OUR LAGUNA:DAR makes splash at Marine Mammal Center

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is pooling its resources to improve facilities for ailing or injured sea creatures brought there to recover.

Four new pools are under construction, expected to be completed by the end of January.

On Monday, representatives of the California Daughters of the American Revolution presented center officials with a check for $5,000 to help fund the project and educational programs.

“The DAR always has a conservation project,” said state Regent Anne Lampman. “As state regent, I get to pick the project. I have always had an interest in marine mammals and have been here before.”

The Corona del Mar resident was joined by Sharon Meigs, chairman of the State Regent’s Conservation Committee South. The committee is promoting the adoption of pups — the offspring of the seals and seal lions.

“We already have 52 adoptions and I know of at least 10 more that are coming in,” Meigs said. “And we still have a year to go.”

Purchases from the center’s gift shop also help fund the half-million dollar “Make a Splash” pool area renovation.

The project includes the construction of pools designed specifically for marine animals, new fencing and the replacement of all pool decking and retaining walls around the pool complex to prevent flooding during heavy rains, and filters better suited to handle the number of animals that the center has in its care in peak season.

“We had three pools, now we will have four, one 16 by 18 feet and three 10 by 10 feet,” said Emily Wing, center director of development and marketing.

The three original pools were installed in the 1970s, as funds and able bodies became available.

“One of the pools was a donated Jacuzzi,” Wing said. “None of them had drainage. We had to pump the water out of the pools into the sewer system.”

The first pool was constructed in 1976 by a center founder, John Cunningham, and some of his Laguna Beach High School students. The second pool was completed in 1978, the third in 1984.

The four species generally brought to the center are sea lions, seals, elephant seals and harbor seals. When possible they are kept separate, which will be easier with the four pools.

Sea lions are the most agile and are the ones with the ear flaps.

“Seal Rock in Laguna really should be called Sea Lion Rock,” Wing said.

Elephant seals are the largest of the species and distinguishable by their odor.

“I can tell before I even see it when one comes in,” said Mary Alderson, a volunteer at the center for seven years.

The odor cannot be washed off, but it really doesn’t bother Alderson, who was a pediatrics nurse.

“Going from children to animal just fits,” Alderson said.

Director of Operations and Animal Care Michele Hunter also came to the center from a medical background. She began as a volunteer in 1989 and was hired as the full time director in 2001.

“We have two categories of volunteers — animal care and education — and some double up,” Alderson said.

For more information about volunteering or making donations to the Make A Splash campaign, call Wing at (949) 494-3050, stop by the center in the red barn at 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd., across the a parking lot from the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, or visit web site www.pacificmmc.org.

SENIORITY

Seniors practiced waving their arms Monday in preparation for the City Council hearing Tuesday on the proposed community/senior center.

“We will hear endlessly from people who oppose [the center],” supporter Chris Quilter said at the Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. 14th annual Christmas Luncheon at Tivoli Terrace. “I urge the seniors to be there to wave their arms to show that your voices count.

“There are women here who have gone through flaming hoops to get this project approved.”

Among the heroines: Virginia Schott who founded the seniors organization, and other Past Presidents Louise Buckley, Pauline Walpin, Marthann Newton and Skipper Lynn.

“I am so glad to see you all here,” said Buckley, who chaired the luncheon of the 12th time. “I will be even happier the day we get our senior center.”

Attendees included Mayor Toni Iseman, council members Cheryl Kinsman, Kelly Boyd and Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider, staunch center supporter since she worked for the seniors before running for council.

Also in attendance: City Clerk Martha Anderson, Assistant City Manager John Pietig, Community Services Director Susan Cannan, Laguna Beach County Water District General Manager Renae Hinchey, city Senior Services Coordinator Patty Koss, Old Pottery Place owners Joe and Jane Hanauer, Seniors President Lee Anderson and Bree Burgess Rosen, who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” with her usual aplomb despite a slight hoarseness.

Capital Campaign Co-Chair Ann Quilter announced new funding pledges. Cheryl Post added the multipurpose room to the previous pledge by her and husband, Carl. Athens Group honcho John Mansour and his wife, Lisa, made a personal contribution to fund the reception area.

“The reception area is where John’s love for the seniors intersects with his love for the community,” Quilter said.

She also paid tribute to the Kling Family Trust, for its contributions.

Campaign Co-Chair Darrcy Loveland-Bickel thanked the Hearts of Montage, the resort employees’ charitable group, for its $350,000 matching grant, which is 86 percent matched.

That’s the good news. The bad news is there is still a ways to go, but so are naming opportunties.

“Think how wonderful to see your family name on one of the rooms,” Loveland-Bickel said.

Roxanna Ward led a chorus of Thurston Middle School students, who won sang some very special holiday songs, including “Born to Shop,” watched with pride by Principal Joanne Culverhouse.

The chorus was composed of sixth graders Jay Williams, Lesly Aguilar, Kasey Henderson, Natelee Palmer, Marianna McConnell, Joe Redfearn and Olivia Romansik; seventh graders Brendan Ward, Nicolas Leighton, Allison Hastings, Sarah Busic, Julia Millang, Caroline Cannan, Yaretsi Mendoza and Danielle Castro; and eighth graders Sarah Proctor, Katharine Epstein, Kiki Henderson, Daniella Crivello, Emily Van Hanswyk, Alex Kempler and Morgan Myers.