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.
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