Some hopes for a new beginning

BARBARA DIAMOND

Happy New Year.

Sorry to report, I’ve already broken my No. 1 resolution to cut

back on desserts. No way, could I resist that last slice of pecan pie

that houseguest Caroline Birich baked.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t start over -- and that goes for any

other backsliders, including those who want to start good new habits

or kick unhealthy ones.

Linda Dietrich vowed to quit smoking and I am here to tell, it’s

tough. So, hang in there, sweetie. We are all rooting for you.

“I am going to walk more,” police department Volunteer of the Year

Terry Smith said. “I need the physical exercise.”

Marion O’Dare wants to loose 10 pounds -- don’t we all?

Carol, without an e, Reynolds vowed to eat less, play more --

hopefully that would include piano and French horn.

“Loose weight -- lots of it -- and get healthy,” are the goals of

Planning Commissioner Anne Johnson.

Laguna Canyon Conservancy President Carolyn Wood resolved to live

another year. If she keeps that resolution long enough, she might see

some of Laguna’s traffic problems solved.

“Spend more time with my children,” was City Treasurer Laura

Parisi’s resolution.

Realtor Gayle Waite resolved to take more time off -- but no one

wants to see her cut back on community activities.

Marion Jacobs WILL finish her book and Nikki Ford will take better

care of her mother, Laguna Beach Woman’s Club President Peggy Ford.

Here’s to us cockeyed optimists who look at the New Year as a new

beginning and count our blessings.

Let’s all make a resolution to share.

Hearts of Montage, a volunteer group of Montage Resort and Spa, is

offering an opportunity. Business Center Manager and long-time Laguna

Beach resident Chris Loidolt announced Tuesday that the Hearts would

host a four-day, community fundraiser at Aliso Creek Inn and Golf

Club, Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, to benefit victims of the tsunami that

devastated Southeast Asia.

“We will kick-off the fundraiser with a family picnic,” Loidolt

said. “The picnic will include boxed lunches, family activities and

live music. The cost will be $50 per family, all of which will be

donated to the relief effort.”

The picnic will be held on the first fairway. Reservations may be

made by calling (949) 715-6420.

Golf fees of $25-per-person for the remaining holes who play

rounds on that Sunday or the full nine holes on the following Monday,

Tuesday or Wednesday will be donated to the fund. For reservations,

call (949) 499-1919.

“Laguna Beach is a commun- ity known for its compassion and Hearts

of Montage is asking for support to once again aid those in need,”

Loidolt said.

“As President Bush said in his news conference, ‘The greatest

source of America’s generosity is not our government -- it’s the

heart of the American people.’ That sentiment is particularly true in

Laguna Beach.”

Loidolt is the community liaison for the Hearts of Montage

volunteer program. The group’s mission is to serve the commu- nity

through participation in programs of global impact.

“In our first year, through Hearts of Montage, associates

[employees] have volunteered in various organizations and community

events, including Coastal Cleanup Day, the Ocean Institutes’

Adopt-a-Class program benefiting El Morro students, and volunteering

at the Boys and Girls Club.”

Not to mention the $20,000 donated to the Bluebird Rocket Ship

Fund.

Opportunities to support worthy causes abound in Laguna. Here’s a

new one.

Laguna Beach Seniors announced at their annual Holiday Luncheon

that a founder’s wall -- similar to the one at South Coast Medical

Center, would be part of the proposed Senior Center. The wall will

include the names of the first 150 people who contribute $1,000.

Donations that day raised $16,000.

“We have more than 100 nonprofit groups that feel passionately

about their causes,” Mayor Elizabeth Pearson Schneider said Tuesday,

rebutting a newspaper article that claimed that Laguna’s grass roots

had shriveled.

“We have the Arts Alliance with thousands of members, green

environmentalists that are perceived as the conscience of the county

and blue environmentalists that have led the charge to clean our

ocean of pollution.”

Representatives of many of these groups -- and lots more in other

fields, such as health care, will attend the 18th annual Chamber of

Commerce Leadership Luncheon to be held Jan. 18 at the Hotel Laguna.

“The luncheon sets the pace for 2005,” luncheon founder Bobbi Cox

said.

Participants will be asked to introduce themselves and their

affiliation and share their most significant accomplishment in 2004

and their most important goal for 2005.

The luncheon is a smorgasbord of opportunities for anyone

interested in becoming more involved in the community. If there is a

cause, there is a group and newcomers are always welcomed.

“If we don’t reach out to everyone, shame on us,” Pearson

Schneider said.

Pre-paid reservations are required. Jan. 14 is the deadline to

send checks to the chamber, 357 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, 92651.

Specify if a vegetarian luncheon is desired, otherwise

participants will be served a stir fry of rock shrimp, oyster

mushrooms, roasted cabbage and glass noodles with a ginger garlic

glaze; roulade of sole, julienned squash, boiled new potatoes and

caramelized onion butter. Dessert -- for those who haven’t made a New

Year’s Resolution or can’t keep the one they made, is warm chocolate

tartlet hazelnut gelato. Oh, help!

A reception will begin at 11:30 a.m. Cox will make open the

proceedings at noon. Grant McCombs will lead the Pledge of

Allegiance. The Rev. Jerry Tankersley will offer the invocation.

Pearson Schneider will be the keynote speaker, followed by chamber

President Dennis Junka’s closing remarks.

The luncheon is presented with special consideration by hotelier

Claes Anderson and is underwritten by chamber board members Junka,

Chris Lange, Dave Sanford, Ken Delino, Kathy Conway, Veronica Nice,

Michelle Clark, Bob Dietrich, Timothy Dillon, Gerry Foster, Ron

Hyrchuk, Chris Lutz, Dennis Myers, Tom Simpson, Shaun Tabor,

Catherine Wilkinson 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.