Police Files

Arrests made in yet another attempt to use another person’s credit card at a local hotel

Two people from San Clemente were arrested this week when they provided a credit card belonging to another person at La Casa del Camino Hotel to pay their bill.

The owner of the card called police from Boston after she learned there were charges accruing at the hotel. Police went to the hotel and learned that the guests were not there late Tuesday morning according to LBPD Sgt. Louise Callus.

“Our officers took belongings of the suspects from the room as possible evidence and instructed the manager to call when the suspects, a man and a woman, returned.

Sgt. Callus said the couple, Israel Armandoca Ramirez, 33, and Grecia Ioane Garcia-Rios, 28, returned to the hotel at 1:22 p.m.

They were given a non-working room key that allowed officers to reach the hotel in time to detain them.

Ramirez was taken into custody on the following charges: felony commercial burglary, felony theft by use of access card information, felony possession of methamphetamine, felony false personation to receive money over $400 and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also held for a $20,000 bench warrant for traffic violations out of Harbor Court.

Garcia-Rios was held for felony commercial burglary, felony theft by forged access card and felony false personation to receive money over $400.

Both were booked here and taken to Orange County Jail.

Police did not provide details but did say the investigation is on going and that the couple may be involved in other offenses.

DUI saturation patrols promised for this weekend

The LBPD (and officers from all OC agencies) will br out in force this Memorial Day weekend looking for alcohol and drug impaired drivers in town.

This is a ‘Zero Tolerance’ crackdown so Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over!

In California, this deadly crime led to 774 deaths in 2010 because someone failed to designate a sober driver. After falling dramatically for five straight years, figures for 2011 indicate that DUI deaths remained the same as 2010.

LBPD Lt. Jeff Calvert said, “Over the course of the past three years, DUI collisions have resulted in 60 injury crashes harming 85 of our friends and neighbors,” said Lieutenant Jeff Calvert.

Funding for this program is from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Report Drunk Drivers, Call 911!

‘Click It or Ticket’ – seat belt enforcement 24/7

Laguna’s patrol cops are supporting to the 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt law campaign and looking for motorists who are not belted day or night.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has developed training programs for police officers across the nation helping them spot seal belt violators.

“As we kick-off the busy summer driving season it’s important that everyone buckles up every time they go out, both day and night – no excuses,” said Lt. Jeff Calvert. “Our officers are prepared to ticket anyone who is not wearing their seat belt.”

NHTSA reports that 52 percent of the 21,253 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. Deaths involving seat belt non-use are more prevalent at night than during the daytime. According to NHTSA, 62 percent of the 10,135 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2011 during the overnight hours was not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.

This specific enforcement campaign is underway now and will run through June 2 and continue 24/7 year-round.

Memorial Day in Laguna Beach

Off duty LB public safety workers will do what they do best  – flip flapjacks in Heisler Park to help fight child abuse Monday

The Laguna Beach Exchange Club plans its annual Memorial Day pancake and sausage breakfast from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Memorial Day, in Heisler Park, staffed by local police, lifeguards and firefighters.

They will serve as cooks for Monday’s park breakfast at the picnic area below the corner of Myrtle and Cliff Drives. Las Brisas and White House restaurants provide the entrees while the Orange Inn supplies coffee. The cost is $5.

Doug Miller on fiddle and violin, and Rosie Morreale (guitar and vocals) will provide entertainment. Dave Lopez will perform on bagpipes.

The breakfast is the Exchange Club’s largest fundraiser. Proceeds are donated to child abuse prevention as well as community and youth projects. The club was instrumental in starting the Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center.

VFW & American Legion joint ceremony at Monument Point

Take the short stroll to Monument Point after your pancakes and sausages to show respect to those who have given their lives in defense of their country while serving in the armed forces.

The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars will have a joint color guard and dedication ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. sharp.

The ceremonies are always touching and held in reverence.

Concert Band continues Memorial Day concert tradition

The Laguna Concert Band celebrates Memorial Day 2013 with a concert on Monday from noon to 2 p.m., at the Main Beach cobblestones.

The band has become a Laguna Beach Memorial Day institution playing there every Memorial Day for at least the last 10 years.

Dressed in their summer red and tan outfits, the band will strike the patriotic tones with well-known Sousa marches led by founding conductor Bill Nicholls, a fife and drum feature, music from “The Music Man” by Meredith Willson, the Laguna Beach “weather report” with conductor Pete Fournier and a peek “Over the Rainbow” with sax virtuoso Gary Gould.

Founded in 1998 by Laguna residents; flutist Theresa Marino, Carol Reynolds, horn, and Laguna Niguel resident Dr. William Nichols, conductor, the band has grown to over 60 very proficient members, many of whom have had illustrious careers in the musical world. It is currently supported by grants from the City, as well as the Business Improvement District, and the Festival of Arts.

Dennis’ Tidbits

May 24, 2013

By Dennis McTighe

1983

Local ocean temps have climbed significantly as of late with 65-68 degrees reported at Orange County beaches on Thursday thanks to recent southerly winds over much of the region. This is a good thing. Keep those wetsuits nearby just in case ‘cause you never know when those westerlies could suddenly make a reappearance. Let’s enjoy the sudden warmup while it’s here.

I’d have to say that our second best summer of all time would have to be the summer of 1983 when the heavy El Niño was going on. The water was already 70 by early June and by August it was running 72-75 the whole month with only one day with morning fog. There was heavy thunderstorm activity that month in our local mountains and deserts with several of those storms drifting west all the way to the coast.

There was absolutely no shortage of surf that summer. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season was a very busy one as we made it all the way up to the letter W that season. Almost every tropical system delivered a swell as the storms would generally move to the northwest once they entered our surf window. It was also a very active season for surf from Southern Hemisphere storms and most of them were big swell makers. Almost half the days that summer were big enough to light up the outer reefs at Brooks Street.

September of ’83 was one of the most consistent Septembers I can remember with big swells from Hurricanes Kiko, Lorena, Manuel, Narda, and Octave. The month closed with one of our biggest New Zealand swells in years with 74-degree water and a full on heat wave. South swells kept marching in well into October and water temps hovered around 70 degrees right up to Halloween.

The next best summer was the summer of 1966. There was a pretty healthy El Niño going on that summer, too. The water was 70 by the end of May. By the end of July we already had four significant Baja swells. There were only a few foggy days in June and a couple in July and that was it.

The big highlight of that big summer was in mid September when a Category 5 hurricane SW of the tip of Baja sent one of the biggest Baja swells of all time. That swell put Newport Point on the map as 15th Street was transformed into a classic California version of Hawaii’s famous Banzai Pipeline at it’s biggest. Thanks to Hurricane Kathleen, 15-20 foot bombs focused their energy on this beach break just south of the Newport Pier. The giant swell was coming in at a severe angle (160 degrees), almost from the SE. This is the only time Newport Point gets like that. It gets like that maybe once a decade if you’re lucky.

Butch van Artsdalen and some other heavies from the Islands were here for that once in a lifetime event and agreed it was just as heavy as Pipeline. The only difference was Pipe has a sharp shallow coral bottom and Newport Point has a shallow sandbar.

We are really overdue for an epic summer. Maybe it’s our turn this time around.

Stay tuned!

See you Tuesday, ALOHA!

“The Way That it Used to Be”

In Laguna Beach

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Dante’s

Dante’s was Laguna’s well-known gay bar on Main Beach before Main Beach Park razed all of the buildings in the early 1970’s.

From the LA Times:

1965 - Laguna Beach - The ABC holds hearings to suspend or revoke the licenses of Dante’s and the Barefoot, on the grounds that the two bars are at the “center of homosexual activity in the city.” The City Manager, James Wheaton, said he hoped to prove there is substantial evidence of “immoral activity generating from these two bars, enough to warrant revocation of their licenses.”

In ‘The Crucible’, everyone gets burned

By TAD HEITMANN

Things get out of hand so easily, don’t they?  One day, you hear that some of the neighborhood kids have been dancing in the Canyon late at night.  The folks next door suggest they are “up to no good,” maybe even playing at some pagan rituals.  “Idle hands - or too many vampire TV shows - are the devil’s workshop,” they say.

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Submitted photos

In an original prologue scene created by the Park Avenue Players, young Salem girls dance around a cauldron in the dark forest – and ignite the witchcraft hysteria that will inflame their town. Molly McMillen (as Betty) is in the white.

Then some of these kids don’t turn up for school - come down with some kind of strange illness.  Other people begin to fall ill or act strangely in public. Your great aunt Matilda, who has just come for a visit, attracts unfriendly stares and whispered comments in town. But then she’s always muttered incoherently to herself and had a unique sense of fashion.

Last Saturday, someone actually pointed at you at the Farmer’s Market and shouted hysterically that you were a troublemaker.  And there was that strange visit from the police.  You are an upstanding citizen, a churchgoer, a member of the PTA, and have never been involved in anything even remotely shady, so what’s all this sudden suspicion?  Why are people you’ve known for years having paranoid fantasies and proposing bizarre plots?  You’ve even heard rumors about some sort of special tribunal.  Could you be the next one hauled in for questioning?  If so, how do you disprove an illogical or imagined accusation?

Is there anyone left in this City who will vouch for you?

Welcome to The Crucible.

insert anger and fear pic

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Marlena Becker (as Abigail Williams), foreground; Zane Fair (as John Proctor) shouting, far right, trade accusations in the witch trial.

The Laguna Beach High School’s Park Avenue Players proudly present The Crucible by Arthur Miller.  Directed by Amanda Saunders and Mark Dressler.  Choreographer and Assistant Director, Erika Whalen. Technical Director, Peter Roche. Costumes/props supervised by Angela Irish.  Set and lighting design by Peter Roche and Mark Dressler.  Original score by Dylan DelPizzo-Howell and Elliott Glass. Presented with exclusive permission of Dramatists Play Service.

••••

Performances on May 24, 25, 30 and 31 and June 1 at 7:30 p.m.; May 26 and June 2 at 2:30 p.m.

Students $10, Adults $15. Ticket sales from the LBHS Box Office, which will be open at 4:00 PM for Thursday and Friday performances and 2 hours before Saturday evening and Sunday matinee shows. Call 497-7769 for more information.

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Laguna College of Art & Design Celebrates the Class of 2013

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Submitted photo

75 caps – 85 gowns

85 students in Laguna College of Art + Design’s (LCAD) Class of 2013 participated in commencement ceremonies. It was a grand celebration commemorating this milestone on their journey towards becoming the next generation of great artists and designers. This year’s keynote speaker was Mitch Rosenberg, Ph.D.

“I want to congratulate the Class of 2013,” beamed President Jonathan Burke. “We are here today to celebrate their success. Earning a degree from LCAD is a great achievement that demanded rigor, perseverance, and creative vision. I had the privilege of watching the students grow and develop as distinctive artists and designers. I witnessed their passion to learn and the many hours they devoted to their art. I now expect that talent and passion to open doors to fulfilling and rewarding careers.”

As a Human Resource and Organizational Development professional, Mitch Rosenberg, Ph.D., has personally experienced and successfully implemented a wide range of organizational solutions for “state of the art” companies.

Ed. Note: We will have more photos in our Tuesday editon

People have helped Sarah Mahoney - now she and the Woman’s Club want to help others in her same situation

By ROBIN PIERSON

Sarah Mahoney is determined to walk again and the Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach wants to help her.

Last May, Mahoney, an A student at Saddleback College, who can play at least four different musical instruments, was accepted to UC Berkeley as a music major. But muscle weakness that she initially attributed to a cold or the flu progressed to the point that she had difficulty walking and breathing. Hospitalized, Mahoney underwent a battery of tests, the first of many that have yet to lead to a diagnosis.

“When I first met Sarah, I felt a deep desire to help her,” said Ellie Tipton Ortiz, the newly elected board president of the Woman’s Club. “After consulting with the board, I contacted the general membership and was amazed by the outpouring of support. Many of our members offered to donate their own time, talent, and services to help Sarah.”

After a year of consulting with neurologists, movement disorder doctors and infectious disease specialists, and still unable to walk, one thing is clear. Intensive physical therapy helps Mahoney breathe and has helped her regain lost muscle mass. But getting to this point wiped out her insurance and the company will no longer cover the $300 a week physical therapy sessions at UCI Medical Center.

Photo by Nataly Zigdon

Sarah Mahoney

Not one to give up, Mahoney, who lives with her parents in Laguna Hills, launched The Walking Project, a website the 21-year-old set up from her cell phone and put on Facebook, where people can donate to her physical therapy expenses. The response to Mahoney was quick and global, earning enough to cover Mahoney’s costs  – until her insurance begins again - and more.

With the extra funds, Mahoney hopes to purchase a machine for UCI’s outpatient physical therapy department that would stabilize her - and others trying to regain their ability to walk – on a treadmill. Now two therapists simulate the $10,000 plus machine. “A lot of patients could benefit from this,” Mahoney said.

While for months Mahoney was unable to move her hands, she has now started practicing playing the guitar again. “My ultimate goal is to be healthy, have the chance to go to UC Berkeley, and walk away from disease,” she said.

To help Mahoney and others struggling with debilitating neuromuscular disorders, The Woman’s Club is holding a fundraiser on Thursday, May 30 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the clubhouse, located at 286 St. Ann’s Drive in Laguna Beach.

Mahoney will be present and coffee and dessert will be served, donated by Mangi con Amore, known to many in the community from their booth at Saturday’s Farmers Market.  A donation of $15 is requested.  The event is open to the community.

Laguna Art Museum’s Palette to Palate fundraiser most successful to date – grossing some $190,000

Laguna Art Museum’s 2013 Palette to Palate fundraiser, which took place at the museum May 10, 2013, grossed approximately $190,000 on May 10, 2013—the museum’s most successful Palette to Palate to date. This is $40,000 more than in 2012. The museum expects to net $125,000 for its education and exhibition programs.

Photos by Ann Chatillon

Courtesy Laguna Art Museum

The Dining Room

Now in its eighth year, Palette to Palate at Laguna Art Museum has become one of Orange County’s most anticipated art and dining experiences. The museum transformed into a beautiful and unique venue, featuring the culinary talents of Chef Craig Strong of Studio at Montage Laguna Beach, and the highly acclaimed wines of Copain Wines from Healdsberg. The wine and cuisine were complemented by the work of ten artists, presented at each of the dining tables and throughout the museum’s largest gallery space. The 2013 participating artists were Joshua Dildine, Anthony Foo, Danny Heller, Kiel Johnson, Todd Kenyon, David Kiddie, Mary-Austin Klein, Christopher Martin, Chris Richter, and Brittany M. Ryan. Each artist joined guests for dinner at the table they created, with all of their work available for purchase.

Cuisine by Chef Craig Strong – Studio at Montage Laguna Beach

In addition to art, the evening featured a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, drinks, a violinist, and a gourmet cheese display by Studio at Montage, Laguna Beach; a four-course meal prepared by Chef Strong at the museum; a live auction featuring items and packages donated by Roberto Cavalli, Corum, Casas de Santa Fe, Santa Fe Opera, Copain Wines, h2hotel, and Studio at Montage; and gift bags with goodies from Studio at Montage, Madison Square & Garden Cafe, Michelle Haut Chocolat, and the Spice Merchants. Additional sponsors included HOM | Sotheby’s International Reality, formdécor, and Riviera magazine.

Led by the Palette to Palate 2013 committee Peter Blake, Chuck Fry, Sue Greenwood, Sheldon Harte, Robert Hayden III, Bob Hayes, Patricia Houston, Jon Madison, Elyse Caraco Miller, Laura Rohl, Jennifer Segerstrom, Marnie Wall, and Laguna Art Museum’s Director of Special Events Sarah Strozza, Palette to Palate has become a major annual fundraiser for the museum’s education and exhibition programs.

The committee worked closely with local galleries who represent the participating artists. These galleries were Christopher Martin Gallery, George Billis Gallery, Mark Moore Gallery, purelaguanbeach gallery, SCAPE, and Sue Greenwood Fine Art.

Please enjoy a slideshow of selected photos by Ann Chatillon

Dr. Tom Bent named Educator of the Year 2013 by CAPF

Dr. Tom Bent (above), Medical Director of the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, has been named Educator of the Year 2013 by the California Academy of Family Physicians Foundation (CAPF). Bent’s leadership in family medicine, his excellence as a clinician, and his superb teaching skills were cited by the group as among the reasons for this tribute.

“He also brings leadership expertise and academic and research contributions to numerous organizations that help shape the future of medicine,” said CAPF President Jimmy Hara, MD.

“Here in Laguna Beach we commend Tom for his dedication to our local Clinic and to the many patients he has served,” said Roya Cole, President of the Board of Directors for the Clinic.

Cole added, “However, his influence has extended far beyond the reach of our neighborhood Clinic. He has been a gifted teacher and mentor to many medical students along with his tireless dedication to the medical needs of the underserved in our community.”

In addition to serving, as Medical Director, Bent is also Chief Operating Officer of the Clinic.

CAPF is the largest primary care medical society in California. The Laguna Beach Community Clinic is dedicated to providing the highest level of family medicine and client services regardless of the client’s ability to pay.

Oak Street Skimmer

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Scott Brashier

Laguna’s non-profit FM station KX 93.5 seeks funding to film a webseries about indie radio and music

KX 93.5, the new non-commercial radio station in Laguna Beach, will attempt to launch a webseries about its story and indie music.

The music-based reality show will showcase indie talent that isn’t widely recognized through live in-studio performances and interviews.

“The MTV-produced reality show ‘Laguna Beach’ did not depict our town in a light that many locals appreciate,” said Program Director and Founder Tyler Russell. “We want to show Laguna the way it really is through our station: creative, artistic and eccentric.”

The station started a Kickstarter campaign last week to raise $25,000, which requires one to raise all the cash or receive nothing.

KX 93.5 has already featured interviews and performances from bands like Bloc Party, A Silent Film, ZZ Ward, Kitten and more. The station seeks funding to film these performances. Each webisode will be between five and 10 minutes, featuring a live performance and the behind-the-scenes of operating Laguna Beach-based radio station.

Funding support via Kickstarter will go towards the staffing, production, and equipment. This project will only be funded if at least $25,000 is pledged by Sunday Jun 16, 11:59 p.m. EDT. To help out and receive a reward, visit http://kck.st/108suW2.

For more information, contact Tyler Russell at tyler@kx935.com

DAR Student Awards ceremony for Laguna Beach schools

The second annual Laguna Beach Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR, Student Awards were held last week at Laguna Presbyterian’s Tankersley Hall. More than 150 guests were in attendance, including student winners, family members, and friends.

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Pleased principals: Joanne Culverhouse (LBHS) and Jenny Salberg (TMS)

Photos courtesy DAR

Guests of honor included school board member William Landseidel; principals Chris Duddy of El Morro Elementary; Ron LaMotte of Top of the World Elementary, Mike Letourneau of St. Catherine of Siena Parish School, Jenny Salberg of Thurston Middle School and Joanne Culverhouse of Laguna Beach High School, as well as teachers and counselors, who gave the students their medals and certificates.

Laguna Beach High School senior Rickie Scott received DAR’s Good Citizen of 2012-2013 Award, the highest honor for a high school student. When she addressed the assembly, Scott focused on the value of community service and reaching out to others, encouraging younger students to get involved in activities such as Peer Assisted Learning Strategies and the Friendship Center and to view their service as a way to contribute to the community, grow, and learn.

Scott currently serves as president of the high school’s Make A Wish Club, where she spearheaded a $4,000 fundraising effort to grant the wish of a terminally ill teenager. Scott is also the president of the Righteousness on Campus club. As an avid student of Spanish since middle school, she has also traveled to Nicaragua and Belize donating her time to help with children’s charities.

Jackson McKay Pries is the winner of the American History Scholarship Award for Laguna Beach High School. He read his winning essay on how he has been inspired by the great men of American history and by his history teacher Kristin Cowles. Also, an accomplished athlete, Jackson has played competitive volleyball since he was 12 and has played on the winning team in two Junior Olympics. Pries will attend UC Santa Barbara as a history major in the fall.

DAR awarded excellence in American History and Social Studies to fifth grade students: At El Morro, recipients were Jack Guenther, Emmalisa Randrup, Eva Becker, Connor Fink, Allison Mays, Gabe Tacklind, Caden Capobianco, and Macy Michael.

Winners at Top of the World were Jeremy Hayes, Ella Judd, Kayden S. Ibelle, Zacharey Pierce, Bryce Dvorak, Claire Wittkop, Sahil Das, and Malin Glade.

And at St. Catherine of Siena Parish School, Andrew Domanskis and Isabella Freeman were the winning recipients.

LBHS DAR Award Winners

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Standing (L-R): Matthew Haim, Jackson Pries, Rickie Scott, London Carter with LBHS Principal Joanne Culverhouse. Seated (L-R): Sarina Strickland, Leslie Dwight and Eden Young. Not pictured: Austin Wilhoft

Good Citizenship Awards were given to students at LBHS, Thurston, and St. Catherine’s. LBHS awards went to ninth-grade students London Carter and Eden Young; 10th-grade students Leslie Dwight and Matthew Haim; and 11th-graders Sarina Strickland and Austin Wilhoft.

At Thurston Middle School, recipients were Will Clark and Lauren West, eight-grade; Niva Razin and Grant Richardson, seventh-grade; and Claire Black and Ray Hunter, sixth-grade.

And awards at St. Catherine’s went to Taylor Campbell and Luke Zettler, eighth-grade; Isabella Ciraulo and Trey Taylor, seventh-grade, and Sydney Munushain and Alex Taylor, sixth-grade.

Montage, Boys & Girls Club Art/Photography session

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Photo by Mary Church

Art Director Emily Murray of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach and photographer Mary Church of Montage Laguna Beach have created a special Art and Photography program for the kids at the Club this summer. Recently, kids went to Montage for a photo session. Above, Club kids Valery, Elly, Jamie, Cole, Pennie and Sophia discovered a lizard on a walkway and it was paparazzi time!

Local mom and founder of Mindful Octopus expands her yoga program for kids, to include a yoga summer camp

From a press release

Summer is just around the corner; leaving many parents with the added responsibility and opportunity to fill their children’s open schedules with enriching summer activities and camps. While Laguna Beach offers many of the best ocean inspired summer camps in the country, our littlest campers’ sign ups are limited.

Laguna Beach Mom and founder of Mindful Octopus, Samantha Breit, discovered this void, first hand, when searching for summer enrichment activities for her two, young boys. Inspired to contribute to the community, Samantha created the 1st annual, Yoga Summer Camp, for children entering kindergarten through 4th grade, in Fall 2013.

Breit has many years of experience and expertise in the summer camp environment, having been both a camper and a counselor, on the east coast. She is excited to share with her campers many of the same activities, songs, and games that she enjoyed at summer camp; as a compliment to the established Mindful Octopus program.

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Activities at Mindful Octopus

Mindful Octopus is a storytelling, yoga, and art program for kids. Its’ mission is to teach kids the practice of yoga and meditation, through the ancient art of storytelling; while planting the seeds of health, imagination, and mindfulness.

In today’s World, never before has yoga been as important in the formation of childhood development; because our World has never before been as frenetic as it is today. Healthy children, who are self aware and aware of themselves in their environment, create a harmonious environment for everyone. A connection to self is the greatest tool in dealing with life and finding peace. In order to help create a World where all children are healthy, happy, and free, we must first provide them with the tools for letting go of the thinking/judging mind and go {back} to the feeling/heart space, where children are naturally.

Studies prove that the physical practice of yoga has a profound effect on children. Benefits include, increased flexibility, develops strength inside and out, improves balance, reduces stress, improves concentration and focus, improves breathing, raises body awareness, and improves self image, to name a few. The physical practice of yoga is a form of meditation for children. Yoga also means being kind and good and connected to the whole world. For children, yoga is a wonderful summer time activity in preparation for the upcoming school year.

The Mindful Octopus Yoga Summer Camp will be held, in South Laguna the week of July 15t-19 and August 12-16, Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Daily camp activities will include, storytelling, yoga, art, meditation, mindful exercises, team building games and songs, guest artists, community outreach, organic lunches, and a whole lot of fun!

Daily camp schedule, location, and details, will be provided to all sign ups and inquiries.

Cost $350, includes organic lunch, organic t-shirt, and all supplies.

For more information or to sign up, please email sam@mindfuloctopus.com or call 949.303.9850.

Laguna’s only FM announces that Lagunan Jason Feddy is its new midday host - 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Laguna Beach’s only FM station, KX 93.5, announced the addition of its new midday personality: local musician Jason Feddy.

Feddy took over the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. slot on weekdays last week. Tune in to 93.5 FM in Laguna Beach or www.KX935.com online or on your smartphone. Feddy, a local singer/songwriter is known for his regular gigs around town and his “Shakespeare in the Park” project.

“Jason was the obvious choice to take over the midday role,” said the station’s Program Director Tyler Russell. “His popularity in town and his irreverent, hilarious personality on-air will make him a joy to work with, and to listen to.”

Other than life as a full-time musician, hosting the midday slot will be Feddy’s first daytime job in years. His love for music, Laguna Beach, and the arts, makes him the perfect addition to Laguna’s only FM.

Feddy has also been one of the busiest people in town when a non-profit needs quality music performed – often at the last minute. He’s tireless!

“When Tyler asked me to join the daytime team at the station, I considered it carefully for about a nanosecond,” said Feddy. “I’m honored and excited. My wife is delighted to be getting me out of the house too.”

In addition to his unique take on Laguna news and happenings, he will also feature an ‘all-requests’ lunch hour segment starting at noon each weekday. You can call the station at 949-715-4859.

Art Auction Benefit for ECO-Warrior Foundation May 29

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Submitted photos

No Cove

Jeffrey Robinson

The ECO-Warrior Foundation in partnership with Hotel Seven4one, will be hosting a live art auction at Hotel Seven4one on May 29. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with registration and a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres. The live auction will be from 7 to 9 p.m., and will feature nine pieces of art painted and donated by Jeffrey Robinson, DNA artist, based out of Toronto.

Each piece is hand crafted with a deep and passionate focus on the waterways, oceans, and pollution that has reshaped the earth. Other auction items include commissioned art pieces, experience packages, and attendees will be able to bid on a sponsored Seven4one hotel room and stay the night of the auction.

“This powerful display of imagery will help to bring a deeper understanding of the responsibility we have for all animals and the environment we share. Robinson’s paintings demonstrate vividly that we are interdependent upon one another. His creative use of DNA patterns layered within images of the ECO-Warrior James Pribram’s causes stir emotions that will not be tamed,” said Kalina Justice, Laguna Gallery of Contemporary Art.

The ECO-Warrior art collection was created to raise awareness of the challenges faced by our oceans and their inhabitants. Auction proceeds will benefit The ECO-Warrior Foundation, and support its local and global environmental initiatives. Space is limited. Attendees can pre-register, RSVP to ndarling@eco-warrior.org.

Martini Madness raised over $9,000 to help PMMC

Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) raised over $9,000, the highest grossing amount for this event ever, at its May 19, Martini Madness fundraiser at Madison Square Garden and Café. Funds raised at the event will go towards the emergency fund set up to help care for the hundreds of sea lion pups that stranded along the Orange County coastline in the last few months, resulting in the largest stranding crisis in the history of PMMC.

‘Sammy’ and ‘Sealena’ mingling Angie Miller (l), Ann Moore and Erin Lastinger

So far in 2013, over 325 sea lions have washed ashore suffering from severe malnourishment and have all been retrieved by Pacific Marine Mammal Center to begin rehabilitation.

“Jon’s generosity of hosting and completely underwriting the Martini Madness during a crisis demonstrates a true act of philanthropy,” says Melissa Sciacca, PMMC Director of Development/Marketing. “His support has directly helped us care for the nearly 150 seal and sea lion patients currently at our hospital in need of medical attention, and we are most grateful for his kindness and support.”

Approximately 150 people were in attendance to enjoy the atmosphere of Madison Square garden, sip a variety of martini’s and feast on the gourmet food. There was even a surprise visit from PMMC Mascots “Sammy” and “Sealena.”