Bridging some of this city’s official rifts

BARBARA DIAMOND

Folks from all factions and frictions in town gathered Saturday night

at the Laguna Beach Woman’s club.

More than 300 people attended the hastily arranged meet-and-greet,

an opportunity to bridge some of the rifts in the city’s official

family that have spilled over onto their supporters.

And we all know what spills cause.

“I think everyone was tired after the election and wanted to

celebrate something positive, not negative,” club board member Gayle

Waite said.

Perhaps the least savory results of rift on the council, only

partially glossed over by decorum, and among the adherents of

opposing philosophies is the apparent willingness -- even eagerness

-- to believe evil intent of someone who disagrees on an issue.

Comments and actions are given the worst possible interpretation.

Maybe the Female Foursome can change that course.

“This is the first time four women have ever been elected to the

City Council at one time,” former Mayor Kathleen Blackburn said

recently. “This is an unprecedented opportunity to heal the rifts,

restore civility and move the city forward.”

Councilwoman Toni Iseman and Mayor Cheryl Kinsman have been at

odds -- in style and the goals -- since Kinsman was elected to the

council in 2000. However, open warfare didn’t begin until after the

2002 election when adherents of Kinsman, Elizabeth Pearson and Iseman

traded shots about campaign donations and the status of the donors.

Pearson’s election shifted the council majority away from a

Village Entrance project that kept the maintenance yard out of Laguna

Canyon and set the stage for confrontations at county hearings on the

project.

Kinsman supports the relocation. Iseman opposes it.

Iseman and Kinsman didn’t exactly greet each other with hugs

Saturday, but the Woman’s Club should get a vote of thanks for making

the effort.

The club invited the public to Talk Turkey -- instead of eating

crow or a cold serving of revenge -- to the City Council and its

appointed boards, commissions and committees, each one represented at

the event.

Kinsman, Iseman and Councilman Steve Dicterow, newly elected

Councilwoman Jane Egly and City Clerk Martha Anderson and re-elected

City Treasurer Laura Parisi all put in an appearance -- some stayed

late.

Planning Commissioner Norm Grossman, Design Review Board member

Eve Plumb and Arts Commissioners Jan Sattler and Mike Tauber were

there. Design Review Task Force Chair Matt Lawson showed up.

Also: the Recreation Committee’s Sita Jones and Tim Zevnik,

Telecommunications’ Alan Ring, Heritage’s Tamara Campbell and Bonnie

Hano, Housing and Human Affairs’ Marion Jacobs, who also sits on the

Design Review Board Task Force, Open Space’s Don Black and Parking,

Traffic and Circulation veteran Carolyn Wood.

Other vested interests also were represented: Chamber of Commerce

1st Vice President Dennis Junka, in line to be elected President this

week and Sawdust Festival board member; Eleanor Henry, longtime

member of the Beautification Council; Anita Mangels, president of the

Festival of Arts Board. of Directors, and newly elected board member

Fred Sattler.

“I was expecting to answer some questions about the big challenges

for Laguna,” Dicterow said.

If asked what the major issue he saw facing the council, Dicterow

said he would have replied, “Land use. That is the primary issue.

Design Review is part of that.

“Public Safety and the environment are important, but land use

issues affect everyday life -- developing your own home or a neighbor

developing his.

“Traffic and circulation is important, too, but we [the council]

are really working on that and we are not working on land use

issues.”

Grossman, who has served on both the Design Review Board and the

Planning Commission, said the city’s land use ordinance is so

important because it will control development for the next 20 years.

“It should be compatible with Vision 2030 (approved

recommendations),” Grossman said. “Land use is government mandated,

but the vision sets the philosophy for what land-use accomplishes.”

Instead of a grilling, the evening turned into a party.

The Community Band’s Swing Set performed. Taryn Dicterow sang two

songs and those who missed Lagunatics got a reprise.

Bree Burgess Rosen, Randy Hatfield, Ericka Jones, Tony Paoletta

and Melissa Verdugo sang excerpts from the 2004 show. Saif Eddin

backed them on piano.

Kasha Shahabi and Laguna Beach resident Mohammad Honarkar, new

owners of the Jolly Roger and the Laguna Beach Brewing Co. catered

refreshments that featured three pasta dishes, soup served in

scooped-out all sour dough rolls, soft drinks and specialty beers.

Don Sebastiani & Sons supplied the wine.

Admission to the event was free, but donations were accepted.

Contributions of about $300 and opportunity prize proceeds of about

$700 for a two-night stay donated by Montage Resort and Spa will

benefit low income and special needs families at Thanksgiving.

“This is such fun,” club member Anne Wood said.

And lots to talk about.

Artist Fitz Maurice, who is about to become a former Lagunan, was

among those who attended. She was decked out in a cowboy hat and

turquoise and silver jewelry -- guess where she is moving.

“I bought a ranch in New Mexico,” Maurice said. “After 18 years, I

will be saying farewell to Laguna Beach on Dec. 3.”

Ann Quilter reported the U.S. Marine Corps birthday celebration

Nov. 10 at Aliso Creek Inn was especially meaningful because two

young men from Laguna were back home from Iraq.

“About 75 or 80 people were there, including Ed Hanke, who has

been awarded a Purple Heart and Kevin Staight, who was in the first

attack on Faluga attack,” Quilter said.

Quilter’s brother-in-law, Chris, was among those enjoying the

amnesty at the Woman’s Club. Others included Jana Hofmann, Debbie and

Peter Jones -- he’s the wine guy at Pavilions, Mary Lou and Police

Officer Grandpa Ben Teschner, Gigi and Ben Blount, Carol Reynolds,

Jeff and Christina Jacobs, Ginger Hatfield and Linda Vian -- who

couldn’t resist the music and did a little dance exhibit.

* 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.