OUR LAGUNA: Happy faces at holiday gatherings

You know the holidays are upon us when you get more invitations than junk mail.

The first Nick Scandone Achievement Award was presented Saturday to a temporary resident at Community Service Programs Inc. Youth Shelter in Laguna Beach, organized by shelter Volunteer Coordinator Brianna Wetzel.

Scandone is a 2008 gold medalist paralympian. A paralympian is a competitor in a special event for physically challenged athletes, held in conjunction with the Olympics in Beijing. He was diagnosed in 2002 with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a slowly paralyzing and incurable disease. The average lifespan after diagnosis of ALS is 2 to 5 years.

“When he heard of an award we created in his name and honor, he agreed to come down with his wife and present it despite his ailing health,” Wetzel said.

The award “Striving to be the best I can be,” will be integrated into the lifeguard training program taught by volunteer Ron Harron for the past year.

“In order to qualify for this award, the student must complete lifeguard training with an overall score of 95% or better in skills both written and practical, a very tough task to do,” Wetzel said. “One of our recent female residents did so.”

She was among the selected shelter residents to participate in Harron’s training to become certified lifeguards, which helps them get a job, adds to their skill sets and bucks up their self-esteem.

The training includes swimming drills, tests and CPR First Aid certification.

“He does not go easy on anyone and all who participate are required to put in a lot of work,” Wetzel said.

Harron’s project is just one opportunity offered to the residents of the shelter.

The low-key shelter is a six-bed, short-term crisis intervention program that provides young people aged 11 to 17 with six weeks of shelter and respite from strife.

“We work directly with them and their family, providing resources and aiding in family reunification,” Wetzel said.

Volunteers are welcomed and their participation is worthwhile, said Carol Reynolds, who has served on the shelter board of directors for 12 years.

“Right after I retired I saw an ad for mentors in the newspaper, and I thought that would be fun,” Reynolds said. “Bea Fields [now executive director of Laguna Beach Seniors Inc.], was the shelter manager at the time and she suggested that I go on the board.”

Reynolds, who has a master’s degree in counseling, joined the board, whose membership at the time included former Laguna Beach Police Chief Jim Spriene.

“What I enjoyed most was meeting monthly with people who were dedicated to the welfare of young people.” Reynolds said.

Volunteers are welcomed — and their participation is varied. Reynolds brought new volunteers into the fold. Arts Commission Chairwoman Pat Kollenda emceed events.

“Some volunteers never come to the shelter,” House Coordinator Kelly Curry said. “They work behind the scenes on fundraisers. We have a gala every year and a golf tournament, and those always need help.”

Another volunteer goes once a week to the shelter and teaches a cooking class. Other classes include art, music and crafts. But right now, gifts and cash donations are the most pressing need, for kids at the shelter at Christmas time, Curry said.

For more information about donations or volunteering, call (949) 494-4311 and speak to Wetzel.

Palette winners honored

Hospitality Night, hosted Dec. 5 by the Chamber of Commerce and the city, was the official opening of the Holiday Season in Laguna. Downtown is decorated with lights — LEDs out of respect for the environment. Artists’ palettes are street decorations unique to Laguna, and the winners of the Children’s Palettes Program are exhibited at City Hall.

The winning kids were honored at the Dec. 2 City Council meeting. Arts Commissioner Terry Smith and city Arts Manager Sian Poeschl assisted Mayor Jane Egly in the presentation of certificates.

The 12 palettes displayed at City Hall were painted by Veronica Clancy, Daniela Lucidi, Kitra Razin, Jashlyn Barrack, Michael Davidson, Makena Augenstein, Luke Colburn, Morccon Salib, Lucinda Becker, Natalie Kleinecke, Sofia Hefler-Smith and Luka Salib.

Four of the winning palettes are being published on the front of the Coastline Pilot during December. There were more flash bulbs used during the presentation than for the seating of the new council.

“We had 300 entries this year — an all-time high in the five-year history of the program,” Smith said.

The rest of the palettes will be on display at the Laguna Beach Library through the month of December.

‘Treasures’ sale a success

Laguna Beach Woman’s Club members and their guests scooped up bargains at the annual Christmas luncheon, sale and silent auction of donated “Tarnished Treasures.”

The event raised more than $3,000.

Laguna Beach County Water District General Manager Renae Hinchey, who moonlights as the club president, welcomed members and their guests.

Club board member Anne Johnson brought Diane Leemon and newly appointed Design Review Board member Robin Zur Schmiede as her guests and then signed them up as new members. Other guests included Michelle Boyd’s mother, Sadie Vierstra; Martha Lydick’s neighbor, Sandy Hovanesian, and club Vice President Gayle Waite’s fellow Realtors Marilyn Blackwood and Patricia Phillips (not the local artist).

Sande St. John chaired the luncheon. Among her helpers: Connie Burlin, Marsha Bode, Kim Salter, Karin Godfrey, Stephany Skenderian, Johnson and Waite.

Medici Bistro, recently opened on the corner of South Coast Highway and Laguna Avenue, catered the luncheon.

Debussy holiday luncheon held

Five Crowns in Corona del Mar opened specially Thursday afternoon for the annual holiday luncheon of the Debussy Chapter of the Guilds of the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Debussy welcomes members from the four Lagunas — Beach, Niguel, Woods and Hills — and the Viejos, Aliso and Mission — the best bet for Lagunans since the Chopin Chapter went down the tubes.

Three Laguna Beach residents serve as officers of the chapter: Hovanesian, chapter chair; Donna Connolly, treasurer; and Marjorie Gorum, member-at-large.

And locals chipped in for opportunity prizes. Nirvana restaurant donated a gift certificate and Laguna Playhouse donated two tickets to a performance.

Friends of the Laguna Beach Library President Martha Lydick is a member and she brought as her guest, Peggy Ford, a Friends board member. Art Gallery owner Rebecca Barber also attended as a guest.

The guild chapters raise funds for the center and members record the hours they spend on telephone calls, cooking, baking, crafts and decorations — even preparing for and attending fundraisers and going to performances at the center.

Record keeping is vital to the Guilds application for the Disneyland Community Service Award, which places great significance on volunteer hours.

Debussy’s activities include an annual Super Bowl Party and participation in the Guild Fashion Show.

In February the group will travel to San Marcos for a glass blowing demonstration and luncheon.

Members donated $10 each to the annual Toys for Toys Drive, augmented by contributions of new toys.

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 Suite 22 in the Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321, fax (949) 494-8979 or e-mail coastlinepilot@latimes.com.