Briefly In the News

Harry Lawrence Day is Thursday

Harry Lawrence, the legendary “Mr. Laguna,” will be honored with a public celebration at 1 p.m. Thursday at Main Beach Park on his 96th birthday. The public is invited to join in the celebration.

Among Lawrence’s accomplishments: city acquisition of Main Beach; longtime membership in the chamber’s Beautification Council; support for the Laguna Art Museum, the Laguna Playhouse and construction of South Coast Hospital, now Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, among others. For more information, visit www.harrylawrenceday.com or call the chamber at (949) 494-1018.

Executive director leaves foundation

Karl Warkomski has left his position as executive director of the Laguna Canyon Foundation. Warkomski left this week for North Carolina after accepting a position as director of bioconversion technologies with an international recycling firm, according to the foundation. Warkomski, a former mayor of Aliso Viejo, had been in the post since July 2008.

New problems for Bluebird project

The rehabilitation of the Bluebird Canyon lift station has suffered another setback.

City Manager Ken Frank told the council at the Sept. 15 meeting that the concrete walls of the wet well were more deteriorated than expected. Frank said the project might be done in a month, which would put completion in late October, but it’s more likely to be two months before the main pumps can take over.

“We’ve never met a deadline on this project yet,” Frank said. The lift station is operating on the permanent bypass system while the interior electric and mechanical systems are being reworked.

Club membership luncheon is Oct. 2

The Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach will hold a general membership meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at 286 St. Ann’s Drive. All members are invited and any women interested in joining are welcome to attend. Members of the local American Assn. of University Women are also invited to network. Salads, soft drinks and dessert will be provided. To make a reservation, call (949) 497-1200 by Wednesday.

Village Laguna to hold public meeting Monday

Village Laguna, a founding member of the Laguna Canyon Foundation, will be receiving an update on the work of the foundation at its next general meeting. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship, 425 Cypress Drive.

Seats open on several city committees

Applications are open until Tuesday for seats on the city’s Housing and Human Services and Environmental Committees. Visit www.lagunabeachcity.net or call (949) 497-0705.