Barbara’s Column
Rockin’ weekend in Laguna
By BARBARA DIAMOND
The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club rocked Saturday night to the music of Jason Feddy and the Mad Dogs and Englishmen, billed as a Joe Cocker tribute band.
Feddy fans boogied to raise funds for Laguna Food Pantry, which provides food for individuals and families in need.
“We are pleased to be here for such a good cause,” said Feddy.
The $75 per person admission to the fundraiser covered edibles provided by Habit Catering Truck – really good hamburgers, fried zucchini and potatoes. Soft drinks were provided for thirsty dancers and there was also a cash bar at which donations were accepted for the Pantry.
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Jason Feddy and the Mad Dogs and Englishmen band
“Everybody got their money’s worth,” said Tight Assets owner Heidi Miller.
Club president Kitty Malcolm said the event was a part of the club’s mission to give back to the community.
“It is always good when everyone enjoys themselves and you raise money for a worthy cause,” said Malcolm.
The Pantry has served the community for 25 years, distributing 4,000 pounds of food every day. Customers are mostly women, 40 percent are children. Events like Saturday’s help the Pantry to meet its needs.
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On left, Director of Laguna Food Pantry Anne Belyea, and Susan Thomas, Board President
Donations of food are always welcome. Most wanted are cans of tuna, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, pasta and sauce, rice, beans and cereal.
But food is not the Pantry’s only need. Volunteers, especially if bilingual, are also on the wish list.
Volunteering is an opportunity to support a good cause, and meet like-minded, caring folks with whom you can share your talent and energy.
Tasks include greeting shoppers, fundraising, picking up the groceries that are to be distributed, sorting them for storage and stocking the shelves.
Hours are flexible: 7:30 to 11 a.m., Monday-Friday; 8 to 11 a.m., weekends. Once a week is the minimum commitment.
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(L-R) Debbie Neev, Anne McGraw, and Councilwoman Toni Iseman
Anne McGraw chaired the event, assisted by committee members Tina Lambert, Patti Oshland, Nancy Shurtleff and Kathleen Reedy, the latter two serving as bartenders too.
Among those who danced the night away: Laguna Beach County Water District General Manager Renae Hinchey, Councilwoman Toni Iseman, Water District board member Debbie Neev, philanthropist Bobbi Cox, Teryll Sindell, Ellen Richard and Lucetti Kalli, whose grandmother, Annie Laurie Daniell, was a Woman’s Club founder.
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A great time was had by all
Also enjoying themselves: former Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Meredith Dowling, retired Community Clinic staff member and Pantry Emeritus Chair Dr. Korey Jorgensen, clinic supporter George Heed, philanthropists Betsy and Dr. Gary Jenkins, Lee Durler and Wayne Lawrence.
The Pantry was represented by Board Chair Susan Thomas, Volunteer Chair Lesli Hendersen, Treasurer Patti Gallagher, Secretary Alison Scheitzer, volunteer Mark Doiron and Executive Director Anne Belyea.
Arbor Day Celebrated
Councilwoman Toni Iseman looks forward to the day that visitors come to Laguna to see the city’s trees, as well as the beaches and the unique downtown.
Iseman and Mayor Bob Whalen were the masters of ceremonies at Laguna’s second Arbor Day celebration on March 8 as a recognized Tree City USA.
She is a native of Nebraska where Arbor Day was first proposed in 1872 to the state Board of Agriculture by J. Sterling Morton, the start of a worldwide movement.
Iseman considers being called a tree hugger a compliment.
The Arbor Day activities began at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., with community group exhibits and arts and crafts for children, and included the ceremonial planting of a New Zealand Christmas Tree in Main Beach Park.
“We are here today to celebrate our own urban forest, to honor the heritage trees in our neighborhoods and downtown,” said Whalen.
The designation owes much to Barbara and Greg MacGillivray, who founded the Laguna Beach Urban Tree Fund.
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Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Barbara and Greg MacGillivray
“Barbara is an inspiration,” said Whalen.
The fund was established to help the city replace trees that had died, were removed because of ailments caused by advanced age or posed a liability for the city.
“Barbara is the Queen of Trees,” said Iseman.
Hallie Jones, executive director of the Laguna Canyon Foundation, said that her work is mostly on trees in the open space, but as a native of Laguna she is passionate about maintaining the character of the city.
“With climate change, trees are more important than ever,” Jones said.
Barbara MacGillivray thanked city officials, including the Public Works personnel Shohreh Dupuis, Dale Shuck and Liz Avila for putting forth the effort to get Arbor Day recognized in Laguna.
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Photo by Mary Hurlbut
(L-R) Councilwoman Toni Iseman, Mayor Bob Whalen, Councilwoman Sue Kemp, kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach and the MacGillivray grandkids
Special thanks also went to Monarch Environment and West Coast Arborists.
Participants in the celebration included the South Laguna Community Garden/South Laguna Civic Association, LOCA Arts Education, Transition Laguna, Village Laguna, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Crystal Cove Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation and the Laguna Beach Garden Club, Greenbelt, Beautification Council and Boys & Girls Club.
Several booths offered wildflower seeds. The city’s seeds came embedded in colorful, tiny biodegradable paper flowers and leaves that could be planted indoors or outside. Pamphlets were available about the Arbor Day Foundation, Do’s and Don’ts of pruning, the benefits of trees, the Urban Tree Found and tree-planting instructions.
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Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Let the digging begin
In the crowd or in a booth: Kathy Jones, Former Mayor Ann Christoph, Larry Clemons, Norman LaCourciere and Crystal Cove’s Cindy Otto. Charlotte Masarik borrowed $5 from Village Laguna President Johanna Felder to buy some succulents.
George Weiss and Ellen McKegger staffed the Beautification Council booth, decorated with gorgeous flower posters. Chris Prelitz represented Transition Laguna. Anne and Ryan Caenn shared the Village Laguna booth with Merrill Anderson, son of the late Betty and Ken Anderson.
Also at the celebration: Councilwoman Sue Kempf, Norm Grossman, Kirsten Whalen and Beautification Council board member Leah Vasquez.
The Lowden Harrell Trio and April Walsh entertained.
But wait – there’s more. You will find advance notice of all the fun and interesting stuff for visitors or residents to do in Laguna by reading StuNewsLaguna.com. Contributions are welcomed.
Slowly but surely we’re sneaking up on spring, now less than a week away. Wednesday was one of those clean days with bright sunshine and clear blue skies and a rare green flash as the sun sank into the blue Pacific. The temp actually scratched and clawed its way up into the low to mid-sixties but still a few degrees below the normal of 68. There was even a little fun zone NW wind swell with neat little peelers at Thalia Reef with manageable tides for most of the day.
