Leaders give their annual update

BARBARA DIAMOND

The Leadership Laguna Luncheon Tuesday at Hotel Laguna was a swinging

affair.

SwingSet, the 16-member jazz group of the Laguna Community Concert

Band entertained the representatives of community groups and

businesses that gathered to share their achievements in 2003 and

goals for 2004.

“We performed 20 concerts last year, all free,” band President

Carol Reynolds boasted. “Our ‘Celebrate America Concert’ was a

sell-out. This year, we expect another sell-out for the ‘America the

Beautiful Concert,’ which will be held Feb. 8 at the Artists Theatre

on the Laguna Beach High School campus.”

Reynolds shared a table at the luncheon with SwingSet conductor

Brian Cameron, artist Patricia Turnier and Martha Lydick, who

represented the Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn. and the Friends of the

Laguna Beach Library.

Speaking for the library, Lydick said the Friends really

appreciated how the community rallied to help when state funds were

reduced, giving a special nod of thanks to Wild Oats, Tivoli Terrace

owner June Neptune, and Jim Rue, who donated time to teach computer

classes at the library to seniors.

The Friends raise funds for book purchases and programs

Switching hats, Lydick spoke for the taxpayers’ association.

“We are the watchdogs for your tax dollars -- and they really need

watching now with what is happening in Sacramento,” she said. “Please

join with us and let’s work together.”

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman complimented the taxpayers’ association and

Village Laguna, two groups that do not always espouse the same

projects, for their donations to a fund which she started to replace

the Rocket Ship at Bluebird Park.

Kinsman said her major accomplishment in 2003 was being elected

mayor. But for the city ...

“In the past year and a half, the city has opened three new

oceanfront parks: Smithcliffs, Brown’s Park and the jewel of the

coast, Treasure Island, which is 100% maintained by the Montage

Resort at no cost to the taxpayers.”

Other accomplishments were signing leases with the Festival of

Arts, the Laguna Playhouse and the Club for Kids.

As for 2004:

“Traffic Downtown is a major challenge, and we are in the process

of moving the city’s maintenance yard to ACT V, to be replaced by

parking,” Kinsman said. “We also have established a joint citizens’

task force to work on a new city financial computer system.”

As far as the city’s finances are concerned, Kinsman said voters

should pay attention to what “the Arnold” is doing in Sacramento.

“The League of Cities is working on an initiative for the November

ballot to require voter approval for moving property tax revenue from

the local government to state government,” Kinsman said. “Citizens

always have more control over how money is spent when it is at the

local level rather than at a higher level of government.

“Lastly, keeping South Coast Medical Center here is a major goal,”

she said.

Center Chief Executive Officer Gary Irish announced at the

luncheon that every bed at the hospital was full and there is a

waiting list. Still, hospital management is considering moving out of

town -- just as did the ill-fated boards of directors of the Laguna

Art Museum and the Festival of Arts.

The Laguna Art Museum and the festival are still here and

thriving. Festival marketing director Sharbie Higuchi, Pageant of the

Masters SuperDirector Dee Dee Challis, and board President Bob Henry

represented the festival on Tuesday.

Publicist Stuart Byer spoke on behalf of the museum. He said the

museum’s major accomplishment in 2003 was hiring education curator,

Ann Camp, who also attended the luncheon.

As part of Camp’s education programs, the museum will be issuing,

in the next month or so, membership cards to every student in the

Laguna Beach Unified School District. They will be designated as

Academic Members.

“Our goal for this year is to re-commit ourselves to the city of

Laguna Beach and its residents,” Byer said. “We are launching a

campaign to reach every household in town to remind them that we are

here, of what we do and what a cultural resource we are.

“In the last 10 years, there has been a dramatic turnover in town,

and newcomers may not be as familiar with [the Laguna Art Museum] as

longtime residents are. There are more than 3 million people in

Orange County, and only four cities have museums.”

Also represented at the 17th annual leadership luncheon: the Boys

and Girls Club, Laguna Beach Seniors Inc., the Laguna Beach Woman’s

Club and Sally’s Fund. Represented businesses included Stuart

Architecture, First Team Nolan Real Estate, South Bank and the

Farmers Market.

Ken Delino, Suzanne Lilly and Wendy Potter represented the Chamber

of Commerce, which sponsored the luncheon.

Charlie Quilter spoke on behalf of the Patriots Day Parade. Cindy

Prewitt dashed in just in time to speak her peace about Laguna Beach

Live!

Other spokespeople were Julita Jones for the Community Art

Project; Janet Larkley for Friendship Shelter; Rick McIntyre for the

Laguna Board of Realtors; Rebecca Meekma for the Sawdust Festival;

and Ginger Osborne for Village Laguna.

Ericka Waidley and Wayne Ibarra spoke about the Laguna Beach

Community Clinic; and Lee Winocur Field talked about the American

Assn. of University Women.

“This luncheon sets the pace for 2004,” said founder Bobbi Cox,

who timed the speakers.

“Limit yourself to two key points,” Cox said, “so if we remember

nothing else about this day, we will remember those.”

Grant McCombs, who is recovering nicely from hip replacement

surgery, led the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rev. Steve Sweet, pastor

of Laguna Presbyterian Church, gave the invocation.

The luncheon menu , specially arranged by hotelier Claes Anderson,

included a an oriental vegetable salad, Hoisin short ribs,

veal-glazed salmon with fingerling potato hash, apple bacon spinach

or a vegetarian entree -- and for dessert, an apple and peach tart

with lavender honey sauce.

“It was delicious,” said Anne Wood, representative from the

Community Service Council. “I don’t think anyone has had to eat

since.”

The luncheon was underwritten by chamber board members Bill

Atkins, Dennis Junka, Michelle Clark, Chris Lange, Kathy Conway,

Dennis Myers, chamber President Delino, Steve Nelson, Bob Dietrich,

Veronica Nice, Tim Dillon, Dave Sanford, Ron Hyrchuk, Shaun Tabor,

Catherine Wilkerson and Len Weinstein.

* 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 (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.