Park prospects continue to hike

Public officials, volunteers and nature-loving residents gathered at

the Willow Canyon Staging Area on Saturday to celebrate Laguna Coast

Wilderness Park’s 10-year anniversary.

Featuring speeches by Orange County 5th District Supervisor Tom

Wilson and Laguna Canyon Foundation President Michael Pinto, the

anniversary comes at a time when prospects for the park are

expanding.

“We took some big body blows in the mid-1990s,” Wilson said,

“especially with the toll road, but things are picking up now. We’re

teaching people the value of open space. We’re in the process of

creating the Nix Nature Center and widening Laguna Canyon Road -- our

primary goal continues to be to raise money and awareness for this

park system, and we’re doing a great job.”

Some attending the 11 a.m. event had started early with an 8 a.m.

docent-led hike through the park, while others hit the trails after

the speeches concluded and snacks had been served.

The turnout of about 30 or 40 included Mayor Toni Iseman, Sierra

Club members, and fathers and sons enjoying the outdoors.

“It was wonderful to see such a wide variety of people come out

today,” said Mary Fegraus, executive director of the Laguna Canyon

Foundation. “Things are looking up.”

The celebration was sponsored by Laguna Canyon Foundation, Laguna

Greenbelt Inc., the Nature Conservancy and Orange County Harbors,

Beaches and Parks.

-- Mike Swanson

Unitarian Universalists holding auction party

The Laguna Beach Unitarian Universalists will stage their annual

services auction party.

Items to bid on include a private Cessna 182 airplane ride and a

full week’s vacation for four in a spacious condo at nearly any

resort area in the world.

Car detailing, rose consultations from an expert, four hours of

handyman service or a four-hour sail on a 30-foot yacht are also

among the 60 items under the auctioneer’s gavel.

This is the group’s biggest fund-raiser of the year.

The auction will start at 6:30 p.m. May 10 at the Fellowship, 429

Cypress Drive. Bidding will start start at 7 p.m. Wine, soft drinks

and snacks are available to bidders.

Top of the World Assn. elects officers

The Board of Directors of the Top of the World Neighborhood Assn.

elected its officers at the April 9 board meeting.

Gene Felder was elected president, Piero Wemyss as vice

president/secretary and Todd Thornton as treasurer.

The other association board members are: Chris Brazelton, Dave

Connell, Tom Falkowski, David Kluver, Grant McCombs, John Robinson,

Gary Schwager, Karen Schwager, Frank Tully, Carolyn Wood and Scott

Woodard.

Also at the meeting, the group focused on the need for heightened

community awareness about careful safe driving practices in the

neighborhood, particularly when children are starting or leaving

school.

President Felder expressed the hope that those who witness

speeding or dangerous driving call the Laguna Beach Police Department

at 497-0701 to make them aware of the problem.

Filmers utilize lower prices, slower pace

‘Tis the season to lug truckloads of film gear, actors and

producers from Los Angeles to Laguna Beach to film commercials for at

least $135 less than the going L.A. rate for film permits.

The city of Laguna Beach charges $400 per day for film permits, as

opposed to L.A.’s rate of “at least” $535 per day, according to the

Entertainment Industry Development Corporation in Hollywood.

A producer for Australia and England’s version of a 1-800-COLLECT

commercial, filmed April 25 on Forest Avenue, said nearly all of the

staff preferred filming in Laguna than L.A. He asked to be identified

only as “Richard.”

“The pace is a lot slower,” he said. “It’s a lot easier for

everyone involved when we film down here. Some of the businesses

aren’t too happy about us taking up parking spaces, but it’s never

too bad.”

A set of different Hollywood-labeled trucks and equipment were

back on Tuesday, this time to film a mayonnaise commercial on Ocean

Avenue.

This is the most popular time of year for film crews in Laguna

Beach, just before the summer rush hits, according the Laguna Beach

Recreation Department.

No more commercials are scheduled.

-- Mike Swanson

Tonight’s the Cinco de Mayo party

The Woman’s Club is inviting the public to a night of dancing, fun

and nibbles in honor of Cinco de Mayo.

Sangria and light hors d’oeuvres will be served from 7 to 11 p.m.

today at the Woman’s Club Clubhouse, 286 St. Ann’s Drive. There will

be a $5 cover charge. Attendees must be 21 or older. For information,

call 497-1200.

Clinic holds Woman’s Health Fair

The Laguna Beach Community Clinic will hold its Women’s Health

Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10 at the Laguna Beach Unified School

District parking lot.

It is a collaborative event between the Laguna Beach Community

Clinic, the school district and the PTA.

There will be a free concert at noon by the pop band CORDAY. Free

CDs will be given to the first 50 participants. Jennifer Corday, who

is a credentialed teacher, is on a crusade to teach the dangers of

smoking to youths.

After a friend was diagnosed with lung cancer, she wrote “Inhale,”

which describes the dangers of tobacco.

The clinic’s new medical van will be on sight so we can offer free

blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, anemia and HIV screenings.

Activities for the children include face painting and clowns.

There will be giveaways from Naked Juice, Wild Oats and more.

Garden club speaker to talk perennials

Rex Yarwood of Haster Grove, a Laguna Beach retail garden center,

will discuss summer perennials on May 9 at the Laguna Beach Garden

Club meeting at the Neighborhood Congregational Church, 340 St. Ann’s

Drive.

After Yarwood’s presentation will be the installation of officers

and a luncheon. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Visitors are

welcome for the program on perennials, which will begin at 10 a.m.

For information, call (949) 497-9051.

Postal service plans food drive

The U.S. Postal Service is asking people to participate in the

11th annual food drive.

Residents are asked to leave nonperishable, unopened food next to

mailboxes for letter carriers to pick up on Saturday, May 10.

The food will go to local food banks and charities in the

community where the donations are collected.

Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show set

St. Catherine of Siena Council of Catholic Women will hold its

annual Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show.

The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. May 13 at Tivoli Too, 777

Laguna Canyon Road.

Tickets must be purchased by May 4. For information, call

494-7761.