Minding business

Barbara Diamond

A lifetime of achievement was honored Friday when the Laguna Beach

Chamber of Commerce presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to June

Neptune.

Few organizations in this town could argue with the chamber’s

choice. Neptune, owner of Tivoli Terrace and Tivoli Too is famous for

helping to underwrite fundraisers at the two restaurants or donating

goods and services at other venues.

“It has been said that June Neptune is everywhere in this town,”

said Mayor Cheryl Kinsman, who said she was privileged to introduce

Neptune at the dinner. “I didn’t really believe that until I turned

on my TV the other night. There, in an old movie, I thought I saw

June dancing in the chorus. I couldn’t believe it.”

Believe it. Neptune was a professional dancer until she turned in

her tap shoes for a chef’s toque.

Neptune and her husband, the late Terry Neptune, founded Tivoli

Terrace 37 years ago. Ten years later, they opened the Hacienda

restaurant in Santa Ana. Seven years ago, Tivoli Too was added to the

Neptune stable.

“June has survived flood, fire and mudslide in her years in

Laguna,” said Kinsman. “She has helped countless local organizations

carry on their activities, including Rescuing Unwanted Furry Friends,

which has annual Thanksgiving and Easter fundraisers at Tivoli and

the Rocketship fundraiser that will be held April 18 at Tivoli Too to

raise money to put the Rocketship back in Bluebird Park.

On hand for the presentation: Neptune’s son, Michael and his wife,

Terri; her grandson, David Mathers and his friend, Pam Bracher; and

Neptune’s longtime coworkers Bobby Fader and Bob Clark.

As usual, Neptune played down her contributions to the community.

Instead, she thanked her staff for making Tivoli Terrace and Tivoli

Too such a vibrant part of Laguna.

“That woman has been wonderful to all of Laguna,” said Barbara

Painter, whose boss, Harry Lawrence, received the first lifetime

achievement award last year and for whom the award was named.

Awards were also presented to John Brown of Showpros, the Business

of the Year; Tom Simpson of Simpson Termite, the chamber Ambassador

of the Year; and Kathy Conway of Conway Financial Services, Board

Member of the Year.

“I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed working with the

chamber,” said Conway, chamber treasurer. “We touch so many different

people. Let’s make Laguna Beach the village it can be.”

Chamber Administrative Manager Suzanne Lilly was presented with

the Unsung Heroes Award, complete with an inflatable microphone -- to

recognize the unsung part -- and a necklace of American flags,

representing heroism.

Wendy Potter, chamber membership director and events and marketing

manager, introduced the chamber’s Leadership Circle Investors.

Plaques with appropriately-colored, metallic backgrounds were

presented to $7,500 Platinum Level investor LagunaBeach.com/Castello

Cities Internet Network; $5,000 Gold Level investors Tivoli Terrace,

South County Bank and Pennysaver; $2,500 Silver Level investors

Citizens Business Bank, Doctors Ambulance Services, first Team Nolan

Real Estate and Gahnahl Lumber; $1,500 Bronze Level investors South

Coast Medical Center, SuperPrinters and Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot.

“The Leadership Circle was created to recognize businesses that

have exhibited support to the chamber through sponsorships with

various financial commitments and at special events,” Potter said.

“These businesses share in the goals and mission of the chamber,

which is to promote, represent and support the businesses of Laguna

Beach and the village of Laguna.”

The chamber will be lead again this year by President Ken Delino,

Vice-president Dennis Junka, Treasurer Conway and Secretary Veronica

Nice, who will serve second terms.

“It is great to see all the different groups at events like this,”

Delino said. “All these different groups are what make our city so

great.”

However, he said, business is what pays the city’s bills.

“We are all in this together,” Delino said.

Delino said that Village Laguna, sometimes characterized by the

business community as anti-business, is considering co-sponsoring

Locals Night, a chamber promotion to get more locals Downtown.

“It would be great to see Village Laguna and the chamber

co-sponsoring an event,” Delino said.

Dave Sanford of SuperPrinters and Michelle Clark of Waste

Management of Orange County are newcomers this year to the chamber

board of directors, which numbers 16 including the officers. Gary

Alstot was the only board member to retire.

About 120 people attended the dinner, netting the chamber almost

$2,300.

Comedian Lynn Epstein and musician Michael Sibbio entertained.