Crystal Cove Conservancy names new president and CEO

Crystal Cove Conservancy (The Conservancy), the nonprofit dedicated to preserving the resources of Crystal Cove State Park, has announced Kate Wheeler will take over as president and CEO, effective August 12. She brings more than 20 years of nonprofit experience, including fundraising, education, finance, and community engagement, to The Conservancy, most recently serving as Director of Strategic Relationships at the International Fund for Animal Welfare and prior to that as Director of Partnership Development at The Conservancy from 2015-2017.

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Courtesy of Crystal Cove Conservancy

Kate Wheeler, new president and CEO of Crystal Cove Conservancy

“It’s such a wonderful turn of events to return to Crystal Cove in this new role,” Wheeler said. “The Cove is an incredibly special place for the locals, visitors, students, artists, and conservationists – it will be an honor to lead its dedicated team to expand educational opportunities and continue to preserve and restore the legacy of Crystal Cove.”

“Kate is the right leader for The Conservancy and we are thrilled to not only have her back on the team, but to lead our organization into the future,” said Jeff Cole, chairman of the board. “We believe her extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and her solid understanding of The Conservancy’s operations make her the ideal choice.”

Wheeler, a resident of Laguna Niguel, has worked in the nonprofit sector since 1994, primarily focused on helping organizations achieve their programmatic missions through fund development, community engagement, and strategic planning for national and international organizations. Wheeler holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of San Diego and has taught at both USD and National University’s Sanford Institute of Philanthropy. She will work alongside The Conservancy’s staff and board of directors to move critical initiatives forward at an important time in the Cove’s history.

For more information about The Conservancy, visit www.crystalcove.org.

Carlie & Co to host “Savvy Social Media and Branding Workshops” for small businesses

Carlie & Co, a local Laguna Beach stationery and lifestyle company, is hosting a series of hands-on, small business workshops at The Soul Project, July 22 - 24.

These working sessions will run over three evenings, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Attendees are welcome to sign up for one, two, or all three. The inaugural nightly sessions will be taught and led by the CEO of Carlie & Co, Heather Schwarm. 

Schwarm will be referencing her own experience and lessons learned through her entrepreneurial journey while leveraging her 28 years of experience in the finance industry. 

Each evening will dive into different areas: branding, social media, and executing copy and photography for social channels, with a primary focus on Instagram. These courses are recommended for those who are looking to grow their brand and business through social marketing channels. 

With the use of worksheets, hands-on assignments, and experts such as photographer and lifestyle expert Ketara Gadahn, attendees will walk out of the event with branding direction, user personas, look and feel of their social media account (IG), copy, and useable photography to get started. 

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Photo by Peggy Cormary

Carlie & Co is a local mother and daughter run company 

Carlie & Co established its very first pop-up shop, housed in The Soul Project, in the HIP District of Laguna Beach. The three-month run, from June to August, allows Carlie & Co to host a series of workshops to help others live their own inspired life. 

Heather Schwarm, CEO of Carlie and Co, gave up her C-Suite job, took a two-year hiatus in France, and then moved back to her hometown of Laguna Beach to start Carlie & Co with her daughter, the namesake of the brand. She has described her entrepreneurial journey as an “inverted learning curve,” spending countless hours learning strategy and execution for a successful brand and social media marketing. 

Through this journey, she realized her passion, helping others to live their own inspired life, could truly be expanded through creating courses and seminars and sharing what she’s learned with others. These workshops add to the toolkit she has built with her product line, mainly planners, bags, journals, and stationery.

Carlie & Co is committed to creating and curating high-quality stationery and lifestyle products, events, and classes to meet the needs of girls and women on their journey to live inspired lives, at any age. 

The brand offers a range of products featuring unique patterns and designs that are globally inspired and individually designed by Carlie and Heather. The brand’s signature look is bright, cheerful, and classic with a little whimsy thrown in for good measure. 

Carlie & Co’s pop-up at The Soul Project will run through the end of August with their products available for purchase daily. 

Space is limited to 15 seats and the cost of the event is offered at a discounted rate of $25 per working session. Light refreshments and snacks will be served. 

Visit www.eventbrite.com/o/carlie-amp-co-25053907243 to sign up and learn more. 

For more information about products and events hosted by Carlie and Co, visit www.carlieandco.com/events. 

The Soul Project is located at 1516 South Coast Hwy. 

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training announced, registration now open

The Laguna Beach Police Department in collaboration with the Laguna Beach Fire Department is excited to announce registration for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course. 

A Community Emergency Response Team is an organized and trained group of volunteers ready to assist in case of a disaster. The CERT program consists of 25 hours of classroom and hands-on training, concluding with an exercise drill to apply the skills and knowledge obtained during the classroom sessions. 

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CERT training classes kick off on September 3 

Training includes the following topics: 

--Disaster Preparedness 

--Fire Safety

--Disaster Medical Operations

--Light Search and Rescue 

--CERT Organization

--Disaster Psychology
--CERT and Terrorism
--Traffic Control and Scene Management 

Training will begin on Tuesday, Sept 3. Classes will then meet weekly from 6 to 9 p.m., including two Saturday morning meetings. The final exercise/drill takes place on Saturday, Oct 5. Mandatory attendance is required at all classes. 

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CERT training topics include disaster preparedness and fire safety

Graduates of the program will have the opportunity to join the City of Laguna Beach CERT. If and when a disaster strikes, CERT volunteers take action by:

--Checking on neighbors

--Suppressing small fires

--Conducting light urban search and rescue

--Providing emergency first aid and comfort

--Helping to organize and direct spontaneous volunteers

To be considered for this training, you must be a resident of Laguna Beach or work within the city limits, be at least 18 years old, and have no felony convictions. Applications must be submitted through the online recreation class here. 

All individuals will receive a confirmation email if accepted into the program.

Health in Balance presents “7 Steps to Relieve Neck & Back Pain” workshop on July 25

On Wednesday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m., Health in Balance will host its “7 Steps to Relieve Neck & Back Pain” workshop. Dinner will be provided and the interactive workshop is free.

If you have been struggling with neck and back pain, and are longing to find a solution for lasting relief, this workshop is for you.

Dr. Gary Arthur, DC ND will share his wisdom and expertise from 30 years of practice helping heal and restore thousands of people with these same challenges.

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Learn how to improve neck and back health at free workshop on July 25

At the workshop, you will learn: what you can do for 10 minutes each day to improve neck and back health, and prevent injury and degeneration; the secrets to postural restoration and why it is so important; what to never do after injuries if you want to maintain a healthy body; the top foods you can eat to decrease your proclivity to pain; and why your symptoms aren’t going away easily and what can be done about it. 

To RSVP, call (949) 497-2553 or visit www.healthinbalance.com/events. 

Health in Balance is located at 330 Park Ave. Ste #9.

Dennis’ Tidbits

By DENNIS McTIGHE

July 16, 2019

So far, not so jolly July!

The first half of July 2019 has been pretty much uneventful with cloudy mornings and sunny afternoons for the most part with temps a bit below normal with seasonal ocean temps in the upper 60s and no heat waves as of yet. 

There’s been some decent swell activity from the Southern Hemisphere with more on the way. It’s been quiet so far in our mountain and deserts with minimal summer monsoon thunderstorm activity. 

It’s shaking in other parts of the world too with a 7.1 in Indonesia and a 6.5 in Australia on Sunday. Locally, thousands of aftershocks have occurred up in the Ridgecrest area with a few registering higher than a 5 on the Richter Scale.

Summer of 2019 gets a C+ in weather and a B- in surf. More of summers past: 

Summer of 1962 was slow with a D for weather with lots of gloom that didn’t clear until mid-afternoon most of the time. With cooler than normal water temps, the surf got a D as well with only a handful of lackluster Southern Hemis and only two small Baja swells.

Summer of 1963 was a good one with some heat waves, minimal gloom, and water temps that hovered around the 70-degree mark. Got my driver’s license in August and drove my Pops’ 1962 Chevy Impala to Malibu and Lower Trestles. Got my first new surfboard, a 9-6 Wardy shaped by Terry Martin. The weather scored a B+ and the surf an A-.

Summer of 1964’s weather got a C+ and the surf also got a C+. July was pretty much foggy but it got nice in August. Water temps were a bit below normal at 67 but there were three good Baja swells and a strong Southern Hemi in August. Lots of fun NW wind swells at 2-4 ft. at Thalia Street with generally favorable wind conditions. 

More on summer report cards on Friday, ALOHA!