Nix Nature Center honored naturally

BARBARA DIAMOND

You know you are with an environmental crowd when a flying bird gets

a standing ovation.

Guests stood and clapped as a young female Cooper’s hawk was

released Saturday into Little Sycamore Canyon, a fitting conclusion

to the groundbreaking ceremonies for the Nix Nature Center in the

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

“We share this symbol of the wilderness, the true natural sense of

passion and freedom,” said Laguna Canyon Foundation President and

founder Michael Pinto.

Leisure World residents James and Rosemary Nix, who donated

$500,000 to fund the construction of the center, were guests of honor

at the groundbreaking.

The center will serve as a portal to the wilderness park, where

respect for its flora and fauna will be taught.

“When Rosemary and I decided to make the donation, we didn’t know

it involved speech-making,” James Nix said. “If I had known, I

probably would have chickened out.”

Pinto said the center will be built on open space purchased and

preserved by a miracle of cooperation between the state, the county,

the residents and city officials of Laguna Beach, Donald Bren’s gift

of land and private donations.

“In the process of saving the land, we have learned that we must

teach people to understand what the wilderness means to our spirit,”

Pinto said. “That is what this center will do.”

FESTIVAL OF FASHION

The Festival of Arts hosted “An Evening of Art & Fashion” May 15

at Allen Cadillac-GMC of Laguna Niguel

Proceeds will benefit the festival and Pageant of the Master

Historical Building Site Fund.

“Living pictures” recreating Garden of Versailles sculptures,

greeted guests under the dome of the automobile agency, which

underwrote the event and also recently donated a van to festival.

“We are truly grateful for the support of Allen Cadillac,” said

Anita Mangels, festival board president. “Special thanks also go to

festival exhibitors who donated their best original work for our

auction.

BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS

Roger Torrero walked into the May 18 City Council meeting and

dropped off a $1,000 check for the rocket ship in Bluebird Park.

“I remember my sons use to play around the rocket ship,” he said.

The donation brought the public fund to within about $1,500 of

meeting the city’s matching grant.

Dedication ceremonies for the park are scheduled for June 12. The

rocket ship won’t be installed in time for the ceremony, but a poster

will be displayed and the site will be fenced off. Installation is

anticipated by August.

GROVES OF ACADEME

Martina Speare, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Eric Speare, made the

Dean’s List for academic achievement at the College of Architecture

and Environmental Design at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

She graduated from Laguna Beach High School in 2002.

WOOD REAPPOINTED

The Orange County League of California Cities recently elected

Laguna Beach resident C. William Wood to represent the Board of

Supervisors Fifth District on the county Human Relations Commission.

Wood recently completed his fifth, two-year term and asked to be

re-appointed. He was nominated by the City Council.

He is President of PacifiCare Foundation and Vice President,

Community Relations PacifiCare Health Systems, where he has worked

since 1985.

* 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.