Wilson to run for Assembly

A few months after taking over as chairman of the Board of

Supervisors, Tom Wilson now says he’s ready to take a bigger step up

the political ladder. He’ll seek a chair in the state Assembly.

Wilson, who represents Laguna Beach, announced the decision to

seek the 73rd Assembly District seat on Monday in an e-mail to his

supporters.

“This was a difficult decision, because I love what I do,” Wilson

said in the e-mail.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my strong leadership on the

board while pursuing the Assembly seat,” he added.

In the March primary, Wilson will face Laguna Niguel Councilwoman

Mimi Walters, who has also announced she will run for the seat.

Wilson said he won’t need to relinquish his seat on the board to

run for the Assembly.

In November, Wilson won his second full term for a seat he has

held since 1996. Gov. Pete Wilson appointed him at the time.

Tom Wilson will seek the nomination of the Republican Party to

replace Assemblywoman Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), who has

endorsed Walters.

Tom Wilson said he isn’t worried about the campaign taking his

focus away from important county business.

“I don’t believe that running for higher office is going to

distract me from doing a fine job on the Board of Supervisors,” Tom

Wilson said Monday afternoon. “I’m a good time manager.”

-- Paul Clinton

Summer tram service all set

For the second consecutive year, residents and tourists can ride

city trams running from the ACT V parking lot to several stops around

town for free during the summer.

Mayor Toni Iseman said the service averaged 3,000 weekly riders

and 5,000 weekend riders last year, a 98% increase. She wants to

spend $300,000 to expand it further.

“I suggest we send notifications to other South County cities

about the free tram service, asking people to park at ACT V, take the

tram and have fun in Laguna Beach,” Iseman said.

While encouraging tourists to use the summer service, Iseman also

hopes it gives residents a free sample of how easy it is to use

public transportation. City Manager Ken Frank said it’s been

difficult to get residents to use the city’s mainline bus service.

Resident Arnold Hano said at Tuesday’s council meeting that he and

his wife rode the trams frequently last year and are looking forward

to riding them again. He addressed Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson’s

claim that residents wouldn’t park at ACT V to use the tram.

“At least two did,” Hano said. “In New York, you ride the subway

and get mugged. Here, you ride the trolley and get smiles.”

-- Mike Swanson

Realtors pledge to raise funds for youth club

Prudential California Realty, Orange County Region and its real

estate associates in Laguna Beach, pledged a portion of their

commissions on closed transactions to help the Laguna Beach Boys and

Girls Club build a new facility.

Agents volunteered to participate in the program which was

launched 18 months ago. They signed pledge forms indicating their

level of contribution. Forty-three agents pledged to the campaign,

and a total pledge of $75,000 was made to the Boys and Girls Club.

So far $31,000 in checks have been submitted to the Boys and Girls

Club of Laguna Beach. Those who participated in the local campaign

include: Andy Alison, Greg Arrowsmith, JoAnne Artman, Joe Baker, Rick

Balzer, De De Beard, Harry Bithell, Sandra Brosnan, Ralph Brown,

Diane Cannon, Kevin Carey, Nancy Casebier, Mark Christy, Tara Conley,

Hank Cousine, Shauna Covington, Pat Cudlip, Bill Cunningham, Jim

Cunningham, Jim Doria, Bob Dornin, Barry Elms, Terry Flanigan,

Giulietta Fox, Rick Gold, Claude Gourdal, Dana/Denise Hansen, Rob

Hull, Chuck Hutboot, Les Jenison, Sandra Khadra, Robert Leedom, Kenny

Lloyd, Jock Patterson, Verne Potter, Peggy Sanchez, Byron Savon, Mark

Simon, David Skarman, Lee Skov, Donna Sivicnenko, Gil Thibault, Teri

Trinidad, Patty Truman and Victor Voss.

Girl’s rescuer honored by city

Ben Bonin, the construction worker who rescued and resuscitated a

4-year-old girl off Crescent Bay Beach last month, received

resounding applause from a nearly full council chambers when

recognized at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

The 26-year-old Capistrano Beach resident briefly recounted his

rescue of Serena Eyerly during the meeting’s lone item of

“extraordinary business.” He described the rescue as a natural

reaction.

“For those of us who hesitate,” Mayor Toni Iseman said, “there’s a

lesson to be learned here.”

Clinic brings health awareness to community

The Laguna Beach Community Clinic will hold its Women’s Health

Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Laguna Beach Unified

School District parking lot.

It is a collaborative event between the Laguna Beach Community

Clinic, the school district and the PTA.

There will be a free concert at noon by the pop band CORDAY. Free

CDs will be given to the first 50 participants. The clinic’s new

medical van will be on sight to offer free blood pressure,

cholesterol, glucose, anemia and HIV screenings.

Activities for the children include face painting and clowns.

There will be giveaways from Naked Juice, Wild Oats and more.

Woman of the year to be honored

The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club will honor Carolyn Wood as the 2003

Woman’s Club Woman of the Year.

Also at the meeting, they will install the 2003-04 Woman’s Club

Board of Directors.

The meeting will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 6 at the

Woman’s Club Clubhouse, 286 St. Ann’s Drive.

The cost to attend is $20 with a prepaid reservation, $25 at the

door, space permitting. For information, call 497-1200.

Grand Prix race won’t be held this year

The Laguna Beach Rotary Club has voted not to hold the Grand Prix

Bicycle Race and Youth Education Program in 2003. The event had been

planned for September.

The club cites a lack of time for proper sponsorship and planning

as a factor for the decision.

The club is still considering holding the event in 2004.

Surfrider Foundation meet and clean-up

The Surfrider Foundation will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. May

29 at Wells Fargo Bank, 260 Ocean Ave.

The meeting will feature a video presentation of “Our Plastic

Ocean.” Capt. Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research

Foundation will give a talk on the deadly effects plastic debris has

on the marine environment.

The Surfrider Foundation will be conducted a Beach Cleanup at

Crystal Cove State Park from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 31. Meet

at the south end of the Reef Point parking lot to clean up the beach

from Reef Point to Abalone Point. Free parking and free Surfrider

T-shirts will be given to all participants.

For more information, call Rick Wilson at 492-8170.

Next PFLAG meet set for May 21

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays will hold its

next meeting on May 21.

The group is a secular organization that celebrates diversity and

envisions a society that embraces everyone, including those of

diverse sexual orientations.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Sun Room of the United

Methodist Church, 24442 Moulton Parkway in Laguna Woods.

For more information: (949) 380-7035 or (949) 459-2834.

Awadalla gets Youth Leadership Award

Laguna Beach High Rotary Interact Club member Deana Awadalla was

awarded the Youth Leadership Award.

She attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp at Idyllwild

Pines Camp, where she learned about teamwork and leadership.

For information, call Chris Krach at 497-7750, ext. 212, or Gil

Thibault at 497-3331 ext. 203.

Garden club speaker to talk perennials

Rex Yarwood of Haster Grove, a Laguna Beach retail garden center,

will discuss summer perennials today at the Laguna Beach Garden Club

meeting at the Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s

Drive.

After Yarwood’s presentation will be the installation of officers

and a luncheon. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Visitors are

welcome for the program on perennials, which will begin at 10 a.m.

For information, call (949) 497-9051.

Festival in search of volunteer docents

The Festival of Arts is recruiting volunteer docents for the 2003

Festival art exhibit.

The job requires a passion for art, good verbal skills,

availability for a 12-hour training course and a flexible schedule.

Interviews will be May 12 through 15.

For more information or an application, call human resources at

(949) 464-4270 or e-mail Monicadfoa@aol.com.

Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show set

St. Catherine of Siena Council of Catholic Women will hold its

annual Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show.

The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Tivoli Too, 777

Laguna Canyon Road.

Tickets must be purchased by May 4. For information, call

494-7761.

Food drive planned by postal service

The U.S. Postal Service is asking people to participate in the

11th annual food drive.

Residents are asked to leave unopened nonperishable food next to

mailboxes for letter carriers to pick up Saturday.