Streets were hopping on Hospitality Night

OUR LAGUNA

Help!

When was the first Hospitality Night held in Laguna Beach? Who

organized it? We couldn’t find anyone in the crowd for the 2002

Hospitality Night who could answer those questions.

City Manager Ken Frank, who almost always has the answers, said,

“It’s been going on at least 20 years.” He knew that because he has

been employed by the City Council for 20 years.

Police Chief James Spreine’s best guess was “a long time.” Laguna

Niguel Police Chief Linda Spreine, who was a sergeant in the Laguna

Beach department before she married the chief, didn’t know.

City Councilman Steven Dicterow had no idea. Chamber of Commerce

members Dennis Junka and Sande St. John, who helped organize

Hospitality Night, asked around, but couldn’t come up with an answer.

Executive Director Anne Morris was just happy to be celebrating her

first anniversary with the chamber.

“Our kids were babies when we started coming,” newly elected

school board member Betsy Jenkins said.

Former City Treasurer Susan Morse said Hospitality Night was at

least 29 years old. “That’s how old my daughter is, and I remember

bringing her in a stroller,” Morse said.

Anyone who knows the date and circumstances of the first

Hospitality Night -- and we suspect Harry Lawrence or Jane Janz may

be the ones -- please contact us. We also want to hear from those who

would like to share some memories. That is how our history will be

preserved.

There is a lot of history and tradition to Hospitality Night.

That pepper tree that gets lighted each year was planted by the

Rogers family in front of what was then their home. The site next

belonged to the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club. Legend has it that the

club transferred ownership to the city with the stipulation that the

tree must be preserved or the property reverts to the club.

Thurston Middle School Band traditionally entertains the crowd,

which starts to gather at about 5 p.m. at City Hall. Laguna

Presbyterian Church bell ringers also perform.

The Seagrave Fire Engine, a relic of Laguna’s past, carried Santa

to City Hall Friday night, driven by fire Capt. Eugene D’Isabella,

who is retiring after more than 40 years of service to the city. Now,

a quaint reminder of the past, the Seagrave was once the city’s

defense against fire.

Bill and Theresa O’Hare recalled when their sons, Billy and

Brendan, rode one of the city’s fire engines to Hospitality Night in

1993.

That was in the days that rides with Santa were given as

opportunity prizes or auction items to nonprofit organizations. Then

it was determined that if anyone was injured, the city would be

liable. So the prizes ended. Now it is the mayor, his or her family,

or special guests who ride with Santa.

This year, Mayor Toni Iseman followed the Seagrave in the city’s

newest engine, driven by Firefighter Carl Klass, a native. Suzanne

and Cary Redfearn’s children, Halle and Joe, and Jackson Bussard, son

of Sheryl Bussard, rode in the back of the Seagrave. They were

“Auntie Toni’s” special guests.

Steve Miller waited for Iseman along with the rest of the crowd at

City Hall. Bob the Cat stayed home to guard the house. A more recent

Hospitality Night tradition is the costumed greyhounds that escort

Santa to his cottage on the corner of Glenneyre Street and Forest

Avenue. All of the “reindeer” were rescued after their careers as

racing dogs had ended.

“We been bringing them here for three or four years,” said Paula

Otteson of the Greyhound Rescue Center.

After the ceremonies at City Hall, Thalia Street Surf Shop owner

Jim Cocores chauffeured Santa in the Baja Bug beach cruiser to his

cottage, where a long line of children waited to confide their wish

lists.

Noah Rosen and Nicholas Kinsman went along for the ride. Then Noah

joined his folks, Bree and Leon, for dinner at Sundried Tomato and

the unannounced Battle of the Bands. The Community Band performed a

holiday concert at the Landmark Plaza as scheduled. Hobie Sports

mounted an outside speaker on the building to amplify the unscheduled

karaoke singers inside the shop.

The children were lined up and waiting when Santa arrived at his

cottage at about 6:30 p.m.

By 8 p.m., at least 500 children had had their pictures with Santa

snapped by chamber photographer Kim Haylett and shared their

Christmas hopes.

Gus Larkin, 4, hopes to find a Green Goblin toy under his

Christmas tree. His sister, Josie, 2, wants a baby -- not a doll, a

real live one. Mom will have to do some fast talking to Santa to make

that happen.

Coastline Pilot Editor Alicia Lopez’s, son Ben, 3, put Hot Wheels

Maniax at the top of his list. Ben’s sister Maya, 5, wants a Rapunzel

Barbie.

Rachel Ayers, 4, also wants a Barbie. Her brother Dylan, 6, is

hoping for a Spiderman Web Blaster.

“He is Spider Boy,” mom Cynthia said.

The youngest Ayers child, Cate, who will be 1 on Dec. 18, kept her

wishes to herself.

Tatiana Moore, 3 months, also kept silent about her wishes.

Jan Fisher’s granddaughter Shelby Slezak, 6, is asking for a

two-wheel bicycle and tissue paper for art projects.

Daniel and Mary Kathryn La Montagne’s daughter Lauren first said

she wanted a computer, but then decided on a TV set. She disputed

dad’s opinion that her little sister Grace, 2 1/2, wants a playhouse.

“She wants a teddy bear,” insisted Lauren. No disagreement about

what Grace’s twin, Luc, wants: it’s a train.

Stormy Panosian’s grandson, Maxx Sharp, 4, asked Santa to bring

him leggos. His sister, Maddy Emma, 2, asked for a baby doll. Their

mom, Dawn, wants peace and safety for all.

Grace Lawler, 3, daughter of Mike and Cathie Lawler, said she

wanted to buy a present for her sister Rosie, 18 months.

Emma Scott, 4, will be making cotton candy, if Santa brings her

the maker for which she asked. Her sister, Summer, 2 1/2, would

rather have a Barbie Jeep. Candace, 13, would like to find Miss 60

jeans under the tree.

Danielle Hayes, 11, is hoping for a beagle puppy.

Trevor Tyler, 1, wants whatever his brother, Garrett, 2, wants.

Molly McDaid, 4, asked for some Dolphins -- not real ones, mom

Eileen said. Brendan McDaid, 3, is holding out for a truck.

But it’s not just children who have Christmas wishes.

Arnold Hano’s request this year is that his son gets well after

open heart surgery last week. Kathy Conway wants new doors and

windows for her house. Michael and Barbara Hoag probably would be

better off communicating their wish for a pedestrian friendly

Downtown to the City Council than to Santa Claus. Ditto jeweler Ken

Lauher, who wants three-hour parking on the avenue.

Hospitality Night is sponsored by the city and the Chamber of

Commerce. This year, Forest Avenue was closed to traffic from South

Coast Highway to Third Street, allowing the crowd to spread out.

Salon De Noor offered a spread of cheeses, crackers and crudites.

Susie Ornellas’s daughters Kristina, 12, and Jackie, 10, made the

traditional McCallas’ meatballs, assisted by grandma Shirley McCalla.

Strolling the avenue and enjoying the Laguna Beach High School

Jazz Band Concert in front of the Candy Baron were: Dora Wexall and

son Wex; flautist Evren Ozan and his mother, Faith; Bobbie Cox; Jim

and Jean Law, dazzling in red; Andrew and Carolyn Wood, chair of the

Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee; Ann and Charlie Quilter,

president of the Patriots Day Parade Committee; Pat Barry, director

of the Community Services Department, and his son Russell, 12.

“Toward the end of the evening, a crowd of 75 to 100 gathered

outside Hobie’s, where the San Clemente Scottish Pipers Band was

performing inside,” Anne Johnson said. “When they came out they

played ‘Bluebells of Scotland’ and marched up the street and stopped

at Cedar Creek Inn. The crowd paraded right along behind, and some

were dancing.

“Then the band went back down Forest Avenue to Beach Street and

that’s where Marv and I peeled off,” she said. “Everybody else

followed the band to the Marine Room.”

The song has ended for 2002, but the memories linger on. Let’s get

them on paper.

* 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.