City to preview new voting machine

Laguna Beach is one of eight cities in Orange County selected for

early voting in the March 2 election on the new eSlate electronic

voting machine.

“The new machine is a wonderful service to the county,” said City

Clerk Verna Rollinger.

Qualified voters can cast their ballots in the city clerk’s office

from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Feb.

3 to Feb. 20, except for Presidents Day, Feb. 16, when City Hall will

be closed. Votes also may be cast by absentee ballot or at

traditional polling places on election day.

Permanent absentee voters are not eligible to vote at City Hall.

The city clerk’s office has been rearranged to accommodate the

machinery and voters. The machine is a little bit larger than a

briefcase and sits on a collapsible stand. It is connected to a

laptop computer and to telephone lines that are also connected to the

Orange County Registrar’s office.

Rollinger and Deputy City Clerk Martha Anderson, a candidate in

the November city election to replace the retiring Rollinger,

attended a training session on the new voting machine. Linda Brown,

co-chair of the Laguna Beach unit of the League of Women Voters also

attended the training session. She has volunteered to assist in the

trial run of the machine.

This will be the first election in which the electronic eSlate

machine will be used instead of the old punch card ballots.

-- Barbara Diamond

Monday meetings with the mayor offered

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman will hold Mondays with the Mayor on the

Monday before each City Council meeting.

The time is an opportunity for Laguna residents to talk with the

mayor and share their ideas.

The meetings will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at City Hall, 505 Forest

Ave. Upcoming dates are Feb. 2 and 9 and March 1 and 15.

For a specific appointment, call Carol Bright at (949) 497-0308 or

just drop by.

Woman’s Club seeking artists

The Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach is accepting applications from

Laguna Beach women artists for the third annual art sale and auction.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 12.

Those interested should call (949) 494-0233. The art sale and

auction will be held March 20 and 21.

The exhibit space is free but limited. Exhibiting artists will be

asked to donate one piece for the art auction. Proceeds will benefit

the Children’s Art Instruction program and the Woman’s Club building

fund.

Canyon Conservancy to hold meeting

The Laguna Canyon Conservancy will hold its next meeting on Feb.

2. Topics for discussion are the city budget and the fire-safe,

water-wise garden.

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman will talk about the city budget and the

effect that decisions in Sacramento will have on city services.

Then, Renae Hinchey, general manager of the Laguna Beach County

Water District, will give a presentation on the fire-safe and

water-wise demonstration garden.

The Laguna Canyon Conservancy monthly dinner meetings are held at

Tivoli Terrace on the Festival grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

The no-host bar will open at 6 p.m., and dinner will be served at

about 6:45 p.m.

Dinner tickets for members are $10, $15 for nonmembers and may be

paid at the door with reservations. To reserve tickets, call Ed or

Kit Drollinger at (949) 494-6465.

The deadline to reserve is Jan. 31.