

This quintessential orphan tale tracks Jimmy’s trajectory from the wintry night of his inauspicious birth in Chicago, through the trials of a lonely biracial youth in South Florida, to his eventual touchdown in the City of Angels.

With a large dose of humor and warmth, Orfan lets the reader in on the loss, grief, trauma, and isolation that children experience when the foundation of a loving parent is pulled out from under them, and they are placed in homes where they are not loved or appreciated, or even safe. While Orfan has a fantastical side that allows us to reach in and enjoy the story of Jimmy, it also illustrates the searing pain of aloneness and how important it is that our communities support all our “orfans” to have stable, permanent lifelong families.

As we see with Orfan, families can appear in all shapes and colors and from the most unlikely places. Orfan is an old-fashioned page-turner with real heart and an insight into love and how people authentically come together as family.

Born in Oak Park, Illinois, and raised on Chicago’s south side, Skolnick has lived her entire adult life in Southern California. She is a California licensed marriage and family therapist and a “sometimes” psychology instructor at California State University, Northridge and Moorpark College. Among the many courses she has taught at both colleges, her very favorite is The Psychological Aspects of Parenthood.

She has two grown children, both of them in the arts, and she is married to the social psychologist, Paul Skolnick. Orfan is her first novel.

Laguna Friends of Architecture - The Halliburton ‘Hangover House’ story Wednesday at 6:30

The Laguna Friends of Architecture invites you for a glass of wine and a presentation featuring the historic Halliburton House on Wednesday May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the DeBilzan Fine Art Gallery - 224 Forest Ave downtown.

Ted Wells, the noted architectural historian, lecturer and educator, will conduct the presentation.

Wells will outline the adventurous life of Richard Halliburton, and will also describe the evolution of the home, which was designed and built by architect William Alexander Levy.  He will show many historic slides and tell the story of the amazing construction process of the home.  This Laguna Beach icon is also known locally as the “Hangover House.”

This discussion is very timely, since recent restoration work has brought the house to the forefront.

The Laguna Friends of Architecture meet every month on the fourth Wednesday of the month to present topics related to local architecture and will feature a variety of tours, speakers and presentations.

Admission is free and a suggested donation for refreshments is $5.

For more information, visit ‘Laguna Friends of Architecture’ Facebook page or the Meetup.com page to join the community.

For more information, contact Sean McCracken at smccracken@surterreproperties.com

Coffee Break welcomes expert in psychology and education of the sexes for its 2011-12 finale

Michael Gurian is a bestselling author of over two dozen books including “The Soul of the Child,” “The Wonder of Boys,” “The Wonder of Girls,” “Nurture the Nature,” and “Boys and Girls Learn Differently.”  Co-founder of the Gurian Institute, which conducts research and professional training internationally, Gurian has pioneered efforts to bring neurobiology and brain research into homes, schools, corporations, and public policy.  Many of his books about the different psychologies of the sexes have sparked national debate.

Michael Gurian

Yale University’s Edward Zigler, Sterling Professor of Psychology states, “From the beginning of time, parents and sensitive teachers have observed differences in the behavior, learning styles, and focused interested of girls and boys.  Defying the political correctness that is today’s common wisdom, Gurian draws on emerging neuroscientific data to justify these perceptions.

“While never allowing us to lose sight of the reality of individual differences, they suggest creative ways to modify the learning environment to encourage a broader spectrum of achievement in both gender groups.”

Harold Koplewicz, M.D., Chair, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU School of Medecine, observes Gurian’s work “…is as scientifically sound as it is humane.  Michael Gurian provides invaluable insight into how understanding our children’s unique core natures can help us raise happy, successful and emotional fulfilled children.”

You’re invited to join in for this Coffee Break at Aliso Creek Inn Wednesday, May 23 at 8:30 a.m. for the last Coffee Break of the year.  There’s a suggested donation of $10 at the door.

If anyone is interested in participating in a free-of-charge seminar with Gurian, from 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. after the talk, you should contact Cindy Newman-Jacobs at springyank2@cox.net or at 949.280.4900.  Reservations are required.

Assistance League installs new Board of Directors

Submitted photo

The newly installed Board of Directors for Assistance League of Laguna Beach.
Front row (L-R): Karen Mauro: President, Pat Hobbs and Jacinta Loewen. Back row: Jo Martin, Joanie Porter, Joan Kasman, Carrie Joyce, Joan Carlson, Ann McEneaney, Judy Soulakis, Ann Hyde, Norma McKibban, Valerie Milan, Diane Gelfer and Janene Freitas. The installation took place on Monday, May 14.

Arts and Economic Prosperity IV: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations in Laguna Beach

Siân Poeschl, Cultural Arts Manager for the city, announced the Arts and Economic Prosperity IV: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and their audiences in Laguna Beach on June 28 at [seven+degrees].

Open to the public, the presentation will be led by Randy Cohen, Vice-President of Research and Policy Americans for the Arts. The event is part of “On the Road to Prosperity” Tour.

Americans for the Arts is known as the nation’s advocacy organization for the arts.  Cohen publishes The National Arts Index, the annual measure of the health and vitality of arts in the U.S. as well as the two premier economic studies of the arts industries.

He developed the National Arts Policy Roundtable, an annual convening of leaders who focus on the advancement of American culture, in partnership with Robert Redford and the Sundance Institute.

A sought after speaker, Randy has given speeches in 48 states, and regularly appears in the news media - including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and on CNN, CNBC, and NPR.

The presentation is scheduled from 3 – 4:30 at [seven+degrees|, 891 Laguna Canyon Road.

There will be a reception following the presentation.

Please RSVP by Monday, June 18, 2012 to spoeschl@lagunabeachcity.net

This event is free and has been made possible through a generous donation by the Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau with a special thank you to [seven-degrees].