‘Dilley’ of a dinner for local conservationists

A special joint Laguna Canyon Conservancy and Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. dinner meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9 at Tivoli Terrace, on the Festival of Arts grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd.

Called the “Dilley Dinner,” the event will celebrate the lives of an extraordinary couple who changed the landscape of Laguna.

In 1958, Jeanette and James Dilley opened Dilley’s Books in Laguna Beach, and the shop is considered the location where the idea of a greenbelt around Laguna was born.

With a group of like-minded Lagunans, Jim founded Laguna Greenbelt, Inc., to further his vision. Jeanette ran the business end of the bookstore.

In 1982, two years after Jim died, Jeanette closed the store. Jeanette recently died, but she was an active member of the Laguna Canyon Conservancy and regularly attended the dinner meetings.

No-host bar opens at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 6:40 p.m.

“The Dilleys in Laguna” slide presentation will follow.

Dinner tickets are $10 for current members of either group and $15 for nonmembers. Everyone is welcome, but reservations are a must.

Those planning to attend should call Ed Drollinger at (949) 494-6465.