A home-run week for Skipper Carrillo

OUR LAGUNA

It’s been a grand slam week for Skipper Carrillo, whose standard

greeting is “Have a home-run day.”

Carrillo turned 64 on Wednesday, but the celebration began a week

ago and included dinner out with friends, service to his church and a

trip to Dodger Stadium.

“The Dodgers are Skipper’s number one team,” said friend Jackie

Nelson. “The Angels come second and he is very loyal. But he has the

uniforms of many ball clubs and every Laguna Beach High School

uniform.”

Carrillo is a valued volunteer at high school athletic events.

Nancy Wessel and Jackie celebrated Carrillo’s birthday a few days

early. They took him to dinner at Cedar Creek Inn, one of his

favorite restaurants.

“They were so sweet,” Nelson said. “The waiters brought him a big

piece of chocolate cake with a candle and sang ‘Happy Birthday.’

Carrillo calls eating filling the bases’ and by the time we left the

restaurant, he had certainly filled the bases.”

Carrillo speaks mostly in sports terms. A “homerun day” is good

one. Vacuuming is “blocking.” He remembers things by “putting it in

his batting helmet.”

“I’ve never known him to miss an appointment or get mixed up once

it’s in his batting helmet,” Nelson said.

Carrillo also gives nicknames to everyone.

Nelson is The Great Walter Alston, Hall of Fame manager of the

Dodgers.

“I am highly complimented,” said Nelson, who shares Carrillo’s

affection for the Dodgers.

“Mrs. Entertainment Center” and her family were his hosts at the

Dodger game.

Rounding out his week, Carrillo was scheduled to serve at a mass

Thursday at St. Catherine of Siena Church to celebrate Helen Evans’

90th birthday.

Carrillo has ushered at the 9 a.m. Sunday mass for years but has

been serving at weekday masses only for about six months.

“I have wanted to be a server since I was 12 years old,” Carrillo

told Gene Hamilton, who trained him.

Carrillo nicknamed Hamilton “Coach Soccer” because of his interest

in soccer and because he “coached” Carrillo as a server.

Hamilton, who has lived in Laguna Beach and attended St. Catherine

for about 10 years, said the Holy Spirit moved him to suggest that

Skipper be trained as a server.

“It was a pleasure,” Hamilton said. “I have learned so much from

him. He always has a smile and a good word for everyone.”

Anyone interested in celebrating Carrillo’s birthday may want to

consider a donation to the Skipper Carrillo Scholarship at Laguna

Beach High School.

James Kimball originally founded the scholarship as his Eagle

Scout project. His nephew, Jason, made re-funding the scholarship his

Eagle Scout project last year.

“My goal is to raise $8,000,” Jason said. “I am a little more than

half way there.”

The scholarship is to be awarded to a varsity level players of any

sport who has overcome a disadvantage such as an injury, a disability

or even a language barrier.

Checks may be sent to the Skipper Carrillo Scholarship, c/o Laguna

Beach High School Foundation, 625 Park Ave., Laguna Beach, 92651.

PLEIN AIR DRAWS A CROWD

The Lincoln Plein Air Painting Invitational culminated in a gala

dinner and collectors’ preview sale Saturday night at the Laguna Art

Museum.

A sell-out crowd of 530 attended the gala, which featured

paintings done in four days at various locations throughout the city.

Each participating artist was allowed to submit three entries in the

competition.

“It was the largest crowd we have ever had,” said Stuart Byer,

museum spokesman. “We netted $209,000, which will be split with the

Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, co-hosts of the event. Our

share will fund museum programs.”

The crowd included Susie and museum board President Jack Kenefick,

Marcia and incoming President Chuck James, treasurer Kathy Conway and

board members Barbara Klein, John and Barbara Bing, Nancy and Dave

Bushnell, William Hanke William Selman, Melinda Stanton, David

Tardiff and Patsy Tartaglia.

Judges presented Ken Auster with a gold medal for his painting,

“Rare Morning Light.” Auster also was awarded an honorable mention

for “Everything is Going South.” He is the first artist to win two

awards in the same competition and the first to win multiple grand

prizes. One of his pieces, not any of those entered in plein air

invitational, will be included in “Surf Culture: The Art History of

Surfing,” that opens July 28 at the museum

Former gold medalist George Strickland won the Artists Choice

Award. Plein air association President John Cosby was the Collectors

Choice Award winner.

“Canyon Tree” earned Don Demers a silver medal. The bronze went to

David Solomon for “Poplar Alley.” Honorable Mentions were awarded to

Scott Burdick, John Budicin and Joseph Mendez.

Ray Roberts was the winner of the Quick Draw held Friday in

Heisler Park. An estimated crowd of 3,000 watched as the artists

created paintings in a two-hour limit.

The event also included a Children’s Paint Out, which featured 1

1/2hours of training by association members. Fiftykids participated.

They went home with easels, brushes, and their canvases in donated

tote bags.

This was the fourth annual invitational.

Organizers of the gala included museum Director Bolton Colburn,

gala co-chairs Dave Rahn and Jill Michaels, volunteer coordinator

Patti Oshland and artist coordinator Theresa Marino. Lincoln’s

Jennifer Beindorf was the sponsor presenter.

Among the White Ribbon volunteers who helped sell the paintings:

Molly Bing, Jim Lashley, Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman, Mary Ehrlich,

Lenore Monahan, Laura Robinson, Bob and Hedy Williamson, Carole

Reynolds, Nancy Carroll, Ana Rothwell, Anne Kipke, Kimberly Clark and

Arts Commissioner Nancy Beverage.

FOUNTAIN IS THE CAT’ S MEOW

Rescuing Our Furry Friends, better known as RUFF, dedicated a

fountain to the late Richie A. Mello Friday at the Bluebell

Foundation, a sanctuary for cats in Laguna Canyon.

A life tenant occupies Richie’s Laguna Beach home, after which it

will become RUFF’s property.

RUFF raises funds for the care of abused or ailing animals.

Members of the organization shared the care of Richie’s two cats

after he died until his heir arrived to take responsibility.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call 494-4321 or fax 494-8979.