CITYSCAPE ROUNDUP:Shelter: fewer days, more users

The city’s cold weather shelter program at local churches has closed for the winter season, City Manager Ken Frank announced March 23. The shelter was open 48 nights between December 2006 and March 2007 — 12 fewer days than the 60 days it operated last season.

The shelter is open when the temperature dips below 40 degrees, or when rain is forecast overnight during the four winter months.

This year more people used the shelter, Frank said. A cold snap early in the season had organizers scrambling for enough blankets for those seeking shelter from freezing nights.

This season ended with a total tally of 1,999 “bed nights”, the aggregate number of persons housed at the shelter through the season. The nightly average was 42 patrons, with several nights where more than 50 persons were sheltered.

Last season, 1,993 “bed nights” were tallied over the 60 nights the shelter was open, he said. The cold weather shelter is funded with $15,000 from a Community Development Block Grant.

Facilities were provided by the Laguna Presbyterian Church, the Laguna Beach United Methodist Church and the Neighborhood Congregational Church. Many volunteers assisted with the shelter operations and provided meals at the sites.

Clinic parking lot gets resurfaced

Laguna Beach Community Clinic on Third Street was given a new parking lot as part of its ongoing “New Face for a Caring Place” remodel.

Following excavation as part of the Loma Terrace undergrounding project, the clinic lot was recently repaired, reinforced and resurfaced.

The Laguna Beach Presbyterian Church loaned parking space to clinic employees for the two-day process. Restoration of the cracked and crumbling lot was made possible through the generosity of many people, including recent board president Tim Dillon, board member Madeleine Peterson, physician Korey Jorgensen, board member Bill Deland, and his partner Mark Flemming, who contributed the initial gift specifically for the lot.

Former lifeguard publishes ‘Coves’ book

John Gill, a Laguna Beach lifeguard from 1969 to 1974, has written a book called “Laguna Coves” with stories from his career with the department — including stories from several other guards including Dale Ghere, Tom Holm and John Slowski.

The book contains 22 photos depicting each of Laguna’s coves and beaches. The photos were taken over the past two years during Gill’s study for a degree in photography.

The book is $45, plus $5-7.50 for shipping in the western U.S. To place an order, call (760) 822-9304, or e-mail jsgillphoto@yahoo.com

Excerpts of the book can be viewed at www.jsgillphoto.com.

Senior center to break ground Tuesday

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Laguna Beach community and senior center project is planned at 4 p.m. Tuesday at 380 Third Street.

City officials will be on hand to mark the official beginning of construction for the $15 million project, which will consist of 19,000 square feet, part of which will be dedicated for use by Laguna Beach Seniors Inc., and part for general community use.

Estate planning seminars begin Thursday

Fifteen charitable organizations are teaming up to again offer the free “It’s Your Estate” workshop. Focusing on a different topic each week, the sessions will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. on Thursdays, April 5 to May 24, at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Laguna Beach, main branch, 1085 Laguna Canyon Road (next to the Sawdust Festival).

Peter C. Kote, chair of the Laguna Canyon Foundation’s Estate Planning and Gifts Committee, will moderate. Sponsors include Laguna Canyon Foundation, Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Art Museum, Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach Seniors, SchoolPower Endowment Fund, Laguna College of Art & Design, Laguna Beach Rotary Club Foundation, Orange County Community Foundation, American Heart Association, Great Park Conservancy, Arthritis Foundation, Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center, Alzheimer Association and Salvation Army.

Presented by Kote and local financial professionals, the sessions will explore:

Workshop participants will not be approached to make charitable contributions or purchase financial products, and their names will be kept confidential.

For reservations, call (949) 494-2525, ext. 103.

Pinto keynotes Conservancy dinner

The Laguna Canyon Conservancy’s next dinner meeting will be held April 9, at Tivoli Terrace, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

This is the second Monday in April, instead of the regular first Monday meeting time.

Michael Pinto, founder and president of the Laguna Canyon Foundation, will be the special guest.

Pinto also serves as the vice-chair of the Great Park board of directors and is vice president of the Great Park Conservancy.

Pinto will discuss the Great Park planned for the former El Toro Marine Base, and update the status and enhancement of the wildlife corridor that will connect the mountains to the sea.

The corridor will run from the Cleveland National Forest through the Great Park, under the freeway, through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, to the Crystal Cove State Park and beach, and is projected to be the largest multi-function public park in Southern California.

No host bar opens at 6 p.m. and dinner is served around 6:40 p.m. Dinner tickets are $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers and may be paid at the door with prior reservations.

Membership is $10 per person, per calendar year. To reserve a seat, call Ed Drollinger at (949) 494-6465.

Reservations are required by April 7.

Public is invited to lunch reading

Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider and Friends of the Laguna Beach Library President Martha Lydick invite everyone to attend a fundraiser to benefit the Laguna Beach Branch Library from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 5 at Tivoli Terrace, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

Attendees may be asked to share their thoughts on two books they’ve read and would recommend. Hats and gloves are optional. Tickets are $50 per person.

To buy a ticket, call (949) 497-7053 or e-mail MLydick1@cox.net.

Flower arranging program offered

Laguna Beach Garden Club presents Peggy McDonald at the club’s monthly meeting on April 13.

She will share ways of decorating with spring flowers, including making table arrangements, creating posy bouquets and sharing tricks of the design trade for decorating with flowers.

Social gathering starts at 9:30 a.m., along with the Plant & Garden Boutique featuring garden-related items selling at rock-bottom prices.

The business meeting, followed by the program speaker, continues at 10 a.m.

The general meeting will be located at the Neighborhood Congregational Church, on the corner of St. Anne’s and Glenneyre. Free one time for guests.

For more information, visit www.lagunabeachgardenclub. org.